The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) announce Tuesday that it will provide up to $55 million into their first programs focused on the development of lower-cost, more energy efficient electric aviation engine technology and powertrain systems.
“Every American should have reliable, affordable, and efficient transportation, and the electrification of aviation systems has the potential to transform the way aircraft consume and use energy,” Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette said. “These programs will focus on innovative research and development for flight systems that increase the overall efficiency of aircraft and have the potential to reduce aircraft fuel consumption and emissions.”
The two specific programs that will benefit from the funding will be the Aviation-class Synergistically Cooled Electric-motors with iNtegrated Drives (ASCEND) research and Range Extenders for Electric Aviation with Low Carbon and High Efficiency (REEACH) programs. Both seek commercial=class technology that could help reduce emissions caused by passenger aircraft.
ASCEND projects will be awarded $35 million and will focus on lightweight and ultra-efficient integrated electric motors, drives, and thermal management systems to create net-zero carbon emissions. The REEACH program will be awarded $20 million and will create a system for converting chemical energy locked within energy dense Carbon Neutral Liquid Fuels into electric power for propelling aircraft.
Current estimates tag air travel as responsible for nearly 175 million metric tons of CO2 emissions in the United States each year. The ASCEND and REEACH programs will both have to demonstrate performance metrics for their solutions.