PowerLab – Development of a technological platform for electric aviation

Overall goal of the project “PowerLab” is the formation of a competence center for hybrid and fully electric airplane propulsion. Therefore within the framework of the project an exceptional bundling of different competences was achieved by incorporation of well-known industrial companies, research institutes and universities.

In the framework of the project new key technologies for efficiency increase, reduction of the fossil fuel consumption and corresponding emissions as well as an increase in safety and responsibility shall be developed. Based on the gained results, prototypes of hybrid and fully electric propulsion systems will be designed. In addition to the development of the needed technologies like propulsion and energy storage systems, the integrability into aircrafts, as well as the implementation into the airport infrastructure will be investigated by system studies.

Through investigation of different platforms, like hybrid or fully electric propulsion systems for turboprop aircrafts or helicopters, adequate system parameters such as maximum voltage or minimum required specific power- and energy can be derived.

The EES contributes within the project with its competence on the field of electrical energy storage systems. On doing so a battery module, which is able to fulfill the special and high requirements in the aviation segment, especially concerning high weight efficiency and reliability, will be specified and conceptualized by the EES.

Project coordination: Airbus Group Innovations, Ottobrunn

Project period: 01.01.2013 – 31.12.2016