BAE Systems to Develop Micro-Hybridisation Energy Storage for Airbus
Airbus aims to bring micro-hybridisation commercial flights and have onboarded BAE Systems, a British multinational company to develop the micro-hybridisation energy storage units and technologies. An agreement was signed on the 8th of January between the two companies detailing the development of a system which will use electric propulsion to assist engines during several different phases of the flight.
Development and testing of energy storage packs has already begun in the New York facility of BAE Systems. These units will be capable of providing 200 kilowatts/hour engine capacity to hybrid-propulsion systems. BAE aims to deliver the hardware of this technology to airbus by the end of 2026 and will also help integrate it with aircraft.
This won't be BAE’s first foray into hybrid aviation, they have several other projects under their belt. They have been playing a key role in the development of the battery systems of Heart Aerospace ES-30 hybrid electric regional airliner. The company plans to develop multiple such systems using high-volume cells which can provide up to 300-watt hours per kilogram.
The company believes that their collaboration with Airbus can help them achieve new heights in innovation in sustainable air travel and energy management. Airbus also wants to test these new electric hybridisation technologies in what can be deemed as a ‘supporting role’ until the time comes that they can act as the mainline propulsion system for commercial aircraft. This can help in running some of the electrical systems of the aircraft while also relieving the burden on the engines at times.
We can expect to see micro-hybridisation technology power non-propulsion systems like air conditioning, communications, pressurising cabins, and even in some cases they can be seen being used for taxiing.
