The Governing Board of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking has approved EUR290 million EU funding for 19 new Clean Aviation projects, which amounts to EUR664 million in total research effort (*).
Technologies developed in earlier research will move out of the lab and into full-scale ground test facilities, preparing for the flight demonstration of the most promising ones, according to a Clean Aviation JU press release. Projects cover a wide range of areas, from hybrid-electric and hydrogen propulsion architectures and systems, and airframe optimisation, to noise reduction and anti-icing technologies.
“The eight projects funded under the Fast Track Areas (FTAs) will get underway at the end of 2026, with the remainder following in early 2027. Full-scale ground demonstrations and flight tests are planned for 2029-2030. The projects will contribute to the aim of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions from Short-Medium Range and Regional aircraft by at least 30% compared to 2020 state-of-the-art technologies, and lay the foundations toward decarbonised aircraft for Entry-Into-Service (EIS) by 2035.
Overall, 19 projects will receive funding in the following areas:
- Ultra-efficient short-medium range aircraft technologies (EUR106 million total EU funding)
- Hydrogen-powered aircraft technologies (EUR101 million total EU funding)
- Ultra-efficient regional aircraft technologies (EUR40 million total EU funding)
- Fast Track Areas (FTAs) (EUR40 million total EU funding)
- Transversal projects dedicated to aircraft concept integration and impact assessment have been awarded EUR2.5 million EU funding, and coordination and support actions EUR0.5 million EU funding.
(*) EUR664 million equates to the total value of the public and private contributions in the Clean Aviation Call 4 projects, including relevant complementary R&I projects and activities identified as in-kind contributions. The projects’ official start is subject to successful completion of grant preparation targeted for October (Fast Track Areas) and mid-December (all other areas).
(Image: Clean Aviation JU)