Large scalE Integration demonstrator of hybrid electrical Architecture

ongoing

LEIA (Large scalE Integration demonstrator of hybrid electrical Architecture) is fundamental in the context of Clean Aviation's strategic goals to reduce greenhouse-gases emissions and advance green aviation technologies. This challenge is often associated with propulsion technologies or disruptive wing configurations, but it is not limited to that, and both pathways are enabled by novel system technologies and architectures. LEIA is essential for preparing the future short-medium-range aircraft more/hybrid electric non-propulsive energy architecture. It aims at designing and integrating non-propulsive electrical systems to enable an increased engine off-take efficiency together with a more flexible energy management, while minimizing the overall system sizing. To enable the integration of a high-performance, certifiable, and scalable non-propulsive energy system contributing to Clean Aviation’s sustainability and performance targets, the project will: - select and validate a future-focused more electric/hybrid electric non-propulsive energy architecture, - define comprehensive functional and interface specifications, - develop advanced energy and thermal management strategies, - establish a clear integration strategy, - demonstrate TRL5 for an integrated energy provision system level, - provide a roadmap towards TRL6 for the end-to-end electrical system architecture, - prepare a certification and industrialization roadmap, - advance certification readiness of critical technologies by achieving CRL4 and identifying a pathway to CRL6. A key project objective is to demonstrate, by a successful TRL5 review in 2027, non-propulsive energy architecture for a short-medium-range more/hybrid electric aircraft concept, including the system's integration into the broader aircraft architecture. LEIA is therefore a core enabler to deliver at TRL5 and CRL4 a consistent package of key technologies for a next generation more environmentally-friendly aircraft.