Embraer’s green concept aircraft shape of aviation to come

November 9th 2021

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Brazilian manufacturer, Embraer, on Monday unveiled a family of hybrid, hydrogen and electric concept aircraft it hopes will help the aviation industry meet its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Read More » It is partnering with an international consortium of engineering universities, aeronautical research institutes and small to medium firms on the project. The goal is to better understand how issues such as energy harvesting, storage and thermal management can be applied to sustainable aircraft propulsion. Embraer is not addressing the thornier issue of long-haul flying but is focused on four regional “Energia” aircraft ranging from a nine-seater hybrid-electric aircraft to a hydrogen gas turbine concept capable of seating 35 to 50 people. Each aircraft type will be evaluated for its technical and subsequent commercial viability and, assuming they move from the drawing board, the company expects they will come on stream in the 2030 to 2040 timeframe. Embraer senior vice president of engineering, technology and corporate strategy, Luis Carlos Affonso, said smaller aircraft were ideal platforms on which to test and prove new propulsion technologies before they are scaled up to larger aircraft. “There’s no easy or single solution in getting to net zero,’’ Affonso said. “New technologies and their supporting infrastructure will come online over time. We are working right now to refine the first airplane concepts, the ones that can start reducing emissions sooner rather than later.” The Energia Hybrid (E9-HE) is a nine-seater hybrid-electric aircraft with rear-mounted engines that Embraer calculates will save up to 90% in CO₂ emissions and could be ready by 2030. It is expected to have a range of 500 nautical miles (926 kilometres) and a 60% lower external noise profile. A fully electric plane with zero operating emissions and capable of seating nine people should be ready by 2035. The Energia Electric (E9-FE) will feature aft contra-rotating propellers and have a relatively short range of 200nm. However, it will be quiet with 80% lower external noise. Also due by 2035 is another zero operating emissions plane using hydrogen-electric propulsion featuring rear-mounted electric engines - the Energia H2 Fuel Cell (E19-H2FC). This will take up to 19 passengers and also have a range of about 200nm. By 2040, Embraer’s vision is the Energia H2 Gas Turbine (E50-H2GT) will be powered by hydrogen or sustainable aviation fuel to maximize operational flexibility and reduce aircraft weight. The modified rear-mounted gas turbine engines will allow it to carry 35 to 50 passengers between 350nm and 500nm. It will have zero operational emissions and 60% lower external noise.