BAE Systems has entered into an agreement with Airbus to supply the energy storage system for Airbus’ micro-hybridisation demonstration project for commercial aircraft. The collaboration aims to advance sustainable aviation by developing and integrating electrification technologies that can significantly reduce the aviation sector’s carbon footprint.
BAE Systems will design, test and deliver energy storage packs for electric aircraft in the megawatt-power class, providing a 200-kilowatt-hour energy capacity to improve energy efficiency and performance. These energy storage systems will assist electric propulsion during various phases of flight.
As part of the agreement, BAE Systems will supply Airbus with energy storage systems for lab testing and system integration for hybridisation technology demonstration.
BAE Systems has invested heavily in aircraft electrification and energy management, drawing on its expertise in safety-critical systems to develop technologies that meet the rigorous performance and certification standards required for energy storage systems. The company’s technology is certifiable, fault-tolerant and designed to meet the highest safety standards, including solutions for thermal runaway mitigation and containment.
BAE Systems has also made significant strides in addressing key challenges in energy storage for electric aviation. Its family of energy storage products is designed to provide the ideal balance of energy and power for the next generation of aircraft, with a roadmap to achieve 300 Wh/kg energy density using high-volume standard format cells. This will allow for cost-effective and scalable upgrades as battery technology advances.
With over 25 years of experience in developing and integrating electric power and propulsion systems, BAE Systems also boasts more than four decades of expertise in creating flight-critical control systems for both military and commercial aircraft.
The development of the energy storage system will take place at BAE Systems’ advanced engineering and manufacturing facility in Endicott, New York.
