FutureFlight
Rolls-Royce Launches Turbogenerator Program for Hybrid-Electric Aircraft
The German government is funding further research and development work to advance turbogenerator technology.
Rolls-Royce is developing a turbogenerator for hybrid-electric aircraft.
Rolls-Royce is developing turbogenerator technology for hybrid-electric aircraft engines. (Image: Rolls-Royce)

Rolls-Royce this week confirmed plans to develop new-generation turbogenerator technology that will be the basis for small engines to power hybrid-electric aircraft. The aero engines group announced on June 22 that its Rolls-Royce Electrical unit will expand its product portfolio to support new aircraft needing greater range and payload than current battery technology can support with all-electric propulsion systems, like those the company is developing for partners such as eVTOL aircraft makers Vertical Aerospace and Eve.

The turbogenerator technology Rolls-Royce is working on will be scalable to serve power requirements of between 500 and 1200 kW. It will be used either to recharge batteries after the aircraft takes off or to power propellers directly.