FutureFlight
Funding Approved To Develop Hybrid-Electric Turbofan for Narrowbody Airliners
Five major aerospace groups are joining forces for the Sustainable Water-Injecting Turbofan Comprising Hybrid-Electrics project to cut fuel burn and CO2 emissions by 25 percent for Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan.
The Water Enhanced Turbofan concept recovers water vapor from the engine exhaust and re-injects it into the combustion chamber in a process that could improve fuel efficiency and cut emissions.
The Water Enhanced Turbofan concept recovers water vapor from the engine exhaust and re-injects it into the combustion chamber in a process that could improve fuel efficiency and cut emissions. (Image: MTU Aero Engines)

Five leading aerospace companies have joined forces to develop hybrid-electric and water-enhanced turbofan engine technology for future airliner propulsion systems. In a November 29 announcement, MTU Aero Engines, Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace, Airbus, and GKN Aerospace said that work backed by the European Union’s Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking aims to increase fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from short- and medium-range aircraft by up to 25 percent.

The Sustainable Water-Injecting Turbofan Comprising Hybrid-Electrics (SWITCH) project will seek to combine the MTU-led Water-Enhanced Turbofan (WET) and hybrid-electric propulsion with the existing architecture of Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan (GTF). The planned powertrain will be able to run on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and will be developed to be ready to use hydrogen fuel in the future.