FutureFlight
European Commission Funds Avio Aero To Build Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Demonstrator
The GE subsidiary will lead a consortium of 21 companies and institutions in the new Amber project, which is part of Europe's wider Clean Aviation initiative.
Avio Aero is leading the Clean Aviation consortium's Amber project working towards a hybrid-electric regional airliner using fuel cell technology.
Avio Aero is leading the Clean Aviation consortium's Amber project working towards a hybrid-electric regional airliner using fuel cell technology. (Image: Avio Aero)

The European Commission’s Clean Aviation joint undertaking has commissioned Italy’s Avio Aero to produce a hybrid-electric propulsion technology demonstrator for commercial aviation applications. The company, which is part of GE Aerospace, says it will lead the Amber project with $34 million in funding over the next four years.

Amber, which is one of several Clean Aviation projects, will involve developing a megawatt-class propulsion system powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The demonstrator to be produced by Avio Aero will be used to establish how best to integrate components such as a motor/generator, power converters, and power transmission systems with fuel cells. The company aims to be ready to start ground rig testing using GE’s new Catalyst turboprop engine by the mid-2020s.