Airbus UpNext, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airbus, and Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation, Toshiba Group’s energy arm, will cooperate and mutualise experience on superconducting technologies for future hydrogen-powered aircraft.
In the quest to decarbonise the aviation industry, hydrogen-powered aircraft are one of the promising solutions to achieve net zero emission by 2050. Superconducting technologies offer a unique advantage for these aircraft, using -253°C liquid hydrogen as a fuel but also to efficiently cool the electric propulsion systems. Cryogenic technology could allow for a nearly unimpaired power transmission within the electric systems of the aircraft, significantly improving their energy efficiency and performance.
The partners aim to co-develop a two-megawatt superconducting motor.
The agreement was signed in Tokyo, on the occasion of Japan Aerospace 2024, by Dr Grzegorz Ombach, Airbus Senior Vice President and Head of Disruptive R&T, and Tsutomu Takeuchi, Toshiba’s Corporate Officer, responsible for Power Systems business, and Director of Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation.
Over the past 10 years, Airbus has made efforts to derisk superconducting technologies. Recently, Airbus UpNext launched Cryoprop, a demonstrator to test a two megawatt-class superconducting electric propulsion system. Toshiba has been conducting research and development of superconducting technology applications for nearly half a century and has released its own two megawatt-class superconductivity motor prototype for mobility applications in June 2022.
The Airbus Tech Hub Japan was announced in May 2024. This initiative is designed to develop partnerships in the country to advance research, technology and innovation in aerospace and push boundaries to prepare for the next generation of aircraft. The partnership between Toshiba and Airbus is the first achievement of this ambition in Japan.
