Embraer today unveiled new aircraft concepts as part of the company’s progress report on Energia, Embraer’s initiative to bring the aviation industry to net zero emissions by 2050.
One year after Embraer’s Sustainability in Action event, which detailed the study of four new aircraft concepts powered by modern technologies and renewable energy, the company confirmed that it focused on two designs from 19 to 30 seats for hybrid-electric and electric-hydrogen propulsion.
This focus eliminates the Energia Electric and Energia H2 Gas Turbine concepts, in order to concentrate design efforts on those variants that have greater sales potential in a regional market that the manufacturer considers revitalized.
Embraer believes that globalization is «reversing» towards greater regionalization due to congestion in urban areas, pressure to reduce emissions, volatile fuel costs and the consequent growth of regional transportation.
The company believes there is an «unrestricted» market for the 20,000 new technology aircraft segment, including approximately 11,000 existing system replacement and natural supply growth aircraft.
Guided by the company’s 50 years of technical expertise, airline feedback and joint studies with engine OEMs, these two approaches offer a technically realistic and economically viable path to net zero.
Energia Hybrid Concept
Energia Hybrid (E19-HE and E30-HE) – Introduced as a nine-seat aircraft in 2021, Embraer is exploring a 19-seat and a 30-seat variant:
– parallel hybrid-electric propulsion
– up to 90% CO2 emission reduction with SAF
– 19- and 30-seat variants
– rear-mounted engines
– technology availability – early 2030s
Energia H2 Fuel Cell (H2FC) Concept
Energia H2 Fuel Cell (E19-H2FC and E30-H2FC) – unveiled as a 19-seat aircraft in 2021, Embraer is exploring a 30-seat variant:
– electric propulsion – hydrogen
– zero CO2 emissions
– 19- and 30-seat variants
– rear-mounted electric motors
– technology availability: 2035
Although still in the evaluation phase, the architectures and technologies are being assessed for technical and commercial feasibility. The Energia Advisory Group has also been launched to leverage feedback and collaboration from partner airlines.
Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, said, «I believe we have set bold but realistic targets to bring these concepts to market. Since we announced our Energia concepts last year, we have been busy evaluating different architectures and propulsion systems.»
«These efforts have resulted in the updates to our concepts that we are sharing with you today. Several airlines are part of our Energia Advisory Group, the experience and expertise they bring to the study will be key to accelerating toward the next phases,» Meijer added.
«As new propulsion technologies will first be applied on smaller aircraft, Embraer is in a unique position. The 19- and 30-seat aircraft are reasonable starting points for specific studies, as they are likely to present earlier technical and economic readiness,» said Luis Carlos Affonso, Sr. VP of Engineering, Technology and Corporate Strategy at Embraer. VP of Engineering, Technology and Corporate Strategy at Embraer.
«Although the challenges of net-zero are significant, in less than 25 years our commercial aircraft have already reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by almost 50% per seat/mile, using only conventional fuels and propulsion. I am convinced that net-zero is a goal we can achieve,» he concluded.
