THE ACHIEVEMENTS

The mission of the Propulsion & Embedded Energy Excellence Ecosystem (E2 PEE) is to rally the aerospace industry around energy challenges related to climate change.

Like other transport sectors, aeronautics and space must reduce their carbon footprint. The main avenues to achieve this have been clearly identified: renewal of fleets and developing new technologies and energy sources. It is critical to support Cluster members in order to accelerate their development by answering carbon reduction challenges through innovation.

In terms of new propulsion systems, the goal is to encourage the emergence of collaborative projects involving members to provide the market with cost-efficient and breakthrough propulsion architectures. The technological fundamentals are often the same as those that apply to land mobility sectors but they must comply with specific aeronautics and space constraints and regulations. In close collaboration with the Innovation unit, the Cluster’s financial engineering team provides invaluable support to all members who propose innovative, collaborative projects. The duality between the Cluster’s technical expertise and support provided by the Innovation team has facilitated the emergence of structured projects in the aeronautics, space and drone sectors.

Alongside the drive to develop future propulsion systems, PEE is actively working to boost consumption of sustainable fuels (SAF) in the region. Local SAF production has already been launched through several major projects which will be operational in regions by the end of the decade. Alongside these major projects, Aerospace Valley members specialized in the energy sector have designed innovative solutions with an eco-circular approach for smaller scale production. Using biomass, biogenic carbon capture techniques, and hydrogen production have made it possible to produce synthetic fuels, a critical driver to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint. Synergies with the agricultural, forestry, and viticultural sectors should be set up to achieve production goals for these new fuels, without clashing with other mobility sectors.

 

LOOKING BACK:

 

  • The PEE was involved in the ICEO project following Aerospace Valley’s signature (01/23) of the Joint Declaration of Deployment (consumption and production) of SAF in Occitanie
  • Café Techno, « Uses of hydrogen in the aerospace industry”, July 4, 2023 with over 50 participants and with the involvement of Aerospace Valley members representing the entire value chain (energy suppliers, airports, plane makers, parts suppliers).
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  • Green Aero Days – December 6th & 7th in Pau: 300 participants, 25 exhibitors, over 600 BtoB meetings – 1st static exhibition of light planes directly associated with carbon reduction.
  • Salon Hyvolution : Pitches and round tables which showcased Aerospace Valley members– Porte de Versailles – Paris – 30&31 January, 2024
  • Webinar presenting the « Carb’Aéro » call for projects run by ADEME
  • SAF sector development: emergence of innovative production projects in the territory – synergies with biomass generating sectors – cooperation with the Agri Sud-Ouest Cluster and l’Alliance Forêts Bois