Meeting new requirements for efficient charging

“Electric-powered aircraft could be part of the future of aviation to reduce the use of fossil fuels in the aviation industry. As more and more electric vehicles need to be charged, electricity consumption at airports is expected to increase, which also relates to issues of the electrical grid, power generation, and energy storage at airports. The research project aims to collaborate to investigate how to meet the electricity demand at future airports with more electric aviation, says Martin Lindberg, PhD student in the Department of Electricity at Uppsala University and who works within the project.

In the aviation sector, an exciting electrification revolution is underway, with many airports across the country actively working to increase electrification and sustainability in aviation. Currently, only two-seater electric aircraft are certified for regular traffic, but rapid developments in battery technology are opening doors for larger electric passenger aircraft to be electrified in the coming years.

However, these new electric aircraft pose high demands on airports in terms of access to electricity for charging. To meet this need, there are various alternatives, such as expanding the power grid to airports, complementing with local battery storage, or generating renewable electricity on-site.

The Project, YourFlight will investigate three key questions central to the transition to electric flight and more sustainable aviation. Firstly, it will explore how airports can meet the increasing need for electricity for electric aircraft and vehicles, which may involve the use of battery storage, expansion of the power grid, or other innovative solutions. Secondly, it will look at sustainable innovations in battery-powered electric aircraft, eVTOLs, and charging infrastructure that can promote electrified travel. Finally, the project will analyze how national conditions affect charging strategies for electric aviation at airports and what new strategies can be developed to meet these conditions and needs.

At Skellefteå Airport, a mobile battery storage will be used for experiments and simulations to provide a more realistic analysis of the electrical system at an airport.

In addition to driving technical innovations, this initiative is also expected to strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange between Uppsala University and Skellefteå Airport through the ELIS program.

The project runs for four years and is funded by the Swedish Transport Administration’s R&D portfolio for the aviation sector.