EXC 2163:  Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Aviation – SE²A

• Subject Area: Fluid Mechanics, Technical Thermodynamics and Thermal Energy Engineering ; Electrical Engineering and Information Technology ; Mathematics ; Mechanics and Constructive Mechanical Engineering ; Production Technology ; Social Sciences ; Systems Engineering ; Process Engineering, Technical Chemistry ; Economics
• Term: since 2019
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 390881007

The "Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Aviation SE²A" Cluster of Excellence has been dedicated since 2019 to creating the scientific and technological foundations for future of air transport. This effort is in response to societal and regulatory requirements as well as expectations for drastically reducing the environmental impact of aviation, while increasing and ensuring reliable performance of aeronautical systems. In addition to focusing on the classical aeronautical disciplines, SE²A has also taken a pioneering role in integrating other disciplines that are essential for zero-emission aviation. The results and interdisciplinary methods of the 84 scientists involved have been presented in more than 270 publications during the past four years. Under the leadership of TU Braunschweig, the institutionalized partnership with DLR and the research alliance with Leibniz Universität Hannover have been expanded to include additional partners. In particular, an extremely successful and close cooperation with TU Delft has been established, resulting in development and evaluation of new solutions for energy storage and its conversion in flight, as well as in new design concepts for ultra-efficient flying. Today, hybrid-electric propulsion systems and associated aircraft offer a promising technological basis for significantly reducing the climate impact of aviation, especially in the short- and medium-range sectors. However, research also indicates that a direct transfer of these advances to long-range flight (the main source of aviation climate impact) is not feasible due to the physical requirement of large amounts of energy and high energy densities. At the same time, long-range travel is still a strong growth market globally and it is essential in the long term for people to meet and exchange ideas and culture. SE²A has therefore developed three visionary long-range air-travel concepts for the next phase, each with the potential to drastically reduce aviation emissions and their climate impact. In addition to ultra-efficient long-range flights, the alternative concepts of inter-connected medium-range flights or climate-optimised variable flight routing differ significantly from today's air transport and air traffic management. These three solutions raise a number of fundamental questions, ranging from energy sources, to aircraft missions to social acceptance. Thus, the three long-range concepts will be addressed in the next phase of SE²A through a tailored research structure and an even broader interdisciplinary group of researchers and international partners. The involvement of economists and social scientists will also facilitate a system assessment from diverse perspectives. Interdisciplinary and coordinated research will be carried out into revolutionary solutions for the future of air transport.

• DFG Programme: Clusters of Excellence (ExStra)
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Braunschweig
• Participating Institution: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR); Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover; Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
• Spokespersons: Professor Dr.-Ing. Jens Friedrichs; Dr.-Ing. Cornelia Grabe; Professor Dr.-Ing. Richard Hanke-Rauschenbach
• Participating Researchers: Dr.-Ing. Andre Bauknecht; Professor Dr.-Ing. Jan Werner Delfs; Professor Dr. Friedrich Dinkelacker; Professor Dr. Ravi Fernandes; Professorin Dr.-Ing. Federica Ferraro; Professor Dr.-Ing. Peter Hecker; Professor Dr. Michael Heere; Professor Dr.-Ing. Christoph Herrmann; Professor Dr.-Ing. Christian Hühne; Professor Dr.-Ing. Arno Kwade; Professorin Dr.-Ing. Sabine C. Langer; Professorin Dr.-Ing. Regine Mallwitz; Professor Dr.-Ing. Axel Mertens; Professor Dr. Jürgen Pannek; Professor Dr.-Ing. Bernd Ponick; Professorin Dr.-Ing. Gabriele Raabe; Professor Dr.-Ing. David Emory Rival; Professor Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Römer; Professor Dr. Thomas Stefan Spengler; Professor Ingo Staack, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Sebastian Stiller; Professorin Dr.-Ing. Sabrina Zellmer