Electrical Systems at High Altitude Research Facility (ELSA)

Battery electrified power is predicted to become the dominant mode of propulsion in light duty ground transport and some small, shorter range aircraft. For larger aerospace applications, alternatives such as sustainable aviation fuel and liquid hydrogen appear attractive in the longer term as part of a hybrid electric propulsion system. In all cases, increasingly integrated electric drives of higher power density are required. A new high altitude climatic testing facility and coupled digital twin is proposed to enable world class research of disruptive electric propulsion component materials, designs and manufacturing up to system level and Megawatt scale. The research enabled will ultimately help reduce associated end use energy demand for Net Zero in this sector and other transport applications reliant on hybrid propulsion in the longer term such as heavy duty off-road.