Rolls-Royce has taken delivery of a generator that will enable what the company calls “the most powerful hybrid-electric aero power and propulsion system in aerospace.”

The generator for RR’s 2.5 MW Power Generation System 1 (PGS1), along with its related power electronics, was delivered to the newly-renovated Testbed 108 in Bristol, UK. The generator completed developmental testing at the Rolls-Royce facility in Norway. Testbed 108 was previously testing the AE2100 engine element.

PGS1 will power hybrid-electric propulsion for future regional aircraft, and could be used as part of an electrified system for larger aircraft, ground applications or marine applications. 

Chief Design Engineer Adam Newman said, “Our generator is about the size of a beer keg, but it needs to produce enough electricity to continuously power around 2,500 homes. On completion of testing, we will have a basis for megawatt-level power for future hybrid aircraft.”

Source: Rolls-Royce