Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY) has been selected by the European Union’s Clean Aviation programme to lead the ELEVATED project, which will demonstrate a hybrid-electric gas-turbine propulsion system for future ultra-efficient short- and medium-range aircraft. ELEVATED is among 19 Clean Aviation projects announced to advance aviation decarbonisation while supporting European competitiveness and industrial leadership. Collectively, the projects, which include technologies for hydrogen-powered and ultra-efficient regional aircraft architectures, will receive up to €290 million in EU funding and support total public and private investment of €664 million across the Clean Aviation Call 4 projects.
Led by Rolls-Royce Deutschland, the ELEVATED consortium brings together industry, academic and research partners from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom. The partners contribute expertise spanning hybridisation, electrification, engine integration, electrical machines and drives, powerplant integration, high-voltage harnesses, aircraft integration, modelling and academic research.
Subject to successful completion of grant preparation, ELEVATED will integrate a hybrid-electric subsystem into a donor engine. The system will be integrated, controlled and tested under realistic operating conditions, generating data to assess its performance and potential contribution to future aircraft propulsion systems. The hybrid-electric subsystem is expected to support a target of at least a 20% reduction in aircraft-level CO₂ emissions. The project will also assess the potential impact of hybrid-electric technologies on Rolls-Royce’s UltraFan® 30 technology demonstrator and support its progression towards Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6).
UltraFan is Rolls-Royce’s next-generation geared ducted engine technology programme covering widebody and narrowbody applications. UltraFan 30, the company’s narrowbody technology demonstrator, is being developed to validate technologies for future short- and medium-range aircraft. Planned for ground testing in 2028, the demonstrator combines advances in engine core architecture, fan systems, materials and manufacturing, with the objective of improving fuel burn, efficiency, emissions and durability. It is also designed to be compatible with 100% sustainable aviation fuel from day one.
Alan Newby, Director – Research & Technology, Rolls-Royce, said, “We are proud that Rolls-Royce has been selected to lead the ELEVATED project as part of the EU’s successful Clean Aviation programme. ” “By integrating and demonstrating an innovative hybrid-electric system under realistic conditions, we will generate data to validate our modelling and inform technology selection, product development, certification planning and industrialisation. Together with the turbomachinery work being advanced through the ongoing UNIFIED project, it will help bring together the key technology paths needed to validate future UltraFan capability and support best-in-class performance in thrust, fuel burn, noise, emissions and durability.” In addition to ELEVATED, Rolls-Royce will participate in two other Clean Aviation projects, FARMAN, focused on hydrogen fuel distribution systems, and H-ELENA, focused on hydrogen engines and low-emission NOx architecture.
Rolls-Royce is a global engineering company that provides power, propulsion and other solutions across the aerospace, defence, marine and industrial sectors. Its products and services support airlines and aircraft leasing companies, armed forces and navies, and marine and industrial customers.
The company has a local presence in 47 countries and serves customers in more than 100 countries. Through its multi-year transformation programme, Rolls-Royce is focused on building a high-performing, competitive and resilient business while strengthening its financial capacity to develop and deliver products that support customers through the energy transition.
In 2025, the company reported underlying revenue of £20.1 billion and underlying operating profit of £3.46 billion. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker RR. and has an American Depositary Receipt listing under RYCEY.
