Airbus and Toshiba join forces on 2MW superconducting motors
24 October 2024 
Airbus and Toshiba are collaborating on studies that could lead to the development of 2MW superconducting motors and other cryogenic technologies which could power future hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Hydrogen-powered aircraft are seen as a promising way to achieve net-zero emissions in a quest to decarbonise the aviation industry by 2050. The superconducting technologies would use liquid hydrogen at –253°C both as a fuel, and to cool the aircrafts’ electric propulsion systems efficiently. The cryogenic technologies could allow almost lossless power transmission, significantly improving their efficiency and performance of aircraft electric systems.
The Airbus subsidiary, Airbus UpNext, is cooperating with Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation to work on these superconducting technologies.
Over the past 10 years, Airbus has been working to derisk superconducting technologies. Airbus UpNext recently launched a demonstrator, called Cryoprop, to test a 2MW superconducting electric propulsion system. Toshiba has been conducting R&D on superconducting technologies for almost half a century and announced its own 2MW superconducting motor prototype in June 2022.
Last year, Airbus launched an initiative, called Airbus Tech Hub Japan, to develop partnerships to advance research, technology and innovation in the aerospace sector, and push boundaries to prepare for the next generation of aircraft. The partnership between Toshiba and Airbus is the first fruit of this initiative.
“Partnering with Toshiba presents a unique opportunity to push beyond the limitations of today’s partial superconducting and conventional electrical motors,” says Grzegorz Ombach, Airbus senior vice-president and Head of Disruptive R&T. “Through this collaboration, we aim to deliver a breakthrough technology that could unlock new design possibilities – in particular for Airbus’ future hydrogen-powered aircraft. This partnership represents a natural and essential step in advancing superconducting motor technology to meet the needs of the aerospace industry.”
“Toshiba’s expertise in superconducting technology for high-current-flow motor drive technology for precise current control, and advanced rotating machinery technology for stable, high-speed operation, forms a strong foundation for this partnership,” adds Tsutomu Takeuchi, Toshiba’s corporate officer responsible for its Power Systems business, and a director of Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions. “We both recognise the tremendous potential of superconducting technologies in shaping the future of aircraft and driving the decarbonisation of the aviation industry. We are confident that our collaboration with Airbus will play a key role in advancing next-generation technologies for the aerospace sector.”
