GE Aerospace
ARPA-E programs





GE Aerospace is proud to partner with
ARPA-E to advance a safer, more efficient
future of flight.

GE Aerospace

ARPA-E Energy Innovation




At any given moment in time, more than 950,000 passengers are being transported around the world with GE Aerospace engines under wing. We are committed for the long-haul to investing in America’s energy leadership for the future of flight across our nation and around the world.

The below programs highlight key projects with ARPA-E to advance efficiency in air travel. Read on for additional details about what we’re working on.
  • FLYCLEEN
  • eFLITES
  • MAAGIC
  • EPIC-TRAILS
Advancing flight for future generations
3
out of every 4
Commercial flights are on GE Aerospace-powered aircraft.

If you flew in for the Conference, it's very likely your plane was powered by one of our engines. GE Aerospace is one of the world’s leading jet engine manufacturers, with approximately 45,000 commercial and 25,000 military aircraft engines.

    GE Aerospace

    GE Aerospace


    The Road to RISE

    GE Aerospace’s is pushing the boundaries of efficiency in jet engine technology from generation to generation. The central innovation hub where we advance this groundbreaking work is GE Aerospace Research. Based in upstate New York, GE Aerospace Research is home to a multidisciplinary team of ~750 scientists and engineers across 30 labs and 50+ technical capabilities.

    Our latest narrowbody engine, the *CFM LEAP engine, for example, delivers a 15-20% fuel efficiency improvement over the previous generation of narrowbody engines. These improvements were driven by the introduction of breakthrough technologies such as ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) and 3D printed fuel nozzles, which have help enabled us to take weight out of the engines and run them hotter to achieve higher levels of efficiency.

    Today, we’re in the midst of our boldest technology demonstrator yet, the CFM Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) program. The RISE program aims to to develop and mature pioneering technologies that enable the next generation of commercial engine applications by the mid- 2030s to achieve a a revolutionary 20% step change in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions compared to engines today. 

    The RISE program involves developing an Open Fan engine architecture where the engine is not encased. This would permit much higher bypass ratios of air that translates into much higher levels of fuel efficiency.  GE Aerospace has partnered with Oak Ridge National Lab and earned time on some of the world’s most powerful supercomputers to accelerate their learnings and understanding about an Open Fan design.

    Another key technology pillar of RISE is the development of hybrid electric propulsion technologies. This is an endeavor where ARPA-E has been a vital partner. Much of our current programs with ARPA-E are focused on developing and scaling key fundamental building blocks of the hybrid electric system, including the powertrain, power generation system, and electrical cabling, to enable this at a commercial scale.   

    Along with RISE, we have created Aerospace Carbon Solutions, a GE Aerospace business dedicated to accelerating growth within aviation by incubating and scaling a broad spectrum of outside-the-engine breakthrough technologies. Engineers and scientist from GE Aerospace’s Research Center evaluated hundreds of pathways and technologies to identify the most promising technologies in the synthetic aviation fuel (SAF), carbon dioxide removal, and contrail avoidance space. Using these insights, we partner with companies and organizations, including ARPA-E, where we see the potential of our innovation to catalyze job creation and energy security. Currently, Aerospace Carbon Solutions is involved in GE Aerospace Research’s EPIC TRAILS project with ARPA-E to study the impact of contrails in the skies.

    GE Aerospace Image
    CFM RISE Technology Demonstrator Program

    In 2021, we launched one of the most ambitious sustainability initiatives yet in the aviation industry – the CFM Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) technology demonstrator program.

    GE Aerospace
    FLYCLEEN
    One of the fundamental keys to hybrid electric flight is building a power generation system. GE Aerospace researchers are now in Phase 2 of their REEACH program project with ARPA-E to build and demonstrate a 25kW power generation subsystem integrating 5-kWe solid oxide fuel cell stacks with a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) or Hydrogen Fuel powered gas turbine combustor for hybrid electric propulsion. The use of fuel cells could vastly improve the efficiency of converting the chemical energy from fuel into electric power.
    • PI: John Hong, Senior Engineer, Combustion, GE Aerospace Research
    • ARPA-E REEACH Program
    GE Aerospace
    eFLITES
    GE Aerospace's efforts to demonstrate a hybrid electric powertrain system for commercial aircraft is gaining altitude through its ongoing work ARPA-E’s ASCEND program to support GE Aerospace's Electric Flightworthy Lightweight Integrated Thermally Enhanced Powertrain System (eFLITES) project. Now in Phase 2 of their program, GE Aerospace researchers are preparing to demonstrate the next version of a powertrain system, which represents the next key project milestone toward a full-scale 2MW powertrain system.
    • PI: John Yagielski, Senior Principal Engineer, Electric Machines, GE Aerospace Research
    • ARPA-E ASCEND Program
    GE Aerospace
    MAAGIC
    One of the principal challenges to enable commercial scale passenger hybrid electric flight is developing insulation technologies that can effectively manage higher voltage levels of electricity required to support both the propulsion and electrical systems onboard the aircraft. GE Aerospace researchers are working their MAAGIC (Megawatt Any-Altitude Gas Insulated Cable) with ARPA-E to develop more efficient, lightweight electrical cables that deliver the optimal insulation solutions.
    • PI: Han Xiong, Senior Engineer, Electric Machines, GE Aerospace Research
    • ARPA-E REEACH Program
    GE Aerospace
    EPIC-TRAILS
    GE Aerospace researchers are working in “the cloud” to understand the impact of aircraft-formed induced clouds called contrails in the sky. In collaboration with Southwest Airlines, the team is working on a $2.2 million project through a new program from ARPA-E’s called Predictive Real-time Emissions Technologies Reducing Aircraft Induced Lines in the Sky (PRE-TRAILS). The team will be developing in-flight digital tools to gain a deeper insight and understanding on the impact of contrails to help enable a more efficient future of flight.
    • PI: Saikat Ray Majumder, Senior Scientist, Statistical Signal Processing, GE Aerospace Research
    • ARPA-E ET-PRETRAILS Program

    *The CFM LEAP is produced by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines.