MUNICH, Germany  – The European Union’s new technology program ENOVAL (ENgine mOdule VALidators) has been launched. 

More than 140 representatives from the aerospace industry, from research and academic institutions as well as from the European Commission gathered  in Freising, near Munich, to kick-off the program.

In this project,  led by MTU Aero Engines, with 35 European partners jointly developing new technologies for medium-sized, large and very large turbofan aero engines.

The aim is to achieve reductions in CO2 emissions of up to five percent and in noise of up to 1.3 decibels.

ENOVAL will provide new technologies for the low pressure system of ultra-high by-pass ratio propulsion systems (12<BPR<20). Ducted geared and non-geared turbofan engines with ultra-high overall pressure ratio (50<OPR<70) will be the preferred power systems for next generation of short-, medium- and long-range commercial aircraft entering into service from 2025 onwards.

Dr. Edgar Merkl from MTU, ENOVAL coordinator said: “These engines are a key technology within the new Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda SRIA of the Advisory Council for Aviation Research and Innovation in Europe ACARE.”

ENOVAL, which is set up within the Seventh Framework Programme and co-funded by the European Commission with € 26.5 million, will run for four years.

With a gross budget of more than € 45 million, the project will provide technologies for fan, gearbox, low-pressure compressor and turbine modules to achieve or even surpass CO2 and noise level targets set by ACARE and the European Commission’s Vision for Aviation – Flightpath 2050.

The engine sector has achieved breakthroughs in past and ongoing R&T projects such as VITAL, NE-WAC, Dream, LEMCOTEC and E-BREAK.