(Power up to)
1 MW
(Fuel savings up to)
-40%
(CO2 emissions up to)
-40%
(Sterna)
Unique technology for more sustainable aviation
Sterna is a modular, scalable system that combines two energy sources to progressively reduce aircraft emissions and achieve in-flight Net Zero.
A cost-effective system based on the use of sustainable aviation fuel now, with a switch to hydrogen (burned or in fuel cells) as soon as the technology is ready and certified.
(Our technology)
Hybrid electric propulsion
system
A modular and scalable combination of two sources of energy (fuel + battery).
A hybrid-electric aircraft uses a mix of two energy sources: electric batteries, used during take-off and climb, to benefit from the instantaneous release of optimized, high-power engines that can run on Jet-A1, and sustainable aviation fuel or hydrogen tomorrow, for low-energy phases of flight, such as cruise.
Conventional aircraft
Aircraft equiped with Sterna
A conventional aircraft engine is usually sized for take-off and climb thrust requirements. This leads to an oversized engine for cruise flight, where most of the fuel is burned. Thanks to Sterna, we can decouple these 2 phases and optimize them to reduce overall fuel consumption over the entire flight.
During take-off and climb, the battery is used to provide high power for short periods. Thus, the powertrain does not need to provide the power during this phase, and take-off and climb rating can be removed and/or the powertrain downsized.
During cruising, the powertrain is used at maximum efficiency, as it is now specifically sized to achieve this level of performance.
Where innovation
takes flight
What does Sterna look like in an airplane?
Sterna is a set of technologies and components for aircraft and rotorcraft OEMs to make them more sustainable, whether for new developments or retrofitting existing aircraft with an STC*. Sterna can take several shapes depending on your aircraft and the program objectives, from turboprops to regional planes.
Hybrid Operating System
Energy management system - handles the energy split in the system
Hybrid Core
Electrical power box - connects all components together safely & distributes the energy in the system
We’re taking aviation
to new heights.
Embedded intelligence
From energy management to flight controls, including a complete set of data from engines, batteries, etc., the hybrid propulsion system simplifies maintenance operations and improves aircraft availability and customer service.
Range & endurance
The combination of different energy sources and top-grade energy management algorithms ensure optimal performance in flight (cruise time and speed) and on the ground. Our technology adapts to existing infrastructures and limits turn-around times.
Energy transition
Our modular architecture can be adapted to new generation aircraft with a wide array of energy sources, from kerosene and biofuels to synthetic fuels and hydrogen fuel cells.
Safe & efficient
Our hybrid propulsion system is engineered to match the requirements of future distributed propulsion systems, and embeds the required algorithms to control the multiplied number of propellers to ensure safe, efficient flight.
Fly clean
Our hybrid propulsion system significantly reduces carbon and noise emissions, for cleaner skies today and tomorrow. Sterna is the key technology and cornerstone of cleaner aviation.
Scalable
The complete hybrid propulsion system architecture can be scaled up to meet the future requirements of regional aviation, from 6-10 PAX up to 70 with current technologies, propelling aviation into a new sustainable era.
Company
Ascendance Recognized as a Key Player in the Future of the Economy by Bpifrance
We’re honored to be featured in Bpifrance's mapping as a key player shaping the economy and its future.
Events
Ascendance Part of the FrenchTech2030: Shaping the Future of French Industry
We’re proud to announce that Ascendance is part of the #FrenchTech2030 program, an ambitious initiative supporting France's industrial reinvention and sovereignty.
Events
Where Innovation Takes Flight: Highlights from Jean-Christophe Lambert at BIG
At the 10th edition of BIG, Jean-Christophe Lambert joined a dynamic roundtable on the "Net Zero Emission Goal" and he also took the BANG main stage with an inspiring speech on innovation.
You have some questions?
We have answers
We are the best to help you in that thanks to our “aircraft-maker DNA”. We can help you from Engineering to tests and ultimately working with you on the supply and assembly of the entire propulsion system based on our patented technologies such as HOS, our expertise in designing hybrid-electric propulsion system and our partners for other propulsion components. We are also developing a new aircraft, an eVTOL one, we know the constraints at aircraft level and we know how we should optimize at aircraft scale.
We will tailor our patented HOS technology to your aircraft specifications. Thus lowering the global program development risk thanks to the use of our already tested and proven technology. Once the aircraft is certified, we will also provide upgrades and in-service support.
As explained before in the first question, we can help you develop this STC thanks to our expertise.
Sterna can address aircraft ranging from turboprop commuter aircraft up to regional aviation.
During the preliminary sizing phases we support you in defining the optimal hybrid architecture for your aircraft and maximize integration gains in the aircraft. We have built a test capability up to 1MW to help our customers design their future generation of more sustainable aircraft.