NREL Says More Energy and Storage Needed for eVTOL Charging

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently conducted a study on the energy requirements for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, confirming Electric Air Mobility‘s message over the past 18 years – on-site energy generation and storage are essential for eVTOL charging, and can’t rely solely on their local grid. The study, commissioned by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), analyzed the impact of eVTOL operations on the US power grid and identified the need for local energy sources and energy storage solutions.

Our lesson learned from consulting and covering the electric mobility industry over the past 17 years is that infrastructure is key to a robust rollout of electric mobility and even more so in the case of advanced air mobility (AAM). AAM infrastructure cannot only rely on local energy grids, especially in the US where decades of deferred maintenance and upgrade are leaving many areas with brown-outs and black-outs today.

Vertiports will Need More Sources of Energy than most Grids Can Offer

The NREL study shows how energy-intensive AAM operations will be. Add to this commuter’s charging electric vehicles (EV) parked at vertiports and the study shows how eVTOL charging demand could significantly impact grid infrastructure and operations. The study finds that one megawatt or greater is needed per vertiport. This aligns with Electric Air Mobility’s predictions and why its hydrogen-based system delivers twice the energy, anticipating future growth.

The study focused on charging demand, costs, emissions, hazards, regulations, and technical requirements of developing electrified vertiport infrastructures. AAM’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft will need copious amounts of energy and existing power grid infrastructure will not be enough to support this growing demand. Any advanced energy propulsion system needs more and new energy systems with highly efficient management including local renewable energy when possible. Electric Air Mobility has been looking closely into the nuclear revival around modular nuclear reactors (SMR), especially with molten salts (MSR) to see how it can potentially power smart cities and vertiport networks.

NREL concurs with our conclusions that eVTOL charging demand alone will impact most grid infrastructure and operations. A significant increase in energy consumption demands highly optimized on-site generation and storage solutions, the same we offer with our international partners. These solutions include local energy and storage, as well as efficient means of managing energy with smart microgrids.

According to BloombergNEF, $2.56 trillion in revenue was generated from clean energy activities in 2022, That was more than twice the total amount invested in assets that year.

BloombergNEF

Potential AAM Energy Users

Thus far, NREL predicts future energy needs will increase by six to seven times, something that will force utilities to upgrade transformers, lines, voltage regulators, and protection equipment. The next phase will be to negotiate to keep utility energy pricing competitive while planning for local renewable energy to act as energy load balancing for vertiports’ demand. The research used large heliports, a general aviation base, a commercial airport, and a hotel-casino complex as potential sites. It found that all sites would need to update their local electric infrastructure.

Today, Electric Air Mobility offers various energy management, storage, and production systems ranging from high-power agnostic charging stations and their energy storage and hydrogen manufacturing and storage capabilities. The added incentive for vertiport owners and operators is that they can add other lucrative revenue streams, such as energy production, and resell their excess energy to local energy providers.

Electric Air Mobility’s eVTOL Charge Energy Predictions Confirmed

NREL also finds that utilities need to be involved early in planning for vertiport energy. However, utilities are often hesitant to dedicate resources to an industry that is still in its infancy. Companies like Electric Air Mobility are filling this gap by offering energy management, storage, and production systems, including high-power agnostic charging stations and hydrogen manufacturing and storage capabilities. In each of our presentations, we stress the importance of how vertiports must be strategically located near existing loads, such as substations, to minimize the impact on the grid. Additionally, smart grid capability within smart cities and on vertiport networks, along with distributed renewable energy, is crucial for efficient energy management and load balancing.
The study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive energy infrastructure that can support the growing demand for eVTOL charging. As the world transitions to electric mobility, it’s vital to ensure that the energy supply is reliable, efficient, and sustainable.

Another point not often addressed in our industry is that of potential hazards in electric aircraft charging infrastructure and ensuring the implementation of adequate cybersecurity measures.

Electric Air Mobility’s AAM Energy Strategy Prevails

The NREL’s study supports Electric Air Mobility’s longstanding message that a robust, scalable, and efficient energy infrastructure is critical for the successful deployment of electric mobility systems. With the right energy solutions in place, we can create a resilient platform for advanced mobility propulsion systems that will transform the way we travel.