Safran Electrical & Power has signed a collaboration agreement with Cuberg, a subsidiary of the battery manufacturer Northvolt, for industrial, technical and commercial cooperation to develop an aviation energy storage system for future full electric and hybrid aircraft.

Cuberg, a vertically integrated battery provider, will manufacture and supply rechargeable aviation battery systems based on its lithium metal cells, modules and packs, while Safran will design and develop global energy storage systems, including high voltage protection components, integration, certification and in-service support.

Cuberg battery systems are built on the configurable Cuberg module, which has been internally validated to achieve a specific energy of 280Wh/kg and an energy density of 320Wh/L. This specific energy is up to 40 per cent higher than comparable modules based on lithium-ion technology. This significant improvement provides increased flight range which, in turn, enables new use cases for electric and hybrid aviation. Cuberg modules are purpose-built to manage the mechanical, thermal and electrical integration of next-generation battery cells.

The Cuberg module incorporates Cuberg's 20 ampere-hour lithium metal cell technology. This technology uses a lithium metal anode and proprietary liquid electrolyte to simultaneously solve the interlocking challenges of high-performance cell design and manufacturability.

“We are excited to team with Cuberg as it proposes unrivalled disruptive battery cell technologies associated with a best-in-class industrialisation process strongly supported by Northvolt. Its unique technology, combined with our expertise in aircraft electrical systems, will enable cutting-edge energy storage systems for future platforms," says Bruno Bellanger, vice president and general manager of power division, Safran Electrical & Power.

“This partnership with Safran will help both companies provide certifiable integrated battery systems to aviation customers around the world, and we are thrilled to be working with such an elite and respected provider of aviation products,” adds Cuberg CEO and founder Richard Wang. “Cuberg has built the world's most established high-performance aviation battery systems programme, and this agreement is a welcome endorsement of our technology, our people and our vision for the future of flight.”