Cutting-edge eco-friendly aviation engines, particularly those developed by Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), are highlighting China's breakthroughs in hybrid and hydrogen propulsion at the ongoing 2025 AERO Asia show in Zhuhai City, south China's Guangdong Province.
Among the highlights were 29 newly developed propulsion products, displayed in the AECC pavilion, including megawatt-level hybrid and fully electric power systems.
'This is our latest megawatt-class hybrid system, developed for future 3-ton to 8-ton eVTOL aircraft and 10-ton to 20-ton distributed electric propulsion planes. What you're looking at is a 1:3 scale model, demonstrating how the system will be applied to eVTOL aircraft in the future,' said Sun Jingchen, a representative from AECC.
Another innovation drawing attention was AECC's hydrogen-powered turbine engine, which, unlike traditional designs, does not consume a single drop of fossil fuel.
'This is our megawatt-class hydrogen-fueled turbine engine. Burning one kilogram of aviation fuel produces three kilograms of carbon dioxide, whereas using hydrogen as the power source for a turbine engine results in zero carbon emissions. The development process was extremely challenging, as it overturns many traditional concepts. The encouraging news is that this engine has already become the first in China to meet full performance standards and has successfully completed a 60-hour continuous endurance test,' said Sun.AECC's technological advances are also generating commercial interest.
'At this airshow, we will sign cooperation agreements or letters of intent with 17 clients, with the total value exceeding 1 billion yuan (1.41 billion U.S. dollars),' said Hu Yexin, director of the Southern General Aviation power division of the AECC.
10th Annual Commercial Aero Engine International Forum will be held on March 31st-April 1st, 2026.Focusing on cutting-edge technology topics including aero engine design and development, industrial policy and development trend, new energy aviation, new technology and new materials, advanced testing, metrology technology, simulation, parts processing technology, engine maintenance under the background of dual carbon.
Let’s cooperate and work together to contribute to the innovative, efficient and sustainable development of the aviation engine industry while explore the huge potential market in China.