The government has confirmed that a significant step forward has been made in its use of sustainable energy sources within Defence.
This step comes as the trial into the use of hydrogen-fuelled charging facilities to power the armed forces’ electric vehicle fleet has concluded. Originally being planned for trialling across three sites, before being expanded to a further two, the trial saw enough electricity generated to power around 120,000 miles of travel, whilst also allowing for greater insight into how hydrogen can best be used as a source of fuel.
The driving force behind the trial was the opportunity that hydrogen presents to provide increased resilience and mobility both at home and overseas, with the conclusion of the trial bringing new initiatives being planned for the Ministry of Defence to increase its hydrogen use.
Sites that were included in the trial were:
- RAF Leeming
- Devonport Naval Base
- Merville Barracks
- HMS Excellent Portsmouth
- RAF Northolt
Credit: Ministry of Defence
Air Vice Marshal Rich Pratley, Chief of Defence Staff (Support Operations), said:
“In embracing innovative solutions like hydrogen power, the Ministry of Defence has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and as the trial has proved, to improving operational efficiency.
“This trial has demonstrated the potential of hydrogen as a key enabler of our transition to zero-emissions energy, while also addressing the current challenges posed by our expanding electric vehicle fleet.”
As part of the process, Hydrogen Power Units were used to convert the gas into electricity, with that then being harnessed to charge electric vehicles through fast chargers. Not only does this ensure seamless, rapid charging for the fleet, but also offers a reliable and environmentally friendly power source, with zero harmful emissions. Resilience is also a major benefit of this method, as it bypasses grid capacity constraints which allows the Ministry of Defence to generate power in areas where upgrades to the grid are not feasible.
In order to complete the process, Defence Support and Strategic Command came together alongside the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Front Line Commands, and industry experts.
Image credit: iStock and the Ministry of Defence
