Military bases worldwide remain heavily dependent on fossil fuels for their energy supply, increasing their carbon footprint and vulnerability due to logistical challenges. Researchers from the UL Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, have developed an innovative methodology for designing autonomous energy hubs based on renewable energy sources and green hydrogen, and demonstrated its capabilities on the case of the energy system of the military barracks in Kranj.
The defence sector faces a dual challenge: reducing its carbon footprint in line with European climate targets while ensuring a reliable and secure energy supply and autonomous operation. Dependence on external energy sources represents a logistical burden and a strategic vulnerability, particularly in crisis situations.
Proposed solutions mostly focus on solar power plants and battery systems for backup power supply, often neglecting long-term energy storage and the comprehensive integration of mobility. Hydrogen energy hubs incorporating electrolysers, fuel cells, and hydrogen storage tanks have emerged as a promising solution for ensuring longer-term energy independence, yet their application in the defence sector remains largely unexplored.
In a study published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (IF: 8.3), researchers from the UL Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, together with representatives of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, addressed this gap by developing a five-stage methodology incorporating defence-specific operational indicators, and demonstrated its practical value on the real-world case of the military barracks in Kranj. The integration of renewable energy sources and green hydrogen into the energy system design of the Kranj military barracks enables a significant reduction in dependence on fossil fuels, representing a key step towards achieving climate targets in the defence sector as well. At the same time, the designed energy system provides a high level of operational autonomy, which is of critical importance for the defence sector. Simulation results demonstrate that 3-day autonomous operation can be achieved at any time of year, 10-day operation is feasible for most of the year, while 30-day autonomous operation is achievable through system parameter optimisation or demand management. Furthermore, the designed energy system returns energy to the distribution grid during certain periods of the year and can therefore be characterised as a prosumer. Throughout the entire year, the system also enables the refuelling of hydrogen vehicles, thereby establishing a link between the military and civilian sectors.
The developed methodology and findings pave the way for establishing a network of energy hubs across five Slovenian military bases, which would jointly supply green hydrogen and electricity, thus contributing to energy independence and the defossilisation of transport.
Design of a sustainable hydrogen-based energy hub for military applications