alternative methods of powering the armed forces

Alternative Methods of Powering the Armed Forces

12 March 2013

SWWE APM BranchMr Paul Johnson

Alternative methods of powering the Armed Forces…..12 Mar 2013

Economic

Sustainable economic growthMove to low carbon economy

Maintain global carrying capacityConserve and recycle resources

Reduce wasteEnvironmental

Satisfy reasonable needsIncrease self-reliance

Social

MoD SustainableOperations

Sustainable Development – Trading SpaceSustainable Procurement


Concept Assessment Demonstration Manufacture In-Service Disposal

Specify sustainability requirements

Assess environmental, economic & social impacts while ensuring operational requirements are met

Maximise sustainability during manufacture and in-service phases

Minimise environmental impact at disposal, including re-use and re-cycling

Embedding Sustainability in the Acquisition Process

Sustainable Lifecycle


The Operational Problem

• Electrical power on operations is a critical capability but has a large logistic and operating burden

• The UK approach to generation and distribution has historically been:– Local and in-situ generation– A mixture of equipment solutions– Bespoke construction– Totally dependant upon multiple diesel generators

• The result is complex, inflexible and inefficient


Developing PowerFOB

• Reduced Dependency on Fossil Fuels Capability Vision– Alternative technologies– Solar, wind, energy storage

• Forward Operating Base Exercise – Enhance FOB capability– Military utility assessed

• Generic Base Architecture– Open System approach– Reconfigure current assets


Key Risks & Constraints

• Shipping (international)

• SME availability

• Technical

• Admin

– Travel

– Finances

– Accom & Mess

– VIP

• FOB location (environment)

• £1.4m BC

– Canada DND

– Dstl PO


PowerFOB Schedule

Ship Equipment

Cyprus Trial

VIP Day

Ship to UK

Jan 11 April 11 July 11 Oct 11 Jan 12

FOBEX VIP

Definition

Stakeholder Day

Planning

Analyse Results

Scope Op Trial

Recce

Contract

25 Jul 11

31 Jan 12

9 Feb 11

4 Apr 11


The Recce

• British Forces Cyprus, April 2011• Accom & Feed in Mess to reduce costs• Choice of 2 FOBS• FOB Spartan due to size, location and ease of

access• Supported by Industry• Scoped out technical options and priorities


PowerFOB Objectives

• Aim: To identify fuel efficient technologies and sustainable electrical power alternatives to fossil fuels

• Objective: Making FOBs as ‘fuel efficient’ as possible whilst maintaining operational capability

– Task 1: Fuel Efficient Base. Intelligent power management, renewables and storage

– Task 2: Low Power Accm. Insulation, shades, renewable input.

– Task 3: Micro Power. Reducing battery burden, increasing endurance, fuel cells.


Logistics

• 22 different companies; limited experience of working with the MoD– Over 150 different people over 3 weeks– Accommodated and fed in mess

• International Collaboration– Canadian DND– US Marines

• OGD Collaboration– British Antarctic Survey (BAS)– Home Office


The Reality

• Cyprus ‘Blows Up’ on 11 July– Evangelos Florakis Naval Base– 98 containers of explosives self detonated– 4th largest accidental explosion in history

• Impact – Islands largest power station severely

damaged– Island without power– Rolling black-outs


Impact on PowerFOB

• Equipment and Companies already deployed– Cyprus Mess has back-up generator for when

blackout hits area– In situ generators support kitchen and reefers

• Offered diesel generators and SME resource to support island– SME resource taken– Generators not large enough – remain at FOB

• Minimal impact to trial and personnel– Reduced SME support


PowerFOB Task 1

• Requirement to reduce the logistic burden• Attempt a 50% reduction in fuel consumption• In-service equipment operated inefficiently and is

old technology – no generation or demand management

• Increasing demand for energy on the battlefield• Increasing cost of energy• Risk to assured fuel supply in the future


PowerFOB Task 1 Realities

• Use current generator (FEPS)• Baseline FOB Catina (real data)• Daily demand profile remains constant• Cyprus in July = Afghanistan in May• Some electrical loads simulated, some real• All equipment is 20’ ISO transportable


Power Generation and Management

Generator Management

Energy StorageDemand

ManagementIntegrated

Renewables

Intelligent Power Management

Remote System Monitoring and Control

Enables integration with in-service generators

Generators run at their most efficient output, then turn off

In-service distribution hardware with added metering and switching

Prioritises power to critical systems in emergency

Stops generator overloads

Integrating renewable sources into the base power grid - can be plugged in anywhere in the base

Increases surety of supply and backup power for critical systems

Scavenges surplus power in the grid

Can run the camp from storage and turn generators off

Provides a backup for critical systems


Task 1 ResultsPower Management Concepts Used

Fuel Saving

Generator Running

Hours SavedGenerator

ManagementEnergy Storage

Demand Management

Renewables Integration

X X

22% 50%

X

X

5-15% 5-10%

X X X

37% 70%

X X X X 40-45% 75%


Task 2 Results• Enhanced insulation is up to 25% more efficient than

standard• Internal temperatures cooler during the day• Indicative savings at Camp Bastion between 2 & 4m

litres of fuel per year

Average Internal Shelter Temperatures(for Target Temperature of 22 deg C)

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Air-Conditioning Power Demand

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kW

)Reference ShelterStandard Internal + Colpro External Insulation

HDT Radiant Barrier


Task 3 Results

• Solar Mats 60w – 250w– Charged all man portable batteries (130w/3hrs)– Maintained radio vehicle battery charge– High ‘Watts to Weight’ ratio

• Fuel Cells 75w – 250w– Charged all man portable batteries (13w/7hrs)– Fuel cell worked well in military vehicles (extended

comms with engine not running)


PowerFOB Conclusions

• Fuel savings of 40 – 50% are possible• Simple improvements to existing equipment can bring

real results• Solar mats are effective for smaller demands (further

forward)• Fuel cells need comparing to batteries for specialist

tasks (remote sensors, vehicle mount)• Enhancing shelter insulation can reduce power by up to

25% (£1m saving per anum at Camp Bastion)


Recommendations

• Operational Concept Demonstrator (OCD) to prove results

• Incorporate cost-effective renewable technology• Support Generic Base Architecture to improve future

integration• Exploit results to inform future requirements and

investment• Better understand static power demand• Liaise with other Nations on fuel cell use


PowerFOB OCD

• Aim:– Quantify identified benefits

• Scope:– Use 2 x FOBS in Kenya– Couple existing generators with demand

management, storage and renewable energy sources (Solar PV)

• Output:– Quantifiable evidence of actual fuel savings achieved

(during a sustained period of User activity)


Key Risks & Constraints

• Shipping (international)

• Location (safety)

• Suitability for data gathering

• User availability

– Training dates

– Olympics

• £1.6m BC

– Dstl PO

– Cap ELS


Schedule – PowerFOB (Kenya)Jan 12 April 12 July 12 Oct 12 Jan 13

Ship Equipment

Kenya Trial Start

Kenya Trial

Kenya Trial End

Contract Award

Recce

Planning

UK Integration Test

Ship Home

Cost Benefit Analysis

CBA Reports 31 Mar 13

26 Jan 12

April 13

21 Sept 12

18 June 12


Preparation

• Security Awareness in Fragile Environments (SAFE) Training– Mixture of classroom and role-playing– First Aid– Foreign Travel– Situational Awareness

• Jabs/Tablets


Stage 2 Recce

Nairobi to Nanyuki200km

Nanyuki to Archers Post 120km

Archers Post to Range CP10km

Range CP to MOB SIMBA 90 mins

MOB Simba FOB Twika


5 Months later…

• security (at all times!)• Accommodation

– Nanyuki Lodge– Simba Lodge

Insects (bad!) Wildlife (good?...) ‘Hunter-gatherer’ territory

• Satellite phones required for safety


MOB Simba

• 500 Man Austere Tented Camp

• Accommodation, Ops Room (incl. Air-con), Medical (incl. Air-con), and Workshop Facilities

• Exercising troops in-situ• Peak load of 90kW

MOB Simba sits in a semi-arid plain – 40ºC + ambient temperature

MOB Simba sits in a semi-arid plain – 40ºC + ambient temperature


Joint Force Engineering Exercise (JFEE)

• 100 to 200 Man Austere Tented Camp

• Accommodation and Engineer Stores

• Peak load of 25kW• 40kW Generator• Example of a good-use

system


REME Workshop Site - Opportunity

• Workshop with lights, laptops, small tools, welder

• Load between 0.25kW and 5kW

• 24kW Generator is over-sized for demand (limited generator variants available)


Kenya Results

Site & DurationGenerator

Running Hours Saved

Fuel Saving

MOB Simba (500 Man)2 Weeks

33% ± 4% 9% ± 2%

JFEE Site (200 Man)10 weeks

45% ± 5% 35% ± 5%

REME Workshop6 Weeks

89% ± 2% 82% ± 4%


Key Messages

• Reduce demand through Demand Management or low power initiatives

• Use existing generation more efficiently

• Scalable, modular, intelligent storage offers significant potential.

• Exploit alternative sources

• Defined and standardised architecture is key in maximising FOB fuel efficiency


PowerFOB CBA

• In parallel with the activities in Kenya, a PowerFOB Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) has been developed, with the following objective: – To undertake the cost-benefit assessment of the

OCD trial concepts, referenced against baseline configurations of in-service generation and distribution equipment.

• Reports 20 Mar 13 – Waterlooville

MOB Simba - Typical Day Power Profile

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Demand Met By Solar Demand met from Generator

Demand met from Energy Storage Generator Power into Storage


Potential Next Steps

• Potential exploitation routes for PowerFOB outputs:– Further trials (LOSA)– Camp Bastion– Training Estates– Field Power 2020– Fort Devon (US experimentation base)– Op Nanook (Canadian DND)


Reflective ScheduleJan 11 July 11 Jan 12 July 12 Jan 13

Analysis

Op Dem Scoping

Contract Award

Planning

Definition

Planning

Contract Award

Cyprus Trial

Kenya Trial

LOSA Experiment

Cost Benefit Analysis

CBA Reports 20 Mar 13

July 13

21 Jan 12

15 May


Programme Success?

• Budget - £3M; expenditure £2.8M (inc 3rd trial site)

• Early Return On Investment estimates:

– 2 years for FEPS

– 4 years commercial generators

• Timing (too late to support current ops?)

• Help to meet sustainability objectives through-life

– Identified alternative energy sources with military utility

• Matured the GBA DEF STAN

• Informed LOSA Experimentation

– Vehicle, base, soldier


Personal Reflection

• 1 year earlier!

• Hard, physically and mentally

– Travel (flying and internal)

– Long hours/days/weeks…..

– Heat

• ‘Crash’ when back in office

– Motivate self & team

• Very rewarding

– Sense of achievement

– Strong MoD/BAE team

– Collaborative approach

• Good experience

– Something new

– Lots of stakeholders

• Good results!


Contact: [email protected]

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