LOW-EMISSION POWER SUPPLY FOR EMERGENCY SHELTERS AND BASES OF OPERATIONS

Project Information

POWERBASE

Grant agreement ID: 101167787

DOI

10.3030/101167787

Project closed

EC signature date 19 July 2024

Start date 1 October 2024

End date 30 September 2025

Funded under

• Civil Security for Society

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 1 037 047,88

Coordinated by

BUNDESANSTALT TECHNISCHES HILFSWERK
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - POWERBASE (LOW-EMISSION POWER SUPPLY FOR EMERGENCY SHELTERS AND BASES OF OPERATIONS)

Reporting period: 2024-10-01 to 2025-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

POWERBASE addresses the urgent need for reliable, low-emission energy solutions for European emergency response operations. Current reliance on diesel generators is unsustainable and does not meet modern operational, environmental, or economic requirements. The project brings together emergency response organizations and stakeholders across Europe to identify needs, assess available and emerging technologies, and build procurement capacity for innovative solutions. By developing a robust requirements catalogue, conducting a comprehensive technology review, and preparing for a joint pre-commercial procurement, POWERBASE aims to accelerate the adoption of sustainable power systems. The expected impact includes improved disaster response, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthened innovation capacity among public buyers, directly supporting EU climate and resilience goals.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the POWERBASE project, the consortium conducted a comprehensive needs assessment involving over 50 emergency response organizations and stakeholders across Europe. The team defined representative emergency scenarios, collected and prioritized operational and functional requirements for low-emission energy supply in Bases of Operation and Emergency Shelters, and validated these through workshops and surveys.

A state-of-the-art analysis was performed, reviewing 33 commercially available and emerging technologies and mapping 209 suppliers. Technology fact sheets and a patent analysis were developed to identify capability gaps and innovation trends. The project also delivered a robust catalogue of requirements and matched these with available solutions, highlighting areas where current technologies do not fully meet end-user needs.

A business case and cost analysis compared conventional and innovative energy solutions, supporting the preparation for a joint pre-commercial procurement (PCP). A full set of PCP tender documents and a strategic procurement plan were developed, laying the groundwork for future innovation procurement.

Key outcomes include:
-A validated catalogue of operational requirements for low-emission energy supply in disaster response,
-A comprehensive review of available and emerging technologies,
-Identification of capability gaps and supplier landscape,
-A business case and cost analysis for transitioning to sustainable solutions,
-PCP tender documents and a procurement strategy ready for implementation.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

POWERBASE delivered a validated catalogue of operational requirements for low-emission energy supply in emergency response, a comprehensive review of 32 technologies and 209 suppliers, and a business case and cost analysis comparing conventional and innovative solutions. The project produced technology fact sheets, identified capability gaps, and prepared a full set of PCP tender documents and a procurement strategy.

Potential Impacts:
The project lays the foundation for emergency response organizations to transition to sustainable, innovative power systems, supporting EU climate and resilience goals. Adoption of these solutions is expected to improve disaster response, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve health of workers and sheltered people, and strengthen public procurement capacity for innovation.

The eight key exploitation results are:
-Scenario-based use cases for requirements analysis and future technology assessments
-A questionnaire to assess functional and performance requirements within the emergency response organisations
-A catalogue of functional and performance requirements for low emission power supply in Bases of Operations (BoO) and Emergency Shelters (ES)
-A catalogue of 33 existing and emerging technologies
-A compilation of capability gaps and future trends
-A procurement strategy, including a business case, a cost analysis and preliminary PCP tender documents
-A pan-European network of 32+ emergency response organisations and 30+ suppliers formed through workshops, technology showcases, fair attendance, and the Open Market Consultation (OMC)
-Reusable training resources on PCP and PPI for emergency response organisations and public buyers

To ensure further uptake and success, the following are needed:
-Continued research and demonstration of new technologies in real-world scenarios
-Matchmaking between suppliers and end users
-Support for commercialization and IPR management
-International collaboration and knowledge exchange
-A supportive regulatory and standardization framework to facilitate procurement and deployment of innovative solutions

Low-emission power supply for emergency shelters and bases of operation