CONSULTATION FORUM FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY IN THE DEFENCE AND SECURITY SECTOR - PHASE III

Project Information

CF SEDSS III

Grant agreement ID: 882171

DOI

10.3030/882171

Project closed

EC signature date 19 September 2019

Start date 1 October 2019

End date 30 September 2024

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 3 200 000,00

EU contribution

€ 3 200 000,00

Coordinated by

EUROPEAN DEFENCE AGENCY
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - CF SEDSS III (CONSULTATION FORUM FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY IN THE DEFENCE AND SECURITY SECTOR - PHASE III)

Reporting period: 2023-02-01 to 2024-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Building on the results of the first (2015-2017) and second (2017-2019) phases of the Consultation Forum for Sustainable Energy in the Defence and Security Sector (CF SEDSS), the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the European Commission launched the third phase of the project in October 2019. Phase III aimed to implement the EU policy and legal framework on energy in defence, reinforcing the Forum as a key platform for sharing information and best practices. It focused on improving energy efficiency, enhancing building performance, utilising renewable energy sources in the defence sector, and increasing the resilience of critical energy infrastructure related to defence. The Forum also addressed cross-cutting themes such as energy management, policy, innovative energy technologies and identifying applicable funding or financing instruments for defence energy-related topics.
With support from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) and the European Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), CF SEDSS III has been instrumental in supporting the defence sector to adopt sustainable energy policies and practices by:
• Fostering networking between defence and energy experts.
• Identifying bottlenecks preventing the defence sector from fully benefiting from sustainable energy.
• Reducing the defence sector's energy costs and footprint, supporting its transition to a more sustainable and resilient energy model.
• Stimulating innovative energy policies, strategies, and action plans for defence.
• Generating ideas for collaborative defence energy-related projects, including dual-use synergies within the defence and civilian markets.
• Identifying and promoting potential EU funding sources and other applicable financing
• instruments for supporting defence energy-related projects.

The project produced more than 30 project ideas, 15 research studies, and sustainable energy guidance, examining how EU energy legislation and sustainable energy policies can effectively apply to the defence and security sector and foster further collaborative projects among Member States and stakeholders. Special attention was given to technological advancements in the energy domain that can help increase the energy resilience of the armed forces.
All this helped the armed forces to enhance their resilience by expanding renewable energy use, incorporating sustainability into operations, and designing infrastructure resilient to climate change. This, in turn, will support the EU climate objectives, given the sizable contribution of the armed forces to global greenhouse gas emissions.

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 entire project duration, the Consultation Forum Phase III completed the following deliverables:
• Report of the CF SEDSS III kick-off meeting;
• CF SEDSS III Event Organisation Guidelines;
• Revision of the CF SEDSS III National Contact Points (NCPs) Terms of Reference (ToR);
• Report of the 1st CF SEDSS III Plenary conference;
• CF SEDS III Dissemination and Communication Plan;
• Report on the 1st Defence (NCPs) and Energy Conference;
• Report on the 2nd Plenary Conference;
• Report on the 3rd Plenary Conference;
• Report on the 4th Plenary Conference;
• Mid-Term Assessment of the Dissemination and Communication Plan;
• Report on the 2nd Defence (NCPs) and Energy Conference;
• Report on the 5th Plenary Conference;
• Report on the 6th Plenary Conference;
• Report on the Dissemination Conference;
• Final Report on Dissemination and Communication Activities;
• 12 Defence energy-related contracting (research) studies;
• 30 Defence energy-related project ideas (information sheets);
• Roadmap and guidance on the implementation of EU energy legislation in the defence sector.

These resulted from the following events, organised as part of the project:
• 7 plenary conferences, including two back-to-back with energy technology solutions conference and exhibition;
• 2 high-level joint defence and energy meetings,
• Three joint thematic workshops;
• A table-top exercise on hybrid threats;
• 16 ad-hoc expert group meetings;
• Series of moderators’ coordination meetings with working group team leaders and moderators of the EU Member States, DG ENER and CINEA representatives.

Overall, implementing all the foreseen CF SEDSS III activities and completion of deliverables enabled the Agency to efficiently disseminate and communicate the project's results to interested bodies and stakeholders, maximising their exploitation. These activities also contributed to the collective consciousness among the EU ministries of defence about promoting defence adaptation to greener and more affordable energy models. In addition to other deliverables, dissemination, and exploitation reports, the project also published key deliverables and developed posters, banners, video clips and podcasts to raise awareness further and engage stakeholders on the project's outcomes and the importance of sustainable energy in the defence sector.

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)

In its third phase, the CF SEDSS has facilitated knowledge sharing and collaborative research among MoDs and stakeholders. The Forum has successfully implemented its objectives, positively impacting defence efforts to address energy considerations and climate change adaptation. It has generated over 30 innovative project ideas, 15 research studies, and an overarching guidance document, including roadmaps to support EU and national policies in reducing energy consumption.
Key initiatives include improving energy efficiency, increasing renewable energy use, encouraging behavioural changes among military personnel, piloting AI-driven energy optimisation projects, as well as efforts to electrify transport within defence facilities and integrate hydrogen fuel technology in logistics vehicles. Additionally, the Forum has focused on incentivising the renovation of defence buildings to nearly zero energy standards. To address real-time challenges, the CF SEDSS organized its first table-top exercise to assess and mitigate vulnerabilities in critical energy infrastructure amid hybrid threats.
Overall, the CF SEDSS has been crucial in advancing the defence energy transition and climate change adaptation, securing nearly €10 million in energy-related funding from the European Commission. A key success has been a spillover effect to other thematic areas by conceptualising the Symbiosis project, which received €2 million under Horizon Europe to promote coexistence between defence activities and renewable energy initiatives. The Forum’s products have supported actions such as the Energy and Environment Capability and Technology Group and the Incubation Forum on Circular Economy.
The successful work of the Consultation Forum was acknowledged in the June 2019 and June 2020 Council Conclusions. The Climate Change and Defence Roadmap, issued in November 2020, included specific actions for the Forum, recognizing the Forum’s role in enhancing energy efficiency and resilience in the defence sector while contributing to the European Green Deal. The mid-term review of the Roadmap highlighted the Forum's efforts in developing sustainable energy solutions and increasing resilience and operational efficiency amid climate change. The Forum’s work significantly contributes to the EU’s Joint Communication on the climate-security nexus and is acknowledged in the EU's Offshore Strategy and the Action Plan on Synergies between Civil, Defence, and Space Industries.

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