Military hydrogen energy storage investment

How much does the army spend on hydrogen storage & generation?

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army is expanding the optimal use of clean and efficient fuel across its fleet of vehicles with the award of six Small Business Innovation Research contracts totaling $10.25 million for hydrogen storage and generation solutions.

How will a hydrogen storage vessel benefit the Army?

The development of conformable hydrogen storage vessels will enable vehicles to carry a less cumbersome fuel source in greater amounts to charge the fleet. Similarly, hydrogen generators allow electric vehicles to refuel quickly in the field, surpassing the rate of traditional Army vehicle batteries in both speed and range.

Can a hydrogen generator be used in an electrified army vehicle fleet?

“With an electrified Army vehicle fleet on the horizon, the development of clean technologies like conformable hydrogen storage and a hydrogen generator are critical to ensuring it exceeds the current fleet’s performance levels,” said Dr. Matt Willis, director of Army Prize Competitions and the Army Applied SBIR Program.

How does hydrogen storage affect the operating cost of the energy hub?

An analysis of the impact of the storage systems, parking, and demand response on the operation and cost of the energy hub shows that the operating cost of the energy hub is reduced by 12.68% with hydrogen-storage systems and by an additional 2.9% with the use of hydrogen vehicles.

How can a green energy hub help the military?

Coupling a green energy source (e.g., photovoltaic, wind) with fuel cells and hydrogen storage satisfied the dynamic energy consumption and dynamic hydrogen demand for both the civilian and military mobility sectors. To make the military sector independent of its civilian counterpart, a military site was connected to a renewable energy hub.

Are hydrogen vehicles suitable for military applications?

The special characteristics of hydrogen vehicles, which include strategic (improved energy security), operational (reduced supply logistics and losses), and tactical (quieter and low-heat combat vehicles), make them very suitable for military applications [ 26 ].