| Project Detail |
Renewable portable energy solutions for international emergency response
The increasing frequency of natural and man-made disasters has strained the resources and capacities of emergency response organisations worldwide. Portable energy sources are crucial for powering bases of operation or emergency shelters, with diesel generators being the most efficient but carrying a range of adverse effects (e.g. emissions). The EU-funded POWERBASE project will establish a network of European emergency response organisations and renewable energy solution providers. Emergency response organisations will map their needs using a holistic and capability-driven approach concerning renewable energy supply in bases of operation and emergency shelters. An additional state-of-the-art analysis will summarise market-ready and emerging renewable technologies. POWERBASE will facilitate easier access to renewable portable energy solutions and support collaborative research and development of more efficient solutions.
During large-scale natural or manmade disasters (e.g. flooding, wildfires, earthquakes) with damaged infrastructure, access to reliable, scalable, and portable energy supply is crucial for emergency response organizations (ERO). It enables the operability of Bases of Operations (BoO) during response activities and of Emergency Shelters (ES) for the affected communities.
So far, no other technology surpasses diesel generators in meeting energy supply requirements for BoO and ES, despite their negative effects, including noise, heat, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Moreover, the dependence on local fuel further impacts the already disaster-stricken areas, exacerbating resource challenges faced by local communities.
To address these challenges, leveraging the advances in renewable energy (RE) technology is the key to achieving true self-sufficiency and providing a low-emission power supply for BoO and ES, while mitigating the aforementioned disadvantages. POWERBASE follows a holistic capability-driven approach to address this gap and create a community of European EROs and innovative renewable energy solution suppliers.
EROs will describe and validate their unmet low-emission power supply needs in functional and operational terms. At the same time, a comprehensive State of the Art (SOTA) analysis will map market-ready and emerging RE technologies. In the following open market consultation, requirements, and SOTA will be communicated to solution providers. Through its procurement strategy and end-user driven needs, POWERBASE establishes the ground for the future adoption of existing and emerging RE technologies that can enable the transition towards a low-emission, reliable, self-sufficient, mobile power supply for ES and BoO contributing to EU Green Deal 2050 target of 55% GHG emission reduction. This transition will also significantly improve the accommodation conditions of emergency responders, sheltered people in ES, and acceptance within local communities |
