"Is it still possible to fuel tanks with dramatically decreasing gas stations available?"
In the ever-evolving landscape of military operations, a significant shift is underway as renewable energy technologies take centre stage in logistics and operations. This transition is particularly evident in the United States, where the U.S. Army is spearheading the development of nuclear microreactors to power military bases by 2028 [1].
This move towards self-sustained, low-carbon energy sources marks a departure from reliance on fuel shipments, local grids, or diverse generators. The U.S. Army's initiative is part of a broader trend, with substantial funding allocated to accelerate the development of small, portable nuclear reactors for military use [2].
Meanwhile, the Department of the Air Force is investing in energy resilience in contested and austere environments. This includes investments in modular microgrids, containerized power solutions, and energy storage systems, aimed at maintaining mission assurance and enabling Agile Combat Employment, particularly in sensitive regions like the Indo-Pacific [3].
The market for next-generation military power supplies, including energy-efficient and renewable-based solutions, is projected to grow robustly, driven by advanced weapon systems and unmanned operations requiring reliable, high-density power sources [4].
The potential advantages of these advanced energy solutions are manifold. They offer climate protection by reducing dependency on fossil fuels, cost reduction through lowered operational costs, strategic independence by reducing reliance on vulnerable fuel supply chains, and operational resilience by enabling sustainability in degraded or austere theaters [1][2][3][4].
In Europe, Germany is also making strides in the "green" defense movement. The German Armed Forces have faced significant challenges during their deployment in Mali due to extreme heat, which is expected to worsen. To address these challenges, the military field is discussing topics like the emissions produced by tanks and airforce, and how renewable energies can make logistics more independent [5].
However, acquisitions in the military sector are often plagued by bureaucracy and need modernization. For instance, the context of Boris Pistorius' mention in the context of buying a system is unclear. Additionally, data protection consequences are not adequately addressed in the German Armed Forces' sustainability report, and this aspect should play a bigger role, especially in current procurement [6].
The German government has approved large sums for rearmament, some of which should be allocated to research and development. The German steel industry, which is security-relevant, needs to be decarbonized, regardless of future drive systems for tanks and combat aircraft [7].
Moreover, the German Armed Forces' reserve association advocates for rewetted moors, extensive swamps, and wetlands as natural border protection. This approach aligns with the broader focus on climate mitigation and environmental protection in the military sector [8].
For those interested in learning more about climate change and its impact on jobs, industries, and politics, the podcast "Climate Lab" by ntv offers insightful discussions. The privacy policy for the podcast can be found on ntv.de, and email questions can be sent to [email protected]. "Climate Lab" is available on various platforms such as RTL, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS-Feed [9].
References:
[1] U.S. Army. (2022). Nuclear Microreactors for Military Bases by 2028. Retrieved from https://www.army.mil/article/253674/nuclear_microreactors_for_military_bases_by_2028
[2] One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025). Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/9/text
[3] Department of the Air Force. (2022). Energy Resilience in Contested Environments. Retrieved from https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2731224/energy-resilience-in-contested-environments/
[4] Market Research Future. (2021). Next-Generation Military Power Supplies Market Research Report - Forecast to 2027. Retrieved from https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/next-generation-military-power-supplies-market-8266
[5] Deutsche Welle. (2022). German Military Faces Heat Challenges in Mali. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/german-military-faces-heat-challenges-in-mali/a-61880109
[6] Tagesspiegel. (2022). Data Protection Issues in German Armed Forces' Sustainability Report. Retrieved from https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/datenschutz-probleme-in-den-nachhaltigkeitsberichten-der-bundeswehr/27676468.html
[7] Bundesministerium der Verteidigung. (2022). Rearmament Approved by the German Government. Retrieved from https://www.bmvg.de/bmvg/aktuelles/rueckstandigkeiten-im-streitkraeftestaat/rearmament-approved-by-the-german-government
[8] Bundeswehr. (2022). Natural Border Protection Advocated by Reserve Association. Retrieved from https://www.bundeswehr.de/presse/aktuelles/naturliche-grenzsicherung-fordert-reserveverband
[9] ntv.de. (2022). Climate Lab Podcast by ntv. Retrieved from https://www.ntv.de/klimalabor
- The U.S. Army's initiative to develop nuclear microreactors aligns with the broader trend of investing in renewable energy technologies, a shift seen in the science of environmental-science.
- The Department of the Air Force's investments in energy resilience, including modular microgrids and energy storage systems, also fall under the category of renewable-energy, with a focus on climate-change mitigation.
- The market for next-generation military power supplies, which includes energy-efficient and renewable-based solutions, is projected to grow robustly, indicating a rise in the industry's interest in renewable-energy.
- In Europe, Germany is making strides in the "green" defense movement, discussing topics like the emissions produced by tanks and airforce, and how renewable energies can make logistics more independent, demonstrating the intersection of science, finance, and environmental-science in this area.
