A changing energy security environment – a review of alternative energy carriers for light duty vehicles

Abstract:   The increasing energy demand and its impact on the climate around the world has evoked several sectors´ efforts in order to develop and implement sustainable technologies. Political incentives and companies go toward great changes when it comes to reduction of energy sources from fossil-origins in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achievement of energy security. The military organisation is strongly dependent on fossil-based energy in several units. So far, alternative energy carriers to fossil energy sources have been an uncertain option when it comes to complying with military operational requirements. It is important that new technologies do not endanger military capabilities.  However, when the market goes toward more sustainable developments for alternative energy carriers, the military sector has to follow the development in order to utilize the available assortment and to secure supply chains. The energy demand within defence is expected to increase with respect to advanced equipment and communication technologies etc. This is related to all units within the defence. This thesis has been executed on a request by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration in order to identify alternative energy carriers for a light duty vehicle.The thesis emphasizes how the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration can consider alternative energy carriers for light duty vehicles in order to achieve energy security without endangering military capabilities from a strategic perspective. The aim is to contribute to awareness of the market direction for sustainable technologies of alternative energy carriers in order to address knowledge gaps and facilitate the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration’s decisions about future research areas. The methods for the study included both literature reviews from previous research but also interviews with persons in both the private and public sectors. Based on previous research and the interviews, the results landed on four different energy carriers: biomethane, hydrogenated vegetable oils, hydrogen and Lithium-ion batteries. These energy carriers have been studied in relation to the following mechanisms: production, storage and infrastructure needed for energy supply. The thesis found that HVO and synthetic fuels have a limited impact on military organization compared to biomethane, hydrogen and batteries. However, large-scale production of these technologies is limited by the amount of waste available. From an energy security perspective Sweden has potential to exploit both the forest and renewable electricity from wind and solar energy. However, for an establishment there is a need for a closer interplay between the private and the public sector, where political incentives are vital for development.