Devonport Naval Base, in collaboration with UK Strategic Command, Defence Support and GeoPura is pioneering a Hydrogen Power trial on site at the Motor Transport Department that will provide off grid Electric Vehicle charging.
Following extensive review by MOD and Babcock, the first Electrical Vehicle charge took place on Monday 23 Oct 2023 with Naval Base Commander, Brigadier Mike Tanner, charging his staff car. The trial will run for approximately six months.
The trial aims to gather valuable learning about the use of Hydrogen on site whilst offering additional EV charging capability. It is also hoped that it will open the door for hydrogen use in power generators, marine vessels and more as we look for innovative ways to meet our Net Zero Carbon targets.
The project, led by Strategic Command, Defence Support and the Naval Base Design Authority is already in discussion about potential future trials in 2024 involving the fuelling and use of hydrogen vehicles on site. If the trials are successful, this could lead to the prospect of the Naval Base generating its own hydrogen locally and potentially sharing the capability with other Plymouth city partners.
This solution bypasses the constraints of the distribution grid capacity, augmenting the supply and allowing the MOD to provide power even in areas where grid upgrades are delayed or not feasible.
GeoPura’s HPU uses fuel cell technology to generate power from Hydrogen with the only by-product being pure water and heat.
Left to right: Geopura Chief Commercial Officer Rebecca McLean, Naval Base Commander Brigadier Mike Tanner, UK Stratcom Project Lead Richard Griffiths, and Naval Base Design Authority Group Head Richard Hoare.
