idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Energy security is of central importance for both national and collective defence. The Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE is part of the project team for the recently launched EU project SENTINEL (Sustainable Energy Capabilities for Enhanced Military Camps and Operations). The aim of this four-year project is to develop sustainable and innovative energy solutions that perform reliably under adverse conditions while reducing the logistical foot-print of military camps and operations. SENTINEL is funded by the European Defence Fund.
Launched in early 2026, SENTINEL aims to reduce the military’s high dependence on fossil fuels and establish sustainable and resilient energy supply concepts for military operations. The project addresses one of the most pressing strategic challenges for European defense at the interface of energy security, fuel dependency, and operational readiness. With a total budget of around €57 million, the four-year project brings together military and civilian expertise from 42 partners across 16 countries.
In close cooperation with the armed forces, 17 key energy solutions are being developed, tested, and refined. These include new energy technologies, digital energy management solutions, improved mobility concepts, and the integration of smart grids. The solutions are being trialed in five practical demonstrations—four at existing military bases and one in a fully digital environment. Testing under realistic military conditions and in different climate zones makes the project challenging, but also highly relevant in practical terms. SENTINEL builds on the predecessor project INDY (Energy Independent and Efficient Deployable Military Camps), in which the former Fraunhofer INT – part of Fraunhofer FKIE since early 2026 – was already involved.
Fraunhofer FKIE is responsible for specific analysis and planning tasks within the project. Since the practical demonstrations will take place in different climate zones, one of the first tasks was to analyze the expected conditions at each location, including extreme weather events and possible impacts of climate change. In addi-tion, based on the “Emerging Technology Compendium” developed in the INDY project (containing 75 technol-ogy analyses), Fraunhofer FKIE is identifying emerging energy technologies that could be relevant for military field camps in the future.
From February 10 to 12, 2026, the project partners met in person for the first time in Maribor, Slovenia. Under the title “Aligning Expectations,” more than 130 representatives from 16 European countries participated, in-cluding the 42 consortium partners, representatives of the European Commission, members of the end-user advisory board, and officials from participating defense ministries and armed forces. The meeting aimed to establish a common understanding of the project goals, align expectations, and strengthen coordination be-tween the consortium and the ministries. The program included plenary sessions, technical presentations, and interactive workshops, with a focus on coordinating the central energy solutions as well as the planned demon-strations and work packages.
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