The presentation of the outcomes of the “INDY – Energy Independent and Efficient Deployable Military Camps” project, held on 22 January 2025 in Brussels, brought together over 120 representatives and key stakeholders from Ministries of Defence, the European Commission (EC), the European Defence Agency (EDA), NATO, INDY project partners and other leading organisations.
This landmark event showcased the project’s strategic roadmap (2030-2050) for Energy-Independent Military Camps, focusing on enhancing energy resilience and efficiency in military operations.
The INDY project is one of the first strategic European projects under the European Defence Fund (EDF) programme that addresses green energy and the resilience of armed forces against threats related to energy security, dependence on fossil fuels, supply chain vulnerabilities, and climate change. The two-year research project aimed to develop a strategic roadmap to enhance future deployable military camps’ energy resilience, independence, and efficiency, thereby strengthening EU armed forces’ military and operational capabilities while minimising their environmental footprint.
Gustaf WINROTH, Deputy Head of A3 at DG DEFIS, responsible for European Defence Fund Implementation – Defence Technologies and Innovation, remarked in his opening speech: “INDY is one of the first EDF projects coming to a close. The project is a part of the energy efficiency category and has very tangible results when it comes to holistic energy management in actual operational environments. The dissemination event today will showcase these results and its potential for green transition in the defence area as well as spin-outs to other applications.”
Matej GAJZER, Managing Director of TECES and INDY Coordinator, highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for the industry to integrate innovative energy technologies and address the evolving needs of the defence sector. “European defence efforts must focus on enhancing the autonomy, reliability, and security of the EU’s energy supply chains while ensuring the interoperability and standardisation of newly developed solutions. With a wide range of civilian and defence stakeholders, the INDY project has established a foundation for future projects and transformative advancements that can shape the future of defence energy solutions.”
The INDY project developed four scenarios for military camp types tailored to different climates and sizes and projected their evolution for 2030 and 2050. It also created a comprehensive database of over 65 emerging technologies, focusing on achieving energy independence and operational resilience.
Additionally, 13 Key Energy Capabilities (KEC) were identified and selected to advance demonstration actions in the energy resilience of military camps. Furthermore, the project defined measurable energy infrastructure improvements for 2030, achieving 35% to 55% energy autonomy for camps, 13% autonomy for operations, a 35% to 45% reduction in logistics demands, and a 15% to 28% decrease in total cost of ownership compared to 2020 legacy solutions.
These outcomes underline INDY’s commitment to advancing energy independence and efficiency in the defence sector while addressing future challenges through civil-defence dual-use innovation and strategic planning.
The prominent speakers of key stakeholders supporting the INDY implementation 2022-2025 presented their views on project research findings, the collaboration efforts of respective Ministries of Defence within the INDY End-User Advisory Board (EAB) towards the partnership and the cross-fertilisation opportunities at the EU defence flora within the PESCO and EDA, Energy and Environment CapTech.
Col. Robert ŠIPEC, representing the Slovenian Ministry of Defence and serving as the INDY End-User Advisory Board Chair and EC Project Manager, highlighted the importance of the project results from an end-user perspective: « Ministries of Defence are under increasing pressure to adopt resilient, sustainable solutions that enhance operational capabilities and align with environmental goals. We are enthusiastic about the potential of such projects and, even more so, about the tangible outcomes they deliver. Project INDY provided critical insights and guidance for shaping the future direction of military operations and the development of demonstration actions on deployable military bases.”
Bg. Gen (Ret.) Ioannis CHATZIALEXANDRIS, the European Defence Agency (EDA) representative and Energy and Environment CapTech Moderator, emphasised the alignment between the INDY project’s objectives and those of the European defence energy community: “The protection of critical energy infrastructure and energy security were identified as one of the Capability Development Priorities among the member states. It is more than obvious that the INDY project perfectly serves this priority, and the INDY project might serve as a model for achieving tangible progress in these areas.”
Lt. Col. Raphaël DANINO-PERRAUD, representing the French Ministry of Defence and serving as the PESCO-EOF project Coordinator, shared insights from the PESCO-Energy Operational Function (EOF) perspective. The EOF aims to jointly develop and implement an operational function in the energy domain by pooling existing assets and resources. He highlighted the role of projects like INDY in this endeavour: “The results of EDF projects as INDY will allow a better view of the needs and the necessary achievements. Gradually, organising the CAT B project (EDA) or proposing R&D topics at the EDF level will be possible.”
The INDY project, officially concluding on 31 January 2025, underscores the importance of continued collaboration among European civilian and defence stakeholders. By addressing critical challenges such as energy security, climate impact, and operational efficiency, the project sets a strong foundation for advancing energy resilience and independence in the European defence sector, paving the way for transformative solutions and future initiatives.
More about the EDF-2021-INDY project at https://www.indycamp.eu.