Modern armed forces run on diesel and jet fuel, delivered through long chains of refineries, pipelines, depots and trucks. Every link in that chain can be disrupted.
Even oil-producing nations are exposed. Norway refines at a single site, imports diesel, marine gas oil and jet fuel, and holds emergency stocks.
The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) warns that fuel demand rises sharply in wartime, while domestic production may fall to sabotage or attack. A failure in fuel supply would have immediate and severe consequences for national and allied forces.
Synthetic diesel, jet fuel and marine fuel can be produced from hydrogen and captured CO₂, using renewable power. Electrolysis is the first step: it turns water and electricity into the hydrogen every synthetic fuel is built from.
Plants built this way can be sited close to where fuel is needed and run on local renewable power, with less reliance on imports and long supply lines. The fuel they produce can replace conventional fuel without changes to the equipment that runs on it.
Dual use by design. Emergency stocks wait for a crisis; a local plant doesn’t have to. In peacetime it can supply hydrogen and synthetic fuel to industry and transport, so it earns its keep and is already running when it counts.
For many years, Nel PEM stacks have produced breathing oxygen on board submarines, supplied through Collins Aerospace for US, UK and French naval programs. When crews depend on the technology, it has to work every time.
With roots going back to 1927 and manufacturing in Norway and the United States – both NATO members – Nel brings nearly a century of electrolysis experience to defence.
As armed forces move to secure their own fuel supply, Nel is exploring with Rheinmetall how to produce synthetic fuel close to where it is needed.
Tell us your hydrogen production goals and one of our engineers will scope a solution built to your scale – from pilot to gigawatt.