Logistics Technology Investigations (LTI) WP6
Background and requirement
Logistics Technology Investigations (LTI) Work Package 6 (WP6) delivered robust analysis of Fossil Fuels and Alternative Energy to assist Dstl in understanding energy demand across UK Defence, recommending how this could be reduced and showing what alternative energy sources could offer to better support climate change. The work was split into three work packages.
Approach
WP6a leveraged the best thinking by holding interviews and workshops with SMEs from Defence and industry, to identify carbon reduction technologies and alternative energy strategies. Supplementing this, TP Group explored over two hundred Science and Technology papers from commercial and Defence (NATO, UK MOD, and US DoD) sectors. Outputs included a report summarising the recommendations, and a Database of Energy Technology Interventions including Rough Order Magnitude (ROM) whole life costs per intervention and annual savings upon introduction.
WP6b developed a MOD Energy Baseline Forecasting Model which broke down MOD’s future energy requirement by different energy consumers and identified where savings could be made.
Data collection for the model aimed to establish data of sufficient detail to classify energy consumption by fuel type, Top Level Budget (TLB), and (where possible) by Equipment/Infrastructure Category and Type. Given that data for each Front-Line Command (FLC) comprises a combination of Infrastructure and Equipment, data requirements included:
- Historic energy consumption data
- Fuel data.
Additional data/information ascertained for Platforms and Equipment included:
- Annual platform quantities
- Future and replacement capability
The model considers the fuel consumption of Equipment (including Platforms) and Infrastructure. Where possible, the model forecasts Equipment fuel consumption for a given year as the product of past average annual consumption and quantity of equipment in that year. The model forecasts Infrastructure energy consumption based on historic data. Consumption figures are projected forward applying changes in relation to the assumed overall size of the Defence Estate in any particular year.
Using the data collected, and the above methodology, a dashboard was created in Microsoft Power BI to display outputs. This format was used as it was decided that this would best allow users to fully interact with the data and concentrate on areas that may be of particular interest.
Within the dashboard, the forecasted fossil fuel and energy burden can be viewed through four different lenses (navigated via the buttons incorporated within the dashboard):
- Cost (Outturn).
- Cost (Constant Economic Conditions).
- Emissions; and
- Consumption.
Outcome
The dashboard was innovative in allowing users to fully interact with the outputs, in a way which is not possible when viewing charts in a written report. It has been extremely well received by Dstl customer and has the potential to be developed further to assist MOD in its path to net zero. Additional functionality could be added to examine the impact of efficiency improvements associated with new platforms coming into service.
WP6c used the WP6a database in conjunction with the WP6b model to prioritise technologies for trials and assessment based on potential cost and fuel savings. Outputs recommended the most effective technologies relevant to equipment and infrastructure and informed the basis for technology roadmapping.
The work conducted has employed the latest available data and developed to be readily adaptable to changing assumptions or datasets, it can assist the MOD in setting and achieving its Net Zero targets.