POWERBASE

Funded by: European Union as part of the Horizon Europe program

Budget: 1.000.000 €

Coordinator: Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW)

Consortium: Fraunhofer Institute for Technological Trend Analysis INT, Austrian Red Cross, Swedish Civil Protection Agency, French Ministry of the Interior, Italian Ministry of the Interior, Hungarian Malteser Relief Service, Slovenian Samaritan Association, Dutch Fire Brigade, Center for Security Studies (KEMEA), Vieira Costa Gomes - Sociedade de Advogados RL, ARTTIC Innovation GmbH

Goal: POWERBASE aims to update the basis for the future procurement of renewable energy technologies in disaster control. By developing low-emission and self-sufficient mobile energy supply systems, the working and accommodation conditions for emergency services and people seeking protection are to be significantly improved. This not only helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also minimizes risks from noise, heat and exhaust fumes.

The need for such technologies became clear during past disaster operations, such as after the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria in February 2023, where the high diesel consumption and the resulting emissions caused considerable harm to people and the environment.

POWERBASE is analyzing the specific requirements of various disaster scenarios, including forest fires at high temperatures, cross-border flooding events with many people affected and earthquakes in remote mountain regions. At the same time, existing technologies and potential innovations that can meet these requirements are being evaluated.

Project launch: October 1, 2024

Project end: September 30, 2025

Tasks of Fraunhofer INT:

• Scientific management of the project
• Management of the needs assessment work package
• State-of-the-art analysis of existing solutions and future technical possibilities

Funding: The POWERBASE project is supported by the European Union as part of the Horizon Europe research and innovation program with 1 million euros.

Further information: POWERBASE brings together twelve leading emergency relief and research organizations from across Europe to work together on sustainable solutions for disaster management. By sharing diverse expertise and pooling these resources, the aim is to make a significant contribution to the modernization, environmental friendliness and self-sufficiency of disaster relief operations.