Closed ATM View - HUB-21-AID-001
Notice for Army Innovation Day 2021 - Energy and Environmental Resilience (including exhibition at AID21)
Army is moving towards accelerated warfare characterised by advanced electronic and networked technologies, robotics and autonomous systems. As technology proliferates in the modern battlespace, the demand for Power and Energy (P&E) will increase, imposing greater levels of energy dependence for land combat.
Army is mindful of balancing operational requirements with effective environmental waste management as part of Defence's ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.
This Challenge Statement is focused on addressing Army’s commitment to energy and environmental resilience. As Army seeks to understand and manage its environmental impacts it looks to Industry and Research Institutions to strengthen resource security, improve the efficiency of resource consumption and modernise waste management.
The Challenge: Defence is seeking innovative Proposals that complement and improve the energy and environmental resilience of the deployed Land Force in the following areas: (1) reducing energy consumption and new power technology, and (2) managing waste.
Proposals must align with at least one of the sub-themes:
Sub-theme 1: Energy Resilience - Enhanced Energy Generation, Transfer and Storage
Some examples of this sub-theme include:
Generation
• Sizeable grid technology improvements to current Pico, Nano or Micro grids for deployed networks.
• Local energy harvesting with substantial efficiency improvements.
• Temporary and deployable energy technology inclusive of/or ability for superior signature management (ie: extended silent watch, silent operation, low heat, reduced exhaust gas, low profile).
Transfer
• Acceleration of energy transfer between storage and platform (60% increase in time efficiency).
Storage
• Significant improvements on current energy storage density solutions (10 fold+).
• Reduction of the size and weight of current energy storage devices for Robotics and Autonomous Systems by 50% of current physical volumes.
• Effective storage of power and energy within containers which make transportation, particularly air lift, more suitable (eg: batteries or combustible fuels which are not categorised as Dangerous Goods and therefore do not require special handling instructions and preparation prior to transportation).
Sub-theme 2: Environmentally responsible operations - Explore an alternative waste management system architecture.
Some examples of this sub-theme include:
• Harness in-situ operational waste products for energy generation to improve energy utilisation and minimise environmental impacts. Examples of opportunities for energy generation from waste may include:
o Petroleum, Oils and Lubricant (POL) waste.
o Kitchen waste digesters.
o Human waste (sewage, black/grey water, excrement) processing.
o Non-hazardous, non-industrial municipal type waste energy generation
o Excess heat and exhaust emissions
• Reduce, reuse and/or recycle operational waste and by-products to minimise environmental pollution and contamination. Examples of the types of waste that may be suitable for reduction, reuse and recycling include:
o Non-hazardous, non-industrial waste, including municipal waste.
o Hazardous waste. (waste that are dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or the environment).
o Human waste (sewage, black or grey water, excrement).
o Kitchen waste.
o Bio-medical waste.
o Range produce.
o Excess heat and exhaust emissions.
• Innovative material selection and manufacturing processes that could reduce the environmental impact of defence materiel production or reduce waste from consumables.
• Innovative and efficient use of biodegradable and recyclable materials in Defence materiel and consumables.
Other Instructions:
Submissions to this CFS can be made using the “Special Notice Call for Submissions Smart Form”. This form can be accessed from the Innovation Portal. A submission can be made any time before the Closing Time identified above.
Please refer to the Special Notice at https://www.innovationhub.defence.gov.au/call-for-submissions
Respondents are required to have a valid ABN or NZBN or have the ability to obtain and maintain an ABN or NZBN by the closing date for submissions.
Proposed schedule is to conduct a demonstration of the technology for user trial and evaluation with the Australian Army within 12 to 15 months after contract commencement
https://www.innovationhub.defence.gov.au/call-for-submissions/