Learning from past experiences and to be able to address the objectives of the CF SEDSS as well as to adapt to future energy dynamics, Phase III will introduce a novel model of activities ranging from plenary conferences, including energy technology events and joint defence-energy meetings, to thematic or regional workshops and table-top exercises. To enhance the strategic and operational output of Phase III, a new transversal working group (TWG) will be addressing the topics of energy management, technology, and finance. In this respect, CF SEDSS III will be restructured into the following four working groups (see diagrams 1 and 2):
Phase III is expected to present the defence and security sectors with an economic, operational, and strategic opportunity to reduce reliance on fossil fuel and natural gas, to progressively minimise energy costs and carbon footprint and to enhance the operational effectiveness and energy resilience of their functions. To achieve these goals, the Consultation Forum will pursue during Phase III the following eight key objectives:
- enhance energy efficiency and improve the energy performance of building stocks and fixed infrastructures (including through the development or acceleration of renovation plans, and address the requirements concerning electro-mobility);
- promote further the usability of renewable energy or other alternative sources in the defence sector (including wind, solar, wave, tidal, biomass, geothermal, and renewable energy applicability in military transport);
- strengthen the protection and resilience of defence-related critical energy infrastructures from emerging and future challenges ranging from man-made and natural disasters to hybrid threats, terrorist and cyber-attacks;
- identify and evaluate the implications of the current EU regulatory framework implementation on the defence sector, in particular with regard to the:
- develop defence energy-related policy tools and methodologies and promote the implementation of energy management systems to be applied to defence-related infrastructures and buildings;
- identify innovative and smart energy technologies that could help lower the carbon footprint and, at the same time, increase the energy autonomy and operational resilience of the armed forces;
- enable the description and generation of defence energy-related project ideas and proposals (including dual-use synergies within the defence and civilian markets) that can:
- act as enablers of military operational capabilities;
- support the MoDs to address common energy challenges or shortfalls at multi-national, regional or cross-border level;
- assist the EU to achieve its strategic objectives on energy sustainability and energy security.
- identify and present existing or new financing mechanisms of defence energy-related topics as well as EU or other related and applicable funding instruments according to the legislative and administrative frameworks that can assist the MoDs and other defence-related stakeholders to realise their defence-energy related planning either at the national or multinational level.