WE SUPPLY DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY

Vogt-CTE supplies defense technology that works under real-world conditions: in resilient infrastructures, in decentralized deployment scenarios, with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.

Our solutions are designed to make tactical operations more efficient, secure, and effective—even under extreme conditions. In doing so, we create solutions that support today’s threat scenarios and deliver real added value both in active field operations and at the interface with civilian applications.

PowerUP – Hydrogen fuel cell generators and powersupplys for tactical use

EuroHeater – Multi-fuel diesel air heaters for tactical and military use

FlexiBatt – Rechargeable batterypacks and systems for tactical use

FirstLook – Location cameras and search cameras for tactical use

MarenFasty – Water reconnaissance drones for tactical use

Rigloo – Protective shelter tents for tactical and military rescue operations

BlowHard –
Mobile ventilation systems for tactical and military use

LET US GET IN CONTACT

Make an online-appointment with Vogt-CTE today. Microsoft Teams

Receive a personalized and customized Vogt-CTE offer

Become part of our European network of sales and system partners

HYDROGEN IN DEFENSE

Europe faces a double challenge in terms of energy: on the one hand, the system must quickly become more climate-friendly (more renewable electricity, greater efficiency, fewer fossil fuel imports). On the other hand, the supply must not falter—industry, grids, critical infrastructure, and, in an emergency, defense capabilities need predictable energy, even when wind and sun are weak. It is precisely in this gap that hydrogen repeatedly emerges as a “molecular building block”: not as a panacea, but as a strategic complement to electrification.

At the same time, hydrogen is politically and economically a project of system change: new production (electrolysis), new infrastructure (storage, terminals, pipelines), new rules (what counts as “renewable” or “low-carbon”) and new demand (industry, transport, electricity system). This will only work if costs fall and reliable demand emerges. The EU is driving this forward with strategy, funding, and market design—but there are also very clear warnings that the goals may be too ambitious.

And a third aspect is often underestimated: security and defense organizations do not primarily think “green” when it comes to energy, but rather “resilient.” If hydrogen technologies (e.g., fuel cells, H2-based power supply, power-to-fuels) become established in the civilian sector, supply chains, standards, and operational experience will emerge that will also be of interest for military logistics and basic supply.

THE POTENTIAL OF HYDROGEN IN THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN ENERGY

Where hydrogen makes the most sense in Europe
Industry: As a raw material and process gas (chemicals, refineries, fertilizers) and, in the future, as process energy at high temperatures where direct electrification is difficult.

Heavy-duty transport: Especially where energy density, range, or operating profiles push batteries to their limits. Derivatives such as ammonia or synthetic fuels are also often involved.

System flexibility: As a possible long-term storage option and as an option for secure power (e.g., reserve power plants) when a very high proportion of renewable energies creates seasonal gaps.

Where hydrogen is often overestimated
Everyday heating and standard passenger cars: In many cases, heat pumps and batteries are more efficient and simpler. Hydrogen tends to play a marginal role here.

Short-term scaling: The bottleneck is less the idea than the implementation: green electricity, electrolysis, grid connections, permits, water requirements at the site, storage, transport, and off-take agreements.

What is driving Europe in practical terms
Establishing a market with funding instruments and tenders so that projects can be financed. Infrastructure planning (pipelines, storage, import chains) and certification so that “green/renewable” hydrogen becomes tradable. Prioritizing applications that are difficult to decarbonize without hydrogen so that scarce quantities are used sensibly.

WHAT EUROPEAN ARMIES CURRENTLY THINK ABOUT THIS (PUBLICLY VISIBLE TRENDS)

Focus on locations and resilience
Interest in fuel cells and hydrogen as part of microgrids in barracks, depots, and critical properties: quiet, low emissions on site, potentially with good partial load capacity. Target vision: less dependence on individual power supplies and better emergency power capacity.

Niches instead of full conversion
Hydrogen is more likely to be discussed for non-combat applications: service vehicles, logistics in the rear, stationary supply, mobile power generation for infrastructure tasks. Liquid fuels remain highly attractive for broad-based logistics applications because their infrastructure, storage, and distribution are proven and extremely scalable.

Signature and operation as a secondary argument
Fuel cells are considered interesting because they are quiet and can produce less waste heat/exhaust gas locally. This is seen as a potential advantage, without automatically leading to mass procurement.

“Drop-in” thinking dominates when it comes to fuels
When it comes to more climate-friendly fuels for large fleets, much of the thinking revolves around synthetic fuels (e-fuels) because they fit better into existing engines/logistics chains. Hydrogen is often more of a precursor than a final energy source in this context.

Obstacles that are particularly significant in a military context
Safety and hazardous goods logistics (pressure, leakage, detection, training) is feasible, but costly in field operations. Availability: Armed forces want energy anytime, anywhere. A new energy source must be just as reliable in crises as it is in everyday life. Maintenance and robustness: Systems must be able to withstand rough handling, long service life, and easy repair.

Summary in one sentence
In Europe’s energy future, hydrogen has great potential where molecules are unavoidable (industry, certain types of transport, system buffers); European armies see it primarily as a building block for on-site energy and selected niches, while broad fuel demand is more likely to be met through efficiency, electrification, and synthetic “drop-in” fuels.

ADVANTAGES OF CHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE

Chemical energy storage (e.g., hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, synthetic fuels) stores energy as chemical bond energy rather than as electrical charge, as is the case with batteries. This offers particular advantages, especially when periods are long, energy quantities are large, or transport distances are long.

Important advantages of chemical energy storage such as hydrogen
Long-term and seasonal storage
Batteries are very good for hours to a few days. However, if energy needs to be stored for weeks or months (e.g., summer electricity for winter), chemical storage becomes attractive because the energy is stored “in the molecule” and can be stored for a long time without significant self-discharge.

Transport over long distances
Chemical energy carriers can be transported: by pipeline (hydrogen/derivatives), by ship (e.g., ammonia, methanol), or by tank logistics in suitable forms. This is important when generation (lots of wind/sun) and consumption (industrial centers) are far apart.

Scaling to very large amounts of energy
Chemical storage facilities can be built on a very large scale: large tanks, caverns, terminals. For energy systems, it is often not just “one storage facility” that counts, but the ability to keep a large amount of energy in reserve.

Molecules for industrial processes
Many industries need not only energy, but also molecules as raw materials or reaction partners. Hydrogen can be used directly here (e.g., in chemicals, refineries, certain steel production processes). A battery cannot replace this.

Flexible usage paths
Hydrogen can be used to generate electricity and heat (fuel cells, turbines, boilers) or processed into derivatives (ammonia, methanol, synthetic fuels). This creates flexibility, depending on which infrastructure and application is most important at any given time.

High gravimetric energy density
Hydrogen carries a lot of energy per kilogram. This is helpful wherever weight is critical. (Important: per volume, hydrogen is less dense without compression or liquefaction – which is why pressure, low temperatures, or derivatives are needed.)

Use of existing logistics (especially for derivatives)
Hydrogen itself is infrastructure-intensive. However, some derivatives or synthetic fuels can be used in existing storage, transport, and refueling logistics. This can accelerate their introduction.

The honest postscript
These advantages come at a price: chemical storage often has more conversion losses (e.g., electricity → hydrogen → electricity) than batteries and requires additional infrastructure. That is why the rule of thumb is often: batteries when short storage times and high efficiency are required. Chemical storage when long-term, large quantities, transport, industrial needs, or fuels are the priority.

WE SUPPLY DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY

At Vogt-CTE, we offer our European partners in the security and defense sector access to unique technological innovations. Our solutions are designed to make tactical operations more efficient, safer, and more effective—even under extreme conditions. The systems we represent are highly specialized, field-tested to military standards, and provide a decisive tactical advantage where it counts. We don’t just supply equipment, we deliver operational progress. Together with our partners, we ensure that these innovations end up exactly where they are needed: in the hands of those who are on the front line defending our security and who must be able to rely unconditionally on their technology.