We agree: hydrogen is quickly becoming an impactful alternative tactical fuel and energy source. Kudos to Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and all parties moving this technology forward. We started ZFL in 2019 specifically to build hydrogen-based autonomy and power generation for national security customers. We're always looking for more partners and mission providers to continuously expand the dual-use scope of these capabilities.
The Marine Corps Expeditionary Energy Office (E2O), Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC PAC), and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) have partnered to leverage commercial solutions that can convert water into hydrogen in austere and isolated environments, allowing it to power unmanned aerial systems (#UAS), small unit equipment, balloons, and tactical vehicles. “Commercial technology and energy companies have led the way in creating hydrogen-powered solutions and capabilities, and the HyTEC program helps capture some of those gains to enable operational capabilities in a contested logistics environment,” said Andrew Mawdsley, DIU HyTEC Program Manager. DIU recently selected two vendors, Zepher Flight Labs and NovaSpark Energy, to develop prototype technologies for this project. These vendors were selected from a highly competitive field of commercial technology company applicants.