Maintaining the Edge: 3 Energy Innovations Strengthening Defense

Energy innovation is moving fast, fueled by record energy spending and growing investments in R&D. The impact of this surge is plain to see: in just a few decades, batteries have gone from powering handheld gadgets to propelling fully electric cargo ships. Meanwhile, power-to-x technologies – which turn electricity into liquid fuels – are edging into commercial use. And these are just two examples of how innovation is reshaping the energy world.

For defense planners, this presents both an opportunity and a headache. Energy is a key enabler of military operations. To maintain a warfighting advantage, planners must adopt innovative energy technologies faster than rivals. Yet navigating this complex, fast-moving and civilian-dominated sector is easier said than done. Most civilian breakthroughs offer little direct military purpose, and even fewer provide a clear operational edge.

The challenge is not a lack of options, but knowing which of them matter. Tools such as the Energy Innovation and Technology Tracker can help planners navigate the energy innovation landscape and cut through the noise. Still, every so often, a technology rises above the rest.

This article outlines three innovations which merit a closer look.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own, are contributed in a purely personal capacity, and may not represent those of NATO.

Lukas Trakimavicius is a Policy Officer working on Energy Security at NATO HQ. Previously, he led the energy portfolio at the EU Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) in Paris, while also serving as a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), based in Washington D.C. He also supported the World Energy Council’s work on energy innovation.

Before that Lukas worked at the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence, focusing on energy security and innovative energy tech. He also served at the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.