Fuel for thought: Hydrogen power trial in Rubb EFASS hangar

This week, Rubb UK supported a trial of GeoPura’s Hydrogen Power Unit (HPU) at RAF Waddington, demonstrating how clean energy can power critical defence infrastructure in real-world conditions.

The trial took place inside one of RAF Waddington’s 25m x 40m EFASS hangars, complete with Thermohall® insulation and a Heli-Door. Crucially, this hangar has no mains power, making it the perfect venue to showcase the capability of GeoPura’s HPU.

The unit successfully powered lighting, heating, and other essential systems throughout the event, proving that hydrogen technology can deliver reliable, sustainable energy in remote or off-grid locations.

Powering Net Zero goals together

GeoPura, supported by Siemens Energy and the UK Ministry of Defence, is pioneering hydrogen solutions to help defence and aerospace sectors achieve Net Zero targets while maintaining operational resilience. The potential applications of the HPU extend far beyond defence, but the fact it’s deployable makes it particularly valuable for military environments.

The trial brought together members of the North East Regional Defence and Security Cluster (NERDSC), the Greater Lincolnshire Regional Defence and Security Cluster (GLRDSC), representatives from the UK Ministry of Defence, and 5001 Squadron, alongside industry partners. It was an excellent opportunity to share knowledge, explore sustainable technologies, and strengthen connections across the sector.

Rubb’s role in sustainable infrastructure

Hosting the trial in our deployable EFASS highlighted how sustainability is central to our hangar system. The EFASS range is designed for reuse and refurbishment, reducing carbon footprint and supporting a circular economy. Refurbishment costs are typically around 10-15% of a new build, delivering significant environmental and financial advantages which has benefitted the UK MoD for more than 30 years.

All EFASS hangars—20.4m, 25m, or 30m spans—pack down into 20ft ISO containers for ease of transport and deployment wherever the mission requires. This trial demonstrated how our hangars can accommodate innovative power solutions like GeoPura’s HPU, supporting operational needs in challenging environments while being completely off-grid.

Thanks to GeoPura and the product range they have developed, we can add an instant sustainable power supply that aligns perfectly with the deployable nature of our hangars. I’m excited to see where this technology can go in the future.

Rubb UK, Sales Director
Andrew Knox

As the day wrapped up, the attendees poured out of the hangar to be met with a spectacular Red Arrows training flight against the setting sun. A fitting end to the day, as inside the hangar one of the iconic Red Arrows jets provided an impressive backdrop to the trial.

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