Self-sufficient backup power to safeguard the drinking water supply
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Securing critical infrastructure with reliable emergency power supply solutions is becoming increasingly important due to geopolitical tensions and new regulatory requirements such as the NIS2 Directive and the CER Directive. These regulations require that backup power supply for at least 72 hours must be ensured for crisis management. Choosing the right technology in the event of a blackout is crucial. Factors such as maintenance requirements, fuel availability, and associated costs must be carefully considered, particularly given the typical system lifespan of 20–30 years. The ongoing transition away from fossil fuels also presents an opportunity to adopt fail-safe, low-maintenance, and environmentally friendly power generation solutions.
In the event of a blackout, a reliable power supply is essential for civil protection, especially for radio and telecommunications masts, data centres, substations and water supply infrastructures. EFOY Hydrogen Fuel Cell Solutions and EFOY Pro Direct Methanol Fuel Cells are also used to supply power in the event of major emergencies. For example, for emergency equipment and as an on-board power supply for emergency service vehicles or to supply stationary telecommunications infrastructure.
| Power requirement | Between 1 and 50 kW |
| Appication requirements | Stationary backup power supply, emergency power systems, onboard power supply, or mobile temporary use on site. |
During a disaster, critical infrastructure must be supplied with uninterrupted emergency power. Diesel generators typically require at least one minute to start supplying power—valuable time when every second counts. In major disasters such as floods, hurricanes, or earthquakes, power outages are common, and emergency services often operate in remote areas without access to the power grid. A fast, efficient, and sustainable energy supply is therefore essential. Hydrogen and fuel cell technology offer new possibilities and significant advantages, enabling reliable power supply without interruption in disaster response scenarios.
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Climate-neutral, reliable, flexible – EFOY Hydrogen Energy Solutions make the difference. With hydrogen fuel cells, they provide an indispensable power source for disaster response applications up to 50 kW, both stationary and mobile.
EFOY Hydrogen Energy Solutions are suitable for a wide range of applications. The EFOY H₂Cabinets are turnkey cabinet solutions for stationary use, while the H₂Genset is a flexible, mobile hydrogen-based power generator designed for areas without access to the conventional power grid.
EFOY Pro Fuel Cells are the ideal power generators for a variety of stationary and mobile applications in the power range up to 3 kW and reliably generate power for weeks and months without user intervention.
EFOY H₂Cabinet – Stationary up to 50 kW
EFOY Energy Solutions in use
“The broad experience and expertise of SFC was decisive for the successful realisation of this project.”
Self-sufficient backup power to secure the drinking water supply in the Duisburg area.
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Find the right model
Your continuous output requirement
EFOY Pro 900
EFOY Pro 1800
EFOY Pro 2800
EFOY Pro 12000 Duo
EFOY Hydrogen 2.5
EFOY H2PowerPack X50
EFOY 80
EFOY 150
With 2x M28 fuel cartridges (incl. Fuel Manager FM2). The self-sufficiency time can be extended with the use of additional fuel cartridges.
With 2x MT60 fuel cartridges (incl. Fuel Manager FM2). The self-sufficiency time can be extended with the use of additional fuel cartridges.
With 12x H2 bottles (300 bar). The back-up hours can be extended with the use of additional H2 bottles.
Scenarios involving large-scale infrastructure disruptions are a recurring topic in discussions about societal and technological resilience. Such events can lead to severe breakdowns in essential modern services and may require significant time to repair, further disrupting daily life. This highlights the importance of understanding critical infrastructure protection (CIP) in order to identify risks and implement effective mitigation strategies.
To understand the role of modern infrastructure protection, we must first consider some key types of critical infrastructure. These include [1]:
If even one of these networks fails, a cascading effect may occur; leading to further disruptions across multiple sectors. This is why critical infrastructure protection (such as the presence of an uninterruptible power supply) is required.
Critical infrastructure protection is generally built on three core principles[2]:
For example, consider a scenario in which a regional electricity distribution grid experiences a cyberattack by a state-sponsored actor. Once the threat is detected, immediate steps must be taken to maintain core operations—such as switching to redundant systems or activating backup power supplies for essential components. However, protection extends beyond short-term response. It also involves strengthening system resilience, building redundancy, and implementing long-term improvements to prevent similar incidents in the future.
It should be noted that critical infrastructure protection or CIP is preventative in nature. In other words, the associated strategies are meant to mitigate the chances of a failure actually occurring. However, what if an existing critical infrastructure protection protocol is outdated? What might happen? A real-world example can help to highlight the dangers.
The Rye Brook Dam in New York State suffered an alleged cyberattack in 2013. Experts believe that this was one of a series of attacks engineered by the government of Iran, as the financial services sector across the United States was also affected.[3] Hackers gained temporary control of several on-site command and control systems; effectively preventing actions such as opening sluice gates.
While the damage was limited, imagine what would occur if the entire hydroelectric system of a nation was compromised in a similar manner. Many of the critical infrastructure services that consumers take for granted would quickly come to a halt.
This underscores why infrastructure protection has become an increasingly critical concern, particularly in the context of cyber threats.
Another important aspect of Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) is identifying particularly vulnerable systems. Research shows that the energy and utilities sectors are up to three times more likely to be targeted by attacks.[4] This is due to the attacks’ widespread nature, and arises from the fact that many facilities fail to employ the latest critical infrastructure protection methods (such as the products offered by SFC Energy).
As a result, interest in off-grid energy solutions has grown, offering a way to maintain operations during power outages or grid failures. However, responsibility for implementing effective protection strategies ultimately lies with the operators of these facilities.
The financial services sector is also considered highly vulnerable, primarily due to its global interconnectedness. Whether dealing with large-scale data breaches or coordinated attacks on financial systems, robust protection measures are essential.
Even the most robust protection strategies cannot eliminate all risks. Their primary purpose is to enable effective risk management and ensure operational continuity. A comprehensive approach combines large-scale initiatives—such as national risk assessments—with organisation-level security measures. Key practices include [5]:
In addition, modern hardware solutions—such as methanol and hydrogen fuel cells used for emergency power supply—play a crucial role in enhancing resilience.
Critical infrastructure protection must never be underestimated. To learn more about how SFC Energy can help you prepare for any eventuality, please get in touch with our team.
Critical infrastructure protection is vital to national security and public welfare. Protecting key systems ensures resilience against cyber threats, physical attacks and natural disasters, preserving essential services that are vital to the functioning of society and the economy.
