The Ministry of Defence (MOD) Sanctuary Awards, now in their 34th year, have provided a critical spotlight on the successful integration of conservation and sustainability principles within the UK defence estate and operations, offering clear directional guidance for businesses engaged in or seeking to enter the defence supply chain.
The ceremony, held this week at the National Army Museum, explicitly linked sustainability advancements to enhanced operational readiness and energy security, aligning with the Government’s overarching Plan for Change and net zero commitments.
A significant new category, the ‘Operational Capability Through Sustainability’ award, underscored the MOD’s emphasis on projects that directly support military functionality while advancing environmental objectives. The inaugural winner was the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) ‘Zero’ project, a large-scale infrastructure initiative focused on increasing energy resilience at the Mount Pleasant Complex on the Falkland Islands. This project, which has commenced the construction of four wind turbines, is projected to deliver substantial operational savings equivalent to five million litres of diesel annually. This specific programme highlights a tangible requirement for contractors specialising in renewable energy infrastructure, large-scale power generation systems, and remote site logistics within the defence environment.
Further emphasising the requirement for innovation, the ‘ViTAL Living Lab’ joint initiative between RAF Leeming and Newcastle University secured the Innovation award. This project focused on analysing emissions generated by RAF stations and promoting the deployment of greener technologies to reduce the carbon footprint. This award signals a clear opportunity for companies specialising in environmental data analysis, smart energy management systems, and innovative carbon reduction technologies to engage with the MOD on base-level sustainability contracts and proofs-of-concept aimed at enhancing environmental resilience and operational efficiency.
The coveted Silver Otter trophy, recognising the best conservation effort on the MOD estate, was presented to Lynne Houlston, a ranger jointly funded by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, and Natural Resources Wales.
Her work focuses on managing the natural and historic environment at Castlemartin Ranges while ensuring compatibility with public access and military training schedules, a task made more complex by the area’s designation as a Special Protection Area. This achievement underscores the ongoing requirement for specialist environmental management and consultancy services to support DIO in balancing conservation mandates with core military training needs across the diverse UK estate.
Senior DIO and RAF officials confirmed that tackling climate change and sustainability is a core commitment, involving continuous planning for infrastructure risks and operational impact mitigation. The awards collectively affirm that sustainability is not a peripheral concern but a core element of Defence’s resilience and shift toward warfighting readiness, ensuring sustained procurement and partnership opportunities across the environmental and infrastructure sectors.
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Post written by: Vicky Maggiani
Vicky has worked in media for over 25 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.
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