Leading the Charge: 3 Army Installations Launch Pioneering Microgrids
The U.S. Department of Defense continued its march towards electrification and energy resilience with the announcement of three new microgrid projects in September.
All three initiatives were spearheaded by the U.S. Army, which aims to have a microgrid at each of its installations worldwide by 2035, according to its 2023 climate strategy.
The Army is using microgrids to increase energy independence and resilience at its bases while also reducing energy costs and carbon emissions.
Fort Hunter Liggett launches fully renewable microgrid
In the mountains of central California, officials at Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL) celebrated the completion of a $21.8 million microgrid project last month.
The installation, which includes solar panels, a 5-MWh battery storage system and a microgrid control system, is touted as the only Department of Defense microgrid fully powered by renewable energy.
There are no carbon-based energy sources, such as diesel generators, connected to the microgrid.
Ameresco, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and other government and private sector partners collaborated on the design and construction of the microgrid, which will help mitigate the impact of frequent power outages from California’s extended wildfire season.
The microgrid will allow FHL to remain operational for up to 14 days in case of a grid outage, significantly improving the resilience of the base, which is located at the end of the utility grid in a remote part of California.
“This microgrid ensures that our critical facilities can continue to operate when the commercial grid is compromised," said Brig. Gen. Christopher Cook, deputy commanding general support of the 63rd Readiness Division.
At more than 160,000 acres, FHL is the U.S. Army Reserve’s largest training installation and is home to an Army Logistics Readiness Center, the 3-356th Logistics Support Battalion, the 91st Training Division and the 31st Seabee Readiness Group.
FHL is "the tip of the spear for training, supporting both active and reserve components in collective and individual training," according to Cook.
In addition to improving resilience, the FHL microgrid successfully demonstrates how other military installations can adopt renewable energy solutions. "The division is using lessons learned from this project to plan and execute microgrid projects at critical facilities throughout the region," Cook said.
Show the Way: Field Guide to Decarbonization
The Army has plans to expand the FHL microgrid by adding additional battery storage and upgrading older solar arrays, according to Jarrod Ross, the garrison’s resource efficiency manager.
"The idea for our Army installations is to develop that mission-critical resilience so that in the event there is a mission to perform, we're not dependent on the public electric grid," Ross said.
Camp Arifjan breaks ground on first-of-its-kind microgrid in Kuwait
At Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, the U.S. Army completed a comprehensive, innovative microgrid system that aims to reduce reliance on Kuwait’s electricity grid, decrease the installation’s carbon emissions and establish sustainability solutions in a region largely powered by fossil fuels.
The installation is an expansion of three pilot demonstration projects, which included a hybrid microgrid with advanced inverters, battery storage and solar arrays, a 40-kilowatt carport solar power system, and a water reclaiming and recycling initiative.
"This isn't only about generating power; it's about ensuring mission readiness regardless of external circumstances. By integrating renewable energy and multiple other power sources, Camp Arifjan is taking control of its own energy security," said Jack Peters, operational energy program manager for the U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) Engineer directorate.
The microgrid, which the Army developed in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Idaho National Laboratory and Sain Engineering Associates, is the first Energy Resiliency Conservation Investment Program (ERCIP) project of its kind in the region to receive congressional approval.
ERCIP-qualified projects must meet two key criteria: they must provide energy resilience to critical loads at an installation or joint base and they must implement energy and water conservation measures, as well as renewable energy technologies.
"This project is a shining example of what can be achieved through collaboration and innovative thinking. It’s a major step forward in ensuring that our military installations are prepared for any eventuality," said Peters.
U.S. Army Reserve signs agreement to EV charging and microgrid infrastructure
The U.S. Army Reserves is also taking steps to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and meet federal emissions requirements and climate goals. It recently signed a five-year agreement with TechFlow, an energy and mobility solutions provider, to design, install, and maintain EV charging and supporting microgrid infrastructure at Army Reserve facilities.
The agreement will enable the Army Reserve to rollout a full-scale EV charging program for approximately 2,800 electric vehicles at more than 760 facilities.
TechFlow will design and construct the charging stations. To enhance resilience, microgrids will be integrated with the charging solutions where possible.
“This is an exciting step as we move closer to a 100 percent zero-emission non-tactical vehicle fleet,” said Neville Jordan, Army Reserve electric vehicle program manager. “Each Army Reserve Center and Army Reserve-funded installation will receive a tailored package based on their needs to ensure the proper charging infrastructure and resilience solutions are implemented.”
The Army Reserve has already installed 15 charging stations at Fort Buchanan in Puerto Rico and four at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. The Reserve also has 10 chargers at two California facilities.
“Procuring EVs, updating and implementing efficient infrastructure, installing on-site clean renewables, and investing in microgrids lets our soldiers focus on training, mobilizing, and deploying when our nation calls on them,” said Laura Pirtle, chief of the Army Reserve’s installation services and programs branch.
The military’s microgrid fleet continues to grow
These three projects join a growing cadre of energy resilience and sustainability initiatives launched by the Department of Defense.
The U.S. Army Medical Test and Evaluation Activity has conducted two successful tests of a microgrid system designed to power a field hospital and U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood) in Texas launched a renewable energy microgrid earlier this year.
The Army has also launched several energy storage initiatives, including projects at West Point and at the Contingency Basing Integration Training Evaluation Center (CBITEC) at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where a long-duration energy storage microgrid is being demonstrated.
Other branches of the military have made similar commitments to leveraging microgrid technology to improve resilience, lower energy costs and reduce emissions. Microgrids have been installed or are under construction at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California and Yokota Air Base in Japan, as well as at New Mexico’s Kirtland Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range.
