The U.S. Army held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the White Sands Missile Range last week to celebrate the launch of its new water resiliency microgrid.
The microgrid will provide backup power to four groundwater wells on the New Mexico base.
The $10.9 million hybrid microgrid includes a 700-kW solar photovoltaic array, a 500-kW natural gas generator and a 500-kW lithium-ion battery energy storage system.
“This new solar and natural gas microgrid is a major step towards ensuring White Sands Missile Range remains mission ready even during power disruptions,” Garrison Commander Col. Donyeill Mozer said in a statement.
“Having an alternative energy source strengthens our ability to operate without interruption. This project showcases our commitment to innovation and sustainability,” he added.
Supporting mission critical activities
White Sands Missile Range is the Department of Defense’s self-described "premiere missile, munitions and artillery test range." Elements of the U.S. Navy and Air Force, as well as NASA, the National Reconnaissance Office and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency are also housed at the garrison.
Located in the Chihuahuan Desert about 50 miles north of the Texas border, water is critical to the operations of the 3,200-square mile facility.
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The microgrid will allow White Sands to meet the U.S. Army’s mandate that each installation be capable of operating independently of civilian water and energy services for 14 days. The Army established the requirement after studying past outages and critical mission needs.
For White Sands, the microgrid ensures that power outages won’t impact potable water service to the garrison’s main post.
“By integrating solar energy with natural gas, we are not just improving reliability, we are also taking steps towards a more energy efficient and environmentally responsible future,” Mozer said.
The microgrid, which was awarded to Hannah Solar Government Services-Ameresco (HSGS-Ameresco) in August 2022, was delivered on time and on budget according to Mozer.
“I am really proud of the fact that our company is dedicated to providing energy security for America and especially for our Army and our military,” said Dave McNeil, CEO and president HSGS-Ameresco.
Nanogrid: White Sands tests more than munitions
In addition to the water resiliency microgrid, White Sands Missile Range is home to the Army’s first fully sufficient hydrogen-powered nanogrid.
A smaller version of a microgrid, a nanogrid is a self-contained electric power generation system that can operate independently from the power grid.
The White Sands Missile Range nanogrid includes solar panels, an atmospheric water generator and an electrolyzer to split the hydrogen from water. It also features a fuel cell, low pressure hydrogen storage and battery energy storage.
The demonstration project was launched last month to power a wildlife surveillance camera system and Starlink connection. It is designed for continuous, unattended operation in a remote, off-grid location.
