US Army to spend billions on solar energy systems, energy - TopicsExpress



          

US Army to spend billions on solar energy systems, energy conservation in an effort to save lives 02.10.2013: The US Army is spending billions of dollars on solar energy systems, recycled water and better-insulated tents in an effort to save lives and ensure energy security in war-torn areas. Protecting fuel convoys in places like Afghanistan is one of the most dangerous jobs for Army personnel, with one casualty for every 24 missions in some years, according to the Army Environmental Policy Institute. Conserving energy and using solar energy reduces the need for these dangerous fuel convoys, among other things. In an interview with Bloomberg, Richard Kidd, deputy assistant secretary of the Army in charge of energy security, explained the appeal of solar: with solar energy, »there is no supply chain vulnerability, there are no commodity costs and there’s a lower chance of disruption… A fuel tanker can be shot at and blown up.« Solar systems have already been installed at some Army bases in war-torn areas, including a hybrid solar-diesel generator with energy storage installed at Command Outpost Giro in Afghanistan’s Ghazni Province. At other bases in Afghanistan, PV systems with battery storage now power floodlights instead of diesel generators. One company, Sundial Capital, said it has already sold about $10 million portable solar systems to Army special forces; these have enabled the Army to reduce the number of fuel convoys, thereby potentially saving lives. At home, the US Army is also investing heavily in renewable energy. In August, the Army, through the Department of Defense (DOD), announced it had signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) totaling $7 billion with 22 private sector companies. Through the PPAs, the Army will purchase up to $7 billion worth of electricity generated by renewable energy systems located at or near US military installations. All systems will be designed, financed, constructed, operated and maintained by the companies awarded the PPAs. The PPAs are part of the DOD’s plan to strengthen energy security and reduce energy costs for the US Army, Navy and Air Force. The DOD aims to get 25% of its energy from renewable energy sources by 2025. © PHOTON bloomberg bloomberg/news/2013-09-30/exploding-fuel-tankers-drivin g-u-s-army-to-solar-power.html
Posted on: Tue, 08 Oct 2013 11:38:33 +0000

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