Answering the Call to Build Out the U.S. Military’s Energy Resilience

As we mark Veterans Day and express gratitude during Thanksgiving, we’re reflecting on the contributions of America’s veterans, as well as the role of the United States Armed Forces as an example of the best of us for American society – and an innovator that drives us forward. It’s easy to find examples of the military’s forward-thinking approach in everyday, civilian life – the technologies that enable you to read this article trace a direct line to Department of Defense research in the 1960s.

Energy is no different, and we’re happy to have a successful project with the United States Army in our portfolio we can highlight just in time for Veterans Day. The military’s operations depend on stable electricity just as much as civilian society, if not more so due to the critical role of military infrastructure in defending the country. This is a major reason why the DoD takes a particular interest in pursuing technologies that enable off-grid power – military assets wouldn’t be impacted by grid failures, whether it be due to natural disasters or hostile activities. Since clean energy like solar and wind is ideal for distributed energy, the military is actively pursuing renewable projects, and energy storage forms a critical component of the microgrids the Armed Forces are pursuing.

Microgrids for Resilience

The ability to generate, store, and supply power on-base enables unmatched flexibility, autonomy, and efficiency – benefits that complement the military’s energy needs that are currently unmet by reliance on fossil fuels and outdated grid infrastructure. The U.S. Army in particular has been a pioneer in pursuing microgrids for reliable backup power. The Army manages across the country, which are significant consumers of grid electricity that would be imperiled if the grid fails. The Army first installed a microgrid over a decade ago at Fort Bliss, which served as a pilot for integrating a locally sourced energy supply for the base while relying on the area grid during normal operations. Since the Fort Bliss project, the Army has aggressively pursued implementing microgrids, currently managing twenty-eight of them.

Energy Storage Solutions for Critical Infrastructure

A new battery energy storage system (BESS) will be capable of forming a microgrid at Fort Detrick in Maryland, where LS Energy Solutions supplied our AiON-ESS containers in partnership with Ameresco. Recently completed, the 6MW/6MWh project will enable ancillary services to the PJM grid, correcting unintended fluctuations in generation and improving power quality for Fort Detrick and the neighboring community. Thanks to the solar already onsite at the base, the BESS will eventually allow the base to rely on power generated independently of the grid.

The building block of any energy resilience project, especially when used for critical applications, is a solution that is flexible, safe, and cost-effective. Our AiON-ESS combines LS ES’s fourth-generation string inverters with Tier-1 lithium-ion batteries in a modular system and is a proven energy storage solution. Our expert team worked closely with Ameresco and Fort Detrick to ensure we met the exacting requirements of the military, which also desired to use LS-ES storage to provide ancillary services to the PJM grid. LS-ES has managed the installation and interconnection of the AiON-ESS containers. 

A Clean Energy Partner for the Armed Forces

Projects at military installations require meeting the high standards of critical infrastructure, and the Fort Detrick installation proves how LS-ES is ready to meet the military at that level. We understand the Army’s goals in pursuing microgrids as a source of resilient, off-grid power, and we have the tools to realize those goals with energy storage solutions matched with our unparalleled commissioning and services expertise.

As the energy storage provider for the Fort Detrick project, we know first-hand that providing safe, adaptable cleantech solutions for military applications assists in achieving decarbonization goals while providing the inherent benefits of energy reliability, resilience, and independence. 

We’re proud to work with an institution as storied as the United States Army in realizing its clean energy goals. We’re especially excited to highlight our work with the Armed Forces as we approach the day to honor the contributions of all veterans, in war and peacetime – including the several veterans of numerous branches among the LS-ES team who drive the energy transition. Their contributions serve as a regular reminder of the importance of the Armed Forces in American society, and every day at LS-ES is a day to celebrate the work of our veteran employees and their compatriots across the country.