Do Military Bases Use Solar Panels

The new solar panels will ease stress on the local power grid.

Do military bases use solar panels.

Excess energy from the bases will be redistributed to 18 000 homes in the area. A 12 5 megawatt pv solar power plant being developed at the u s. A 13 78 megawatt system at the naval air weapons station china lake in california built in 2012. The base will now have the ability to island and run electric power completely off the grid using its solar power source when needed.

Duke energy installed solar panels on the rooftops of 284 homes at the shaw air force base in south carolina. Other significant sunpower solar military projects include. Only a few military bases have installed solar panel systems which generally cover only part of their loads. Fuel use is down at the company s patrol bases because the solar equipment replaces generators the military says.

Shaw air force base was founded in 1927. Coronal energy s contract with the department of defense to install a combined 1 5 million solar panels on three military bases one air force base one navy base and one army base in florida. For some platoons at remote outposts solar power is all there is said maj. The military proves otherwise.

Military bases are using wind solar and battery storage to stay resilient in the face of extreme weather or attack. According to design news reports this base is home to the american military s largest solar energy collection system. The department of energy recently released a comprehensive look at the u s. Learn more about the military s use of solar.

The department of defense has actually been in the forefront of solar technology development for a few decades now since the 1970s. Combined these installations provide enough clean energy to power 22 000 american homes. Army s energy security objectives. Most military bases remain unprotected against long term interruption of electrical power.

Beyond providing fort huachuca electricity options the project promotes the u s. As of early 2013 there are more than 130 megawatts mw of solar photovoltaic pv energy systems powering navy army and air force bases in at least 31 states and the district of columbia. Spanning a dozen acres this solar array produces 3 200 megawatt hours mwh every year. Army s redstone arsenal in alabama.

Sean sadlier the marine expeditionary energy liaison officer at camp leatherneck in afghanistan. It provides more than 30 percent of the base s power needs. Energy grid and concluded that the military needs to rely more on solar power in order to eliminate weaknesses in the grid.