MANHASSET, N.Y. --The Pentagon wants to improve its energy
security by using microgrid technologies. The U.S. military's
heavy reliance on fossil fuels, often imported from regions
hostile to American security interests, is forcing the issue.
Microgrids enable military bases to sustain operations,
regardless of what is happening on the larger utility grid or in
a war zone. Pike Research forecasts that, in an typical war-time
scenario, the total capacity of U.S. military microgrids will
reach 54.8 megawatts by 2018. Microgrids use networked
generators as an integrated system to maximize energy
efficiency. They also can be used to help integrate renewable
energy resources at the local distribution grid level. According
to DOD, over 40 military bases either have operating microgrids
or are planning and demonstrating microgrid technologies. The
U.S. military has 600 forward operating bases, and is
investigating the deployment of even smaller mobile, tactical
microgrids in Afghanistan and other war zones. Pike Res