Green Technology

The Army and its operations are energy intensive.  Getting energy to remote or war ravaged areas is both expensive and dangerous.

The Army is looking into tents that incorporate PV solar panels that can be used to charge batteries and small electronics like computers.  In addition to not having to bring in fuel they can travel lighter by not needing a generator (or a smaller one).

Using " ... Flexible Photovoltaics (PV), ... convert light energy into electricity ... ideal for charging up batteries, making sure your (communications), night vision goggles and computers are powered ..."

The key is technology that makes PV "panels" flexible so they are lightweight and foldable / packable.  While still in the testing phase they may be deployed soon.

Via:  US Army LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The US Army is getting greener.  They are beginning " ... development of a 500-megawatt solar power plant at Fort Irwin, Calif."

" ... allow ... commercial developers to use land at Fort Irwin to construct a solar power plant there between 2013 and 2022. ... will provide power to both the civilian power grid in California, and to Fort Irwin, home of the Army's National Training Center."

" ... the Army will provide to the developers, for as many as 50 years, up to 14,000 acres of land. .. Army receives rent for the land through cash or in-kind services."

" ... facility with both concentrated solar thermal and photovoltaic technology. ... will be built in phases, with a project end date expected around 2022. But Phase 1A of the project, with a completion of around 2014, is expected to provide enough power to sustain Fort Irwin."

Via:  US Army LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 08:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The Army will partner with the private sector to construct a 500 megawatt solar thermal plant at Fort Irwin, Calif, in the Mojave Desert, that will provide renewable power on the grid and provide the sprawling Army post with added energy security against disruption of power supply. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 09:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)