November 14, 2014 | By RGR Marketing Blog

The Country’s Armed Forces Take Advantage of Renewable Energy

With all of the benefits provided by making the switch to renewable energy, it’s no wonder why more and more large-scale entities and institutions are going solar. Count among the largest of those groups the United States Military, which has seen increased adoption of solar-powered technology across every branch in recent years.

According to a 2013 report by the Solar Energy Industries Association, “America’s military is making an unprecedented commitment to renewable energy sources, and solar is “walking point” on many of these new, innovative efforts.”

From Marines in Afghanistan bringing solar panels and tent shields into battle zones, to the adoption of rooftop solar energy systems on as many as 6,000 homes in Navy and Marine Corps housing near San Diego, the military could very well be poised to make a monumental impact on the country’s adoption of renewable energy.

When war calls soldiers to distant lands where fuel supply is compromised or non-existent, doesn’t it just make more sense to leverage the power of renewable technologies? Just as the NY Times reported that those very technologies “have become more reliable and less expensive over the past few years,” so has the military clearly seen the potential solution that solar and renewable energy represents.

The Navy Puts Solar to Work Near San Diego

Just this week, the Navy announced a major new development that will affect twenty-seven different neighborhoods in the San Diego area. A joint partnership between SolarCity of San Mateo, California, and Lincoln Military Housing, a Dallas company working together with the Navy, was announced – and with the deal, some 6,000 homes will be equipped with solar energy systems on their rooftops. As an added bonus, Lincoln Military Housing has put cost savings estimates close to $60 million over the 20-year term of its purchase agreement with SolarCity.

We’ve discussed the rebates for solar power implementation in the state of California, but this piece of information should drive that point home even further. According to a recent UT San Diego news story on the project, “SolarCity said the agreement […] uses the federal solar investment tax credit, worth up to 30 percent of project costs,” in addition to state solar tariffs more commonly referred to as “net energy metering.”

The Military Potential of Solar Road Panels

Solar road panels are an amazing piece of technology that were developed to essentially replace more common surfaces like concrete and asphalt with solar panels that are durable enough to be driven upon, even by large-scale military vehicles. If your imagination is starting to head into overdrive – here’s another interesting fact: “electric roads” outfitted with these solar panels can allow all-electric vehicles to recharge anywhere: rest stops, parking lots, and more, giving them the same range as a standard vehicle operating on gasoline.

The applications for the military are seemingly endless, but the manufacturer’s biggest selling point is in terms of the potential for saving soldiers’ lives. Solar road panels can be air-dropped into conflict zones via parachute, equipped with camera modules, and controlled by means of a specially configured satellite dish from anywhere in the world. And what’s best – “the Solar Road Panel makes no noise and leaves no thermal footprint for the enemy combatants to detect. No refueling is ever needed, keeping our troops out of harm’s way.”

pearl harbor solar panels

Pearl Harbor Naval Facility Goes Solar

Back in 2011, DRI Energy completed a large-scale rooftop solar installation project for the U.S. Navy, at the historic Pearl Harbor Naval facilities. Featuring a 2.4 megawatt system installed on the roof of the complex, recent solar work was not the first of its kind in the facility. Back in 2005, SunPower successfully completed design and installation of a 309 kilowatt photovoltaic system that has since been operated by Naval Facilities Engineering Command.

Solar Stik™: Is It the Future of Portable Power?

Logistics concerns have always plagued the military, and will continue to for the foreseeable future – refueling vehicles, generating power, and exposure to risk during the process are all potentially disastrous endeavors in perilous war zones. Companies like Solar Stik™ Inc. have as their core mission, the alleviation of the military’s logistical problems through the use of portable solar power. Already adopted into use by the DoD for years, the devices are designed to be extremely rugged, entirely portable, free from the burden of costly add-ons or government permits, and highly usable.

The systems are available in a variety of configurations conceived for different applications, but all of them are designed to replace a 2 kilowatt or smaller, portable fuel-driven power generator. And again, there is no noise or chemicals associated with operating the unit, which gives off no heat signature, thereby making them ideal for use by the military.

Is Your Solar Installation Business Prepared to Do Business With the Military?

The U.S. Military offers high-value contracts to businesses every year, but not without certain qualifications being met first. In order to do business with the U.S. Government (via the Military), interested contractors must complete a lengthy series of steps that includes obtaining a D-U-N-S Number from Dun & Bradstreet, registering in the government’s System for Award Management (SAM), locating the appropriate Product Service Codes for the type of business you operate, and acquiring a Contractor and Government Entity Code, among other stipulations.

[Photo Credits: Solar Feeds, x]

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