Off-Grid Military Energy Solutions

Just as the Internet was invented by the US military, in conjunction with University College London and a Norwegian research lab – so the US military are at the leading edge pf the next generation of energy production
The U.S. Department of Defense /DoD/, is the biggest single energy user in the country. It accounts for 93 percent of U.S.government fuel consumption and 30,000 gigawatt hours of electricity annually — enough to power 6ر2 million American homes.

The DoD recently embarked on a mission to source 25 percent of its power from renewable energy by 2025 and one of its latest technologies is on show today in Abu Dhabi where you can see some of the world’s leading off-grid military energy solutions at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference /IDEX this week.

Masdar development city is trying to commercialise new energy technologies and claims its latest off-grid energy saving solution is used by forward operating forces in the US military. Its called the ZeroBase T-Series Hybrid and consists of a package of pre-existing technology that reduces fuel consumption and dependency, and ensures remote military operations have access to consistent power supplies providing a tactical advantage during silent operations.

The state-of-the-art, off-grid energy technology was built in the UAE in partnership with Masdar s New Ventures team, ZeroBase Energy and Sultan Bin Rashed Industrial Group. The technology combines renewable energy charging of up to 3,000 watts using integrated or mobile solar PV arrays, battery storage and a power management system that enables customers to reduce generator fuel consumption by up to 70 percent.

Noise levels are significantly reduced and a single unit can provide energy autonomy for up to three days. Rashed Al Dhaheri, head of Special Projects, Masdar New Ventures, said: “Military bases primarily rely on power from nearby utilities and depend on diesel-fueled generators during blackouts. To avoid vulnerabilities in the battle field and reduce the dependency on fuel, the military has been vocal in supporting advancements in off-grid renewable energy technology.
Masdar operates as a center of excellence for the end-to-end delivery of off-grid renewable energy, water and waste management projects. These projects can reduce, costs, eliminate an over reliance on logistical support as well as the risks associated with fossil fuel supplies, says Al Dhaheri.
“Masdar s collaborative approach to the development of technology enables us to keep pace with changing nature of client demands and the growing need for robust defence, security and emergency response infrastructure,” continued Al Dhaheri.
IDEX, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center from February 17-21, is the largest defence exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa and is held biennially under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.