Delaware-based Nomad Transportable Power Systems has joined a team selected by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to research microgrid energy solutions for National Guard facilities.
Led by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), an independent, non-profit energy research and development institute, the study aims to explore how microgrids and clean energy technologies can benefit National Guard sites by providing cost savings, energy resilience, emissions reductions, and reliability during emergency situations.
“When we set out to design Nomad, one of our first goals was to create a product that would deliver unrivaled emergency response capabilities,” said Nomad Director Jay Bellows. “This project is an extension of that work and will bring Nomad together with other innovative energy technologies to provide energy security and savings to National Guard sites.”
The initiative has been launched in response to the high costs of energy infrastructure at National Guard sites across the country. The DoD is searching for a solution that can provide up to 1 MW of peak power with a 14-day resiliency goal.
The EPRI research team also includes Florida-based cleantech startup Blue Frontier, Illinois-based net-zero engine technology firm ClearFlame Engine Technologies and modular energy platform Helia Technologies. The study is part of the DoD’s 2022 Environmental Security Technology Certification Program and will be conducted at three National Guard sites in Delaware, Mississippi and Texas.
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The team will examine the potential of advancements in heating and cooling, electricity and energy management to provide solutions for the National Guard. EPRI’s proprietary planning tools, such as the Distribution Energy Resources Value Estimate Tool, will be used to determine the optimal microgrid design to meet the specific requirement of each National Guard site.
The study will also highlight the importance of liquid biofuels in decarbonizing heavy-duty applications. At the building level, the project will showcase the cost-savings that can be achieved by combining different operations.
“The Heila EDGE is a decentralized and modular platform that makes it easy to connect, coordinate, and optimize solar PV arrays, batteries and other distributed energy resources,” Jorge Elizondo, CEO and co-founder at Heila Technologies, said. “Using emergent intelligence to link and coordinate components, the Heila EDGE creates a self-organizing network that significantly minimizes the system's complexity and costs.”
At the network level, Nomad’s mobile lithium-ion storage systems will help National Guard sites to meet their power needs with appropriate sized, mobile battery storage systems that come with stationary docking systems and grid integration equipment.
