The move by large-scale energy consumers to shift away from relying purely on utility grid power and fossil-fuel gen-sets is a gathering force that covers private and public sectors from commercial and industrial to healthcare and the military branches.
For example, an military energy storage microgrid generated the on-site power needed for cadet field training (CFT) this summer on the grounds of the U.S. Army’s West Point Military Academy in western New York.
Viridi delivered its RPS150 energy storage system and connected it with a diesel generator set in a microgrid configuration at Camp Buckner. The camp’s tactical operations center supports navigation courses during CFT each summer.
Camp Buckner at West Point is where new cadets, often called “Yearlings,” start their academy experience with three weeks of basic training, according to the West Point website. This summer, about 1,200 new cadets completed CFT with the 14-mile “March Back” from Camp Buckner to the West Point Superintendent’s house.
Viridi’s energy storage contribution is only the start of the microgrid project at West Point. A second, parallel project will work on how to integrate the RPS150 ESS with the Army’s Tactical Microgrid System protocol for microgrids.
The second project will be a cadet-led, year-long capstone research effort.
“The Army’s commitment to innovation and sustainability inspires us all, and we are honored to contribute to its mission of excellence,” Viridi CEO Jon M. Williams said in a statement.
The military academy’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) department metered the system during the training to assess the feasibility of energy storage system performance in field operations.
“We are excited to work with Viridi using cutting-edge energy storage systems to implement and evaluate laboratory research in support of training and operations,” said. Lt. Col. Nicholas Barry, assistant professor at the academy’s EECS.
The Viridi RPS150 is a mobile energy storage system designed for use in industrial, medical, commercial, municipal, residential and military applications, the company said. The battery storage offers 146.7 kWH in nominal capacity, on and off-grid charging and discharging and about 3,000 cycles of lifespan.
The integration of energy storage systems in tactical military operations supports the Army’s goal of reducing fuel consumption and, thus, a reduction in logistical support requirements. Using the battery systems on-site also enables greater efficiency of integration for renewable energy and electrical generator sets, according to reports.
The U.S. Army released a climate strategy and implementation plan for microgrid deployment in 2022. The military branch is aiming to build a microgrid at each of its 130 bases worldwide.
The U.S. Navy also included microgrids as part of its climate strategy. Microgrids are currently in operation at numerous military facilities, such as Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, California, Marine Base Miramar near San Diego and the Air Force’s Yokota Air Base in Japan.
