U.S. Air Force will Install New Solar Power Storage System

          In yet another demonstration of the U.S. military’s transition to renewable energy, the Air Force Research Laboratory is eyeballing a computer center in Hawaii to demonstrate an advanced system for collecting, storing and using solar power. The aim is to show that solar power can contribute to a seamless energy management system for a sensitive, high-demand facility. If the pilot project is successful, it could be implemented at other Department of Defense facilities worldwide and make its way into the civilian sector as well. 

 

Proposed AESM system

 

           Of all the 50 states, however, Hawaii is the most vulnerable when it comes to fossil fuel dependency and it is also the site of key Department of Defense facilities, notably Pearl Harbor, so the state’s transition to locally harvested fuels is a vital national defense issue as well as a boost for consumers and businesses beset by high fossil fuel costs. In that context, it’s little wonder that Hawaii was chosen as the shakedown site for the new Advanced Energy Storage and Management (AESM) system.

           AESM also dovetails with another solar project the computer center is pursuing, the Maui Solar Initiative. This will consist of a proposed 1.5-megawatt, 13-acre solar farm located nearby. Aside from reducing fossil fuel dependency in Hawaii, the project is expected to save big bucks for the Air Force, which according to hpcwire.com, currently foots the center’s annual electricity bill of more than $3 million.

Crowdfunding Helps Military Conversion to Solar Energy

U.S. Army’s solar array at White Sands, New Mexico

 

      The U.S. military has ambitious plans ($7 billion worth) to install renewable energy at bases and other facilities across the nation. American taxpayers, of course, are footing the bill. But now they can choose to put their money into a military solar project and make a return, thanks to the crowdfunding craze. 

      Mosaic, a California startup that earlier this year began letting ordinary investors put in as little as $25 to help finance commercial rooftop photovoltaic arrays, today announced its first military-related project, a 12.3-megawatt installation that will put 55,189 panels on housing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. The panels will be installed on 547 homes and are expected to supply 30% of their electricity demand.

     The deal is significant on two fronts. Military bases represent a huge market that will help drive down the cost of solar energy through economies of scale. Silicon Valley’s SolarCity, for instance, scored a $1 billion deal in 2011 to finance and install 371 megawatts of photovoltaic panels on military housing in 30 states. Second, the deal marks a new way to finance solar energy. As lucrative U.S. tax breaks for solar and wind projects fall from 30% to 10% at the end of 2016, they will become less attractive to big banks and corporate investors currently bankrolling commercial and residential solar projects. Enter the ordinary investors, not the high-roller ones but the ordinary ones.

Crowdfunding Helps Military Conversion to Solar Energy

U.S. Army’s solar array at White Sands, New Mexico

 

      The U.S. military has ambitious plans ($7 billion worth) to install renewable energy at bases and other facilities across the nation. American taxpayers, of course, are footing the bill. But now they can choose to put their money into a military solar project and make a return, thanks to the crowdfunding craze. 

      Mosaic, a California startup that earlier this year began letting ordinary investors put in as little as $25 to help finance commercial rooftop photovoltaic arrays, today announced its first military-related project, a 12.3-megawatt installation that will put 55,189 panels on housing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. The panels will be installed on 547 homes and are expected to supply 30% of their electricity demand.

     The deal is significant on two fronts. Military bases represent a huge market that will help drive down the cost of solar energy through economies of scale. Silicon Valley’s SolarCity, for instance, scored a $1 billion deal in 2011 to finance and install 371 megawatts of photovoltaic panels on military housing in 30 states. Second, the deal marks a new way to finance solar energy. As lucrative U.S. tax breaks for solar and wind projects fall from 30% to 10% at the end of 2016, they will become less attractive to big banks and corporate investors currently bankrolling commercial and residential solar projects. Enter the ordinary investors, not the high-roller ones but the ordinary ones.

Solar Mosaic Raising Crowdfunding for Solar Panels on Military Base

         Solar Mosaic, a solar crowdfunding service, has announced that they have a project on its site that offers to fund solar energy for the U.S. Military Housing in Fort Dix, New Jersey. The project, which calls for 12,270 kilowatts, is said to be more substantial than the others currently listed. Most projects usually range from 1.5 kilowatts to 662 kilowatts. Therefore, Solar Mosaic is seeking to raise $500,000 to invest in this large project, which is being financed in partnership with CIT Group, Inc. In effect, Solar Mosaic and its investors will be funding a small portion of the $35 million project. 

 

         According to Mosaic’s site: “The project will be installed across 547 homes, providing approximately 30% of the electricity needs to military service members and their families.” This includes 55,189 solar panels. 

         The Department of Defense is actually the largest consumer of energy in the world, with an annual energy budget of $20 billion. Whether it is experimenting with renewable fuel for jets, or powering bases with solar energy, they are constantly looking for new ways to reduce fossil use. 

          In November 2011, SolarCity has created a project known as SolarStrong, which hopes to supply solar power to 120,000 military homes. Earlier this summer as well, SolarCity had announced plans to put solar panels on 7,500 military homes in Hawaii. 

          By participating in these efforts, the military is currently helping to build a market for solar power. In a May report, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) called the U.S. Department of Defense “the world’s largest energy consumer and one of the greatest catalysts of technological innovation.” The trade association went on to note the efficiency of renewable energy for the military: “In most cases, the military can sign on long-term contracts for solar energy that are below local retail rates for electricity.”