SEMPER FI FOR SOLAR ENERGY

Solar energy powers Marines on battlefield
December 8, 2009 (Office of Naval Research via PhysOrg)

"…A year ago, U.S. Marines operating in the Arabian Desert only viewed the sun as the source of the region's relentless heat. Recently, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Advanced Power Generation Future Naval Capabilities program introduced technology that allows the Marines to harness some of that sunshine to help power their field equipment.

"Fueled by the sun, the Ground Renewable Expeditionary ENergy System (GREENS) is a 300-watt, photovoltaic/battery system that provides continuous power…ONR began exploring the GREENS idea in fall 2008 in response to a Marine Corps requirement from Iraq for an expeditionary renewable power system…By reducing the logistical supply chain for fuel, GREENS, and other projects like it, will help cut fuel use, cost and the associated threats to vehicle resupply convoys in Afghanistan and Iraq…"

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"…[GREENS has] two pieces…One…is a hybrid photovoltaic battery system…The other…is a tool kit…[so] a Marine can enter into the GREENS computer what their expected mission profile is, and it will tell them which components of the GREENS system…[will] provide their renewable power needs…

"Approval for the GREENS project was expedited through the ONR Future Naval Capability…and technical execution took less than six months…The entire project, from concept to transition, took just over a year…"

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"The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD), developed and tested the GREENS prototype…The GREENS system has undergone continuous power testing at Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, Calif., where ambient temperatures exceeded 116 degrees Fahrenheit. Even under the extreme temperatures, the system provided 85 percent of the rated energy. This performance exceeded expectations, prompting rapid development and accelerating procurement of the final design.

"GREENS was a featured program at the ONR-sponsored Naval Energy Forum…and is just one of the many innovative ways the future battlefield will be powered. The deployment of this technology will equip the Marine Corps with new capability and knowledge of how renewable energy can make a difference…"