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Publications NRELandtheU.S.DepartmentofDefense(DOD)workcloselytogetheronenergyprojectsthatdemonstrate
News andvalidateenergyefficiencyandrenewableenergytechnologies,withapproachesthatcanbereplicatedfor
broadimpactacrossDOD.
ContactUs

NREL'scollaborationwiththeOfficeoftheSecretaryofDefenseandthemilitaryserviceshelpsDODachieve
keyenergysecuritygoals,whilesettingthestageforbroadmarketadoptionofthesetechnologies.

TolearnaboutNREL'scapabilities,contactStephenGorin.

BrowseexamplesofNREL'sprojectswiththeDepartmentofDefenseacrossmilitaryservicebranches:

ProgressontheArmy'sRoadtoNetZeroEnergy
MovingFortCarsonTowardNetZero
EnergyandCostSavingsProjectsTakeOffattheNavy'sHawaiiandGuamInstallations

ProgressontheArmy'sRoadtoNetZeroEnergy
September2014update
NRELishelpingtheArmyassessanddeployenergy
efficiencyandrenewableenergytechnologiesin
supportofnineNetZeroEnergyInstallation(NZEI)
pilotprograms.EnergymanagersateachArmy
installationareworkingtoachievenetzeroenergy
useby2020byworkingwithNRELtoreduceenergy
consumptionandproduceasmuchrenewable
energyonsiteastheinstallationusesoverthe
courseofayear.Theseenergyefficiencyand
renewableenergystrategiescanbereplicated
acrosstheDODandotherfederalagencies,setting
thestageforbroadmarketadoption.
TheFortDallesReadinessCenter,anOregonArmyNational
Startingin2012,NRELbeganworkingwiththe Guardfacility,wasdesignedwithpassiveenergyfeatures
AssistantSecretaryoftheArmyInstallations, includingbuildingorientation,daylighting,solargain,natural
Energy,andEnvironment(ASAIE&E)and ventilation,andairtightness.Thesepassivefeaturesare
installationenergymanagerstoestablishenergy augmentedwithenergyefficientlighting,selectiveglazing,
systemcontrols,andincreasedinsulation.PhotofromMaster
baselines,estimateenergyefficiencyandrenewable
Sgt.NickChoy,U.S.Army1258921
energypotential,evaluategridinterconnection,and
developenergyefficiencyandrenewableenergy
projectimplementationplans.Eachofthenine ProjectOverview
installationsispursuingauniqueplan,including
theseexampleprojectsfrom2013: Positive NRELfoundopportunitiesto
Impact increaseenergysecurityatnine
CampParksReserveForcesTrainingArea, Armyinstallationsthrough
CaliforniaA3yearsolarcogeneration improvedenergyefficiencyand
demonstrationproject,fundedbythe optimizedrenewableenergy
EnvironmentalSecurityTechnology strategies.
CertificationProgram(ESTCP),wasinstalled Locations Dublin,CAElPaso,TXColorado
onabarracksbuildinganddiningfacility.The Springs,COFrederick,MD
systemproducesabout3,000gallonsofhot Jolon,CARepublicofthe
waterperdayforeachbuilding,andifthe3 MarshallIslandsOregon
yeardemoissuccessful,thesystemhasthe Herlong,CAWestPoint,NY
potentialforreplicationwithinDOD. Partners AssistantSecretaryoftheArmy
(Installations,Energy&
FortBliss,TexasAproposed20MWPV Environment)andDOE'sFederal
arraycouldreduceFortBliss'electricity EnergyManagementProgram
purchases15%by2020.Development (FEMP)
discussionsareunderwaybetweentheFort
Renewable Various
BlissnetzeroenergyteamandElPaso
andEfficient
Electric.
Technologies
FortCarson,ColoradoAnetzero Contact SamBooth
optimizationtransformed1950serabarracks
intoamodernLEEDofficebuilding,demonstratingthefeasibilityofachievingnetzeroenergy
performancewithintheconstraintsofaretrofitconstructionproject.Theprojectresultedina58%
reductioninenergyuseinthebuildingenvelope,lightingsystems,plugloads,andHVACsystems.
PlannedrooftopPVwillgenerateadditionalenergytoachievenetzeroenergy.

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1/3/2017 NREL:DepartmentofDefenseEnergyProgramsEnergyProjects
FortDetrick,MarylandA15MWPVsystemfundedthroughapowerpurchaseagreement(PPA)is
expectedtooffset20%oftheinstallation'selectricityload.Theprojectisintheprocurementstage.

FortHunterLiggett,CaliforniaAwastetoenergysystemthatproducessynthesisgas(syngas)from
theinstallation'snonrecyclablewastewillfuela425kWsyngasgeneratorset.Currentlyunder
construction,theESTCPfundeddemonstrationsystemwillhelpFortHunterLiggettachievenetzero
wasteandcontributetoitsnetzeroenergygoals.

KwajaleinAtoll,RepublicoftheMarshallIslandsAdistrictchilledwatersystemcooledbydeep
seawatercanreduceinstallationcoolingloadsandprovidechilledwatertofacilitiesthroughoutthe
island.Thenetzeroenergyteamissupportingdevelopmentofanenergysavingsperformancecontract
(ESPC)toexecutetheproject.

OregonArmyNationalGuardAmongotherstatewideenergyprojects,thenewFortDallesReadiness
Centerisdesignedwithlowtonocostpassiveenergyfeaturesincludingbuildingorientation,
daylighting,solargain,naturalventilation,andairtightness.Theefficientbuildingalsoincludesa90kW
PVsystemanda3036kWconcentratingPVsystem.

SierraArmyDepot,CaliforniaAproposed2.5MWdc(2MWac)utilityownedPVsystemcouldsupply
30%oftheinstallation'selectricity(kilowatthours).TheprojectisthefirstofitskindforthePlumas
SierraRuralElectricCooperative,andsuccesscouldopenthedoorforadditionalPVdevelopmentinthe
utility'sportfolio.

U.S.MilitaryAcademyWestPoint,NewYorkAtrigeneration(electricity,heating,andcooling)
centralenergyplantcouldmeetapproximately80%oftheprojectedsourceenergyneedsofthe
garrison.NRELisworkingwiththeArmy'sConstructionEngineeringResearchLaboratoryonfurther
evaluations.

FindoutmoreaboutNREL'sworkwiththeNetZeroEnergyInstallation(NZEI)pilotprogramsinthereport,
ArmyNetZeroEnergyRoadmapandProgramSummary .

ReadfeedbackandlessonslearnedfromimplementingtheNZEIpilotprograminArmyNetZero:Lessons
LearnedinNetZeroEnergy .

Getpracticalinformationforenergymanagersonsixrenewableenergytechnologiesandtheprocessfor
creatingatechnicallyandfinanciallysoundArmyECIPapplication:ArmyNetZero:GuidetoRenewable
EnergyConservationInvestmentProgram(ECIP)Projects .

LearnmoreaboutNREL'ssystematicframeworkforplanningenergyprojectsatmilitaryinstallationsinthe
technicalreportNetZeroEnergyMilitaryInstallations:AGuidetoAssessmentandPlanning .

ReadmoreinthefactsheetDOE,NRELHelpDODEnhanceEnergySecurity .

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MovingFortCarsonTowardNetZero
August2014update
Duetoitsleadershipinresearching,developing,
andcoordinatingenergysolutionstopowerthe
nation'shomes,businesses,andtransportation,
NRELisstrategicallypositionedtohelpthe
DepartmentofDefenseacceleratethe
implementationofitscleanenergyinitiatives.For
severalyearsandthroughmultipleagreements,
NRELhasbroughtthisexpertisetoitspartnership
withaColoradoneighbortothesouth,FortCarson,
Colorado.

NRELisworkingwiththeAssistantSecretaryofthe
ArmyforInstallations,EnergyandEnvironmentto
The2MWphotovoltaicsystematU.S.ArmyFortCarson.
achievenetzeroenergyby2020.FortCarson PhotocourtesyofU.S.ArmyFortCarson
volunteeredtobeanintegratednetzero
installation,whichmeanstheywillbenetzero
energy,netzerowater,andnetzerowaste. ProjectOverview

Thebase'sgoalistocutenergyintensity30%from Positive NRELfoundopportunitiesto

2003levelsby2015,strivingfora50%reduction Impact increaseenergysecurityatthe
by2020,inadditiontoitsNZEIgoals.Several Army'sFortCarsonthrough
completedandplannedconstructionprojectshave improvedenergyefficiencyand
includedrenewableenergytechnologiessuchas optimizedrenewableenergy
photovoltaics,solarhotwater,groundsourceheat strategies.
pumps,andtranspiredsolarwalls.NRELhasworked Locations ColoradoSprings,CO
withFortCarsononseveralkeyprojects,including: Partners AssistantSecretaryoftheArmy
(Installations,Energy&
Renewableenergypotentialassessment
Environment)
OnekeycomponentofNREL'sworkwasthe
completionofaNetZeroEnvironmental Renewable Variousenergyefficiencyand
AssessmentforNetZeroimplementation.The andEfficient renewableenergytechnologies
assessmentevaluatedmorethanadozen Technologies andapproaches
sitesonFortCarsontotalingnearly1,000 Contact KateAnderson,SamBooth
acresanddocumentedtheconcernsand
challengeswithdevelopingrenewableenergy
forthesesites.Thisassessmentwillbeavaluabletoolasthefacilitymovesforwardwiththeevaluation
ofrenewableenergyopportunities.

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1/3/2017 NREL:DepartmentofDefenseEnergyProgramsEnergyProjects
EfficientbuildingrenovationsFortCarsonistransforming1950serabarracksintomodernLeadership
inEnergyandEnvironmentalDesign(LEED)certifiedofficebuildings.InpartnershipwiththeGeneral
ServicesAdministrationandthePacificNorthwestNationalLab(PNNL),theNRELteamresearched
methodsforreducingenergyuseinnewandexistingbuildings,focusingonoptimumbuildingenvelopes,
daylighting,behaviorchangeimpacts,andadvancedretrofitstrategiesformaximumenergyreduction.
Renovationstodatehaveresultedinreducedenergyuseinthebuildingenvelope,lighting,plugloads,
andheating,ventilation,andairconditioning(HVAC)systems,andalsoaddedrenewableenergy
generation.

MicrogridenergyintegrationNRELisworkingwiththeU.S.DepartmentofDefenseandtheU.S.
ArmyCorpofEngineerstodevelopspecificationsforasystemthatintegratesphotovoltaics,plugin
electricvehicles,andarenewableenergymanagementunitwithamicrogridsystematFortCarson.
Duringthismultiyearproject,NRELwilldevelopcriticalmodelingtoolstooptimizethecomponents
neededtolinkvehiclestothemicrogrid.Amicrogridthatintegratesrenewablegenerationandvehicle
energystoragewithloadmanagementcomponentsoffersenergysecurity,costsavings,andreliability
benefits.Throughthecoordinationofgeneratorsandloads,theFortCarsonmicrogridwillmakeit
possibletomaintainelectricitydeliverytoaportionofthefacilitythatiscriticaltosustained
operations.

NRELworkswithnineArmypilotprojectstoestablishenergybaselines,estimateenergyefficiencyand
alternativeenergypotential,evaluategridinterconnection,anddevelopanimplementationplanaspartofthe
ArmyNetZeroEnergyInitiative.Anetzeroenergyinstallationproducesasmuchenergyonsiteasituses
overthecourseofayear.LearnmoreaboutNREL'sworkwiththeseninepilotprojects.

TheU.S.Armygarrisonmountainpost,establishedin1942outsideColoradoSprings,isthesecondlargest
employerinthestateofColoradoandhasa$1.3billionperyearimpactonthelocaleconomy.The2mile
wideby5milelongposthosts10,000soldiersandincludesanairfieldwithsixoperatinggates.Inthepast5
years,FortCarson'sbuildingsquarefootagehasincreasedbyabout50%,mainlyduetothegrowthofits
soldierpopulation.Thisgrowth,incombinationwithaggressiveenergygoalsofDODandtheU.S.Army,keeps
energyefficiencyandrenewableenergyattheforefrontofworkatthefacility.

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EnergyandCostSavingsProjectsTakeOffattheNavy'sHawaiiandGuamInstallations
August2014update
NRELpartneredwiththeU.S.Navy'sNavalFacilities
EngineeringCommand(NAVFAC)todemonstrate
energyefficiencymeasures,renewableenergy
generation,andenergysystemsintegrationat
installationsinHawaiiandGuam.Theprojectsfield
testedtheperformanceofenergyimprovement
technologiesandprovidecredibleperformancedata
tohelpguideenergyrelateddecisions.Basedon
theinitialsuccessofthesefielddemonstrations,the
Navyisplanningbroaderimplementationofthe
followingenergyefficiencytechnologies.

AdvancedControlSystemRetrofitson
TheenergymanagementsysteminstalledattheNavy'sPacific
RooftopAirConditioningUnits NREL MissileRangeFacilityinHawaiiholdsthesystem'smain
andNAVFACimplementedadvancedcontrol controller,advancedbatteries(inset),andthehumanmachine
systemsonexistingrooftopairconditioning interface.PhotosbyRobertButt,NREL,andGregoryMartin,
units(RTUs)onJointBasePearlHarbor NREL(inset)
HickhaminHawaii,increasingtheefficiency
oftheequipment.Duringthedemonstration,
ProjectOverview
theretrofitsreducedoverallenergyuseby
100megawatthoursacrossthe11RTUs, Positive Fielddemonstrationsofnewly
roughlya15%reductioninenergyusage. Impact provenenergyefficient
technologiesareyielding
EnergyManagementSystemfor valuableresultsfortheU.S.
PhotovoltaicSystemInterconnection Navy,helpingitmeetenergy
Anenergymanagementsystem(EMS) goals.
installedbytheNRELNAVFACteamatthe
Locations HawaiiandGuam
PacificMissileRangeFacilityinHawaii
improvedutilizationofexistingphotovoltaic Partners U.S.Navy,NavalFacilities
(PV)systems,enablingsuccessful EngineeringCommand
interconnectionwiththeutilitygrid.TheEMS (NAVFAC),NAVFACPacific,
demonstrationresultedinenergysavingsof NAVFACAtlantic'sEngineering
CriteriaOffice,NAVFACHawaii,
320megawatthoursduringthe6month
NAVFACMarianas,NAVFACHQ
demonstrationperiod,payingforitselfin5
yearsatlocalelectricityrates. Renewable energyefficiency,alternative
andEfficient energy,andenergysystem
ResidentialEnergyEfficiencyEquipment Technologies integration
onMilitaryHousing TheNRELNAVFAC Contact JeffDominick
teamdemonstratedwholehouseenergy
efficiencyretrofitsinmilitaryhousingon
NavalBaseGuam.Theretrofittechnologiesincludingheatpumpwaterheatersandhighefficiencyair
conditionerscoupledwithprogrammablethermostatsandlowflowshowerheadsshowedpromisingcost
andenergysavings,withanannualsavingsof4,000kilowatthours(kWh)inairconditioninguse(25%
averagereduction)and1,400kWhinwaterheatinguse(70%averagereduction)perhomereducing
totalhomeconsumptionbyanaverageof20%.Asaresultofthefindings,NavalBaseGuamhasmade
heatpumpwaterheatersandhighefficiencyairconditionersthenewequipmentstandard.

AdvancedPlugLoadControlsforOfficeEquipment NRELinstalledandmonitoredadvancedplug
loadcontrolsina100occupantofficebuildinglocatedonJointBasePearlHarborHickaminHawaii.The

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demonstrationincludedanoccupantselectedschedulethateliminatedunnecessarynighttimeand
weekendplugloadsandshowedtheNavycouldreduceplugloaduseby28%anddecreasetheentire
building'senergyuseby8%.

TheNRELNavycollaborationbeganinAugust2011aspartofaprojectfocusedonidentifyingunderutilized
commercialtechnologiesthatcouldhelpmeettheNavy'sambitiousenergygoalsofproducingatleast50%of
shorebasedenergyfromalternativesourcesandensuringthat50%ofNavyandMarineCorpsinstallations
willbenetzeroenergy.Inaddition,reducingenergycosts,decreasingrelianceonforeignoilandincreasing
energysecurityispartoftheDODmission.

Tolearnmoreaboutthedemonstrationprojects,downloadtheNAVFACHawaiiandGuamEnergyImprovement
TechnologyDemonstrationProjectreportsfromtheNRELPublicationsDatabase.
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