Military uses of energy storage

Could a flow battery bring energy storage to military bases?

The U.S. Army recently began testing something called a “flow battery” at Fort Carson, Colorado. If successful, the flow battery, which is powered by two chemical components dissolved in liquids that are pumped through the battery system, could someday help bring long-duration, large-capacity energy storage to many U.S. military bases.

Which military agencies use the most energy?

The Army consumed the most installation energy (36% in FY 2011), followed by the Air Force (30%), and the Department of the Navy (28%), including the Marine Corps (DOD, 2012). All other DoD agencies accounted for the remaining 6%. One of Former President Obama's first energy acts was enacting Executive Order 13514 on Federal Sustainability .

How does military energy use affect the economy?

Reducing and diversifying fuel use are also drivers behind economic considerations of military energy use. The US Department of Defense (DoD) is the largest US government user of energy , and within overall constrained budgets volatile energy costs represent a source of a risk to military operations and maintenance needs.

Can long-duration energy storage (LDEs) meet the DoD's 14-day requirement?

This report provides a quantitative techno-economic analysis of a long-duration energy storage (LDES) technology, when coupled to on-base solar photovoltaics (PV), to meet the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) 14-day requirement to sustain critical electric loads during a power outage and significantly reduce an installation’s carbon footprint.

How did energy influence military strategy?

One of the most famous examples of energy influencing military strategy comes from 1911, when Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty, converted the British fleet from Welsh coal to foreign oil. The resulting gain in speed and decrease in logistical burden gave the British Royal Navy a critical advantage over the Axis powers .

How much energy does the DOD use?

Energy is essential for DoD’s installations, and DoD is dependent on electricity and natural gas to power their installations. In fiscal year 2022 (20), DoD’s installations consumed more than 200,000 million Btu (MMBtu) and spent $3.96 billion to power, heat, and cool buildings.