Military Microgrids: A logistical perspective on Energy

The power of logistics is often portrayed through strategic mobility. Consider, however, the continuous mission of sustaining our U.S. bases. This endeavor is neither temporary nor cheap and it hinges on one necessary resource, energy. The process of sustaining military operations at a base is a logistical one. Having the necessary electrical power to meet demand has not been an issue because bases are connected to the national energy grid. An attack on this grid in certain areas, or a blackout, however, leaves bases dependent on a small amount of back up generators. This can sustain hospitals and mp stations, but the rest of the base is left without electricity. Thus, the electricity of the military bases is as susceptible as the electricity of the public. Security and reliability of base sustainment is the future of energy.

There has been a push to make the sustainment of military bases separate from the national energy grid, utilizing what is know as microgrids. Consider the current project in three Navy bases in San Diego California, where the Department of Defenses Environmental Security Technology Certification Program has just contracted the existing microgrids to be connected to one another. This project is the first of its kind. Microgrids reliance on renewables create a system that is less reliable than the national energy grid, so the microgrids stay connected to the national energy grid and act as a backup in case of emergencies, such as the Spiders Microgrid program at Fort Carson. This system, however, is increasing its reliability by connecting to multiple microgrids giving it the ability to use excess production from one grid to meet its shortages.

 

Microgrids may not seem to be a traditional logistical issue because is not a traditional problem logistics officers encounter. The problem exists at a higher level, headed by U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army, the Honorable Katherine Hammack, as she is working with both engineers, private contractors such as Boeing, and logisticians to find the right answer to the question of energy security. The G-T-S-R construct can be applied as a microcosm of the grid itself or the larger energy projects that develop the energy grid.

Lets consider the smaller level first. Energy must be generated via a slew of Renewable energy sources, whether it be photovoltaic, wind, biomass, waste to energy, etc. Then it must be transported with electrical lines to the necessary users on a base. It must be sustained at a constant frequency of 60 hertz without a lapse in production and all excess energy must be redeployed, either through storage (pump storage or batteries) or to the atmosphere via heat from resistors. All of this is a part of the transfer to an energy independent military base.

Now from a larger scale, consider a microgrid that utilizes a waste to energy plant. This concept takes waste from surrounding land fills and incinerates it into energy. The waste has to be generated, which is already occurring daily from peoples trash. The trash must be transported from all the landfills to the WTE plant, via a large amount of trucks coordinating movement at set times and locations. Consider the sustainment of these vehicles and the constantly running WTE plant and finally the redeployment of the vehicles and drivers back to there homes every day. A large logistical problem that needs well thought out planning and leadership.

Microgrids, a concept attributed to engineers primarily, is full of logistical concepts and problems. More involvement of logisticians in the issue could increase the projected 56.8 MegaWatts of energy microgrids will be producing on military installations by 2020. Consider the average demand of West Point is about 15 MW. Energy is a hot topic in the future, a logistical skill set in an engineer could lead to increased efficiency.

-Brian Elliott