U.S. Marines Using Renewable Energy to Improve Efficiency and Save Lives

1st Battalion 7th Marines

The Office of Naval Research along with elements of the U.S. Marine Corps have been testing and using renewable energy strategies to improve operational efficiency on bases in Afghanistan. The goal is to reduce the effort and energy that has to be used to move equipment from place to place. By using energy saving systems Marines won't have to do as many resupply runs that put them at risk.

Afghanistan based 3rd Battalion 5th Marines have been experimenting with and successfully using Solar Portable Alternative Communications Energy Systems LED Lighting Systems or SPACES. The Marines were made aware of the strengths and limitations of the renewable energy technologies currently being used at Forward Operating Bases/FOB.

By deploying SPACES which is a lightweight solar panel system, the Marines could do extended patrols away from their base without having to risk their lives to do resupply runs to get more batteries. The 3rd Battalion 5th Marines ran two patrol bases using renewable energy.

In addition, a 300-Watt solar powered generator allowed the Marines to reduce fuel consumption from 25 gallons a day to just 2 or 3 gallons.

Many of the younger Marines have grown up hearing, reading and knowing about the benefits of using solar power and other renewable energies. As a result it's easier to train these young warriors to use these methods to become more efficient and as a result, reduce the risk of injury and death.

Solar power applications aren't the only renewables being used out on these bases. Marines put a call out for vendors who supply water purification and energy-efficient shelters also.

Marine Corp officials have evaluated the efforts in Afghanistan to reduce energy use and to become more efficient and have labeled the effort "remarkable."

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No doubt many more experiments will be done using renewable technologies and methods that will ultimately improve the conditions for our military and reduce injury and death. Talking heads on TV who call solar power a fad (and they still do) have no clue that energy and more importantly-lives are being saved using these new technologies or "Fads"

Semper Fi.


More at Environmental Protection.

Source: http://www.solarpowerbuzzmedia.com/2011/02/us-marines-using-renewable-energy-to.html

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