U.S. Army and Lockheed Martin Commission Microgrid at Fort Bliss

U.S. Army and Lockheed Martin officials commissioned the first U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) grid-tied microgrid integrating both renewable resources and energy storage at Fort Bliss, Texas. The project was funded by the DoD’s Environmental Security Technology Certification Program. The Fort Bliss grid-tied microgrid is designed to reduce overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy costs while providing the capability to operate independent of the electric utility grid when needed to provide energy security. The microgrid consists of onsite backup generation, a 120-kW solar array, a 300-kW energy storage system, utility grid interconnection, and Lockheed Martin’s intelligent microgrid control system. The system also stores energy to respond to high periods of energy demand and to produce reliable power.