DoD installations include a wide array of buildings and facilities that support and enable mission-critical functions, including the production, deployment and maintenance of weapon systems, the training and mobilization of combat forces, and the direct support for combat operations. To power these missions, military bases typically rely on the commercial electric grid as their primary source of power with back-up power delivered by stand-alone diesel generators connected directly to buildings and facilities. In the face of the increasing frequency and severity of weather events and the growing threat of cyber-attack, this solution is proving insufficient to deliver reliable and resilient energy to mission-critical functions on our installations.

New technology and electrical-system designs promise improved energy resilience through increased system reliability, as well as greater flexibility in the control and delivery of power, wherever and whenever it’s needed. ESTCP is focusing investment in four main areas of opportunity: Electrical Infrastructure and Planning, Distributed Generation, Microgrids and Energy Storage.

Subtopics:
Microgrids

ESTCP demonstrates technologies to increase interoperability of microgrid components, reduce the total cost of ownership, and enable greater control of onsite assets to improve the reliability of power to critical loads. Learn More...

Electrical Infrastructure & Planning

ESTCP demonstrates solutions that improve analytics and infrastructure planning and technologies that increase the reliability of electric power delivery systems. Learn More...

Energy Storage

Energy storage is a key enabling technology that will continue to play a larger role in DoD installations to improve energy system reliability and increase thermal and electrical demand flexibility. ESTCP has myriad energy storage demonstrations evaluating various applications to improve energy system performance and reduce utility costs. Learn More...

Distributed Generation

As the electric grid is subject to outages with greater frequency and of longer duration, ESTCP efforts are focused on demonstrating and evaluating distributed energy generation technologies that provide on-site, reliable, and cost-effective energy to support critical loads. Learn More...