Marines take solar to the war

As has been said before, solar panels work best where there is lots of sun and you can’t find more sun than in the Arabian desert.  Previously, that sun had only been a source of unbearable heat but now thanks to the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the sun provides badly needed power for soldiers while out in the field.

Since electronics have become so important in warfare these days, a method of recharging all the equipment was essential.  Because of the need to recharge so many essential pieces of equipment, ONR’s Advanced Power Generation Future Naval Capabilities program has developed the “Ground Renewable Expeditionary ENergy System (GREENS)”.  GREENS is a 300W solar panel/battery system that provides ongoing power to marines in the field.

“It’s vitally important to have power in the battlefield especially these days in an irregular warfare environment,” said Marine Col. Thomas Williams, a senior officer at ONR. “There’s a high demand for computing devices, targeting systems and communications devices in the field.  Small tactical Marine units are widely dispersed, and they require power and resupply.”

Being able to power their equipment while in remote places will cut down on the marines need for fuel resupply.  Less fossil fuel will be used because fewer vehicles will need to travel out to remote combat areas to recharge equipment.  Less travel and fuel means lower costs.

Not only is GREENS able to provide badly needed power, but it has a second desirable feature as well.

“The other piece is a tool kit,” Anderson continued. “In other words, a Marine can enter into the GREENS computer what their expected mission profile is, and it will tell them which components of the GREENS system to pull out and take with them in order to provide their renewable power needs.”

Although the solar arrays will not be cheap, the power they provide is free and endlessly renewable on site.  Every other form of power generation requires some form of fuel that must be transported, requiring recurring costs. 

Moving to solar arrays will ultimately cost the military less, providing monetary resources for other items needed while training and waging war.  With the cost of our two ongoing conflicts projected to cost over a trillion dollars, any savings can only help.

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