As an agency of the US government, the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL, Golden, Colorado, US) is training US military personnel in renewable energy and consulting in Afghanistan and other war zones. NREL provides energy consulting and renewable energy solutions both for the military and local populations, including a program to create "net-zero" energy bases, producing as much energy as they consume. "The solar resource in Helmand Province is outstanding", said NREL Scientist John Barnett, who made a trip to Afghanistan in October 2009 as part of a Marine Corps team. "Solar water heating is a great option, and could improve conditions for soldiers who often seem to run out of warm water for showers. And there are plenty of rooftop and brownfield options for photovoltaic (PV) arrays."

Net-zero at Miramar

The "net-zero" base campaign launched by the US Department of Defense and National Renewable Energy Laboratories started with a base renovation at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California. NREL worked with the Department of Energy's Federal Emergency Management Program to perform assessments, and working with the Marine Corps has instituted a variety of improvements, including installing solar technologies on base buildings, which has put the base on track to achieve a 43% reduction in energy usage by 2012, with a goal of 90% reduction by 2017.

PV and solar hot water in Afghanistan

Renewable energy, particularly solar photovoltaics and solar water heating, are attractive options for Afghanistan as well. The nation has no national electric grid and much of the power generated comes from diesel generators, which means both high fuel costs and transportation of fuel. This transportation, in turn, means security risks for the military, as supply convoys are frequent targets of attacks. General Steve Anderson, a senior logistician in Iraq for the US military, estimates that more than 1,000 Americans have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan hauling fuel to power tents and buildings.

NREL has worked with the Marine Corps to make recommendations for US military installations in Afghanistan, including installing solar photovoltaics and solar water heaters. The Marine Corps is currently testing commercial technologies for field conditions at an Experimental Forward Operating Base in Quantico, Virginia, US.

US Army National Guard tries to bring renewable energy to Afghanistan for civilian use

Another NREL program working with the US military is the energy executives program, where NREL trains individuals from multiple walks of like, mostly civilians, in renewable energy to help guide the decisions of their companies and organizations. Among those NREL is training is Lieutenant Colonel Brian Stevens of the Texas Army National Guard. Lt. Col. Stevens is also stationed in Afghanistan, and leads a group of 66 soldiers who are trying to bring sustainable agriculture and renewable energy to civilians in the war-torn nation.

In his work as a civil affairs officer, Lt. Col. Stevens has worked on renewable energy systems in Iraq and Afghanistan. He says that many of the challenges to successful adoption of renewable energy is not the systems, it is the training of the local population to operate and maintain those systems.

"There's a little bit of micro-hydro power, a little bit of wind, a little bit of solar already in Afghanistan, built by Coalition units, the Afghan government, and non-government organizations", Stevens said. "Unfortunately it's usually not very sustainable by the Afghan government. In most cases, they don't have the trained people, the supplies or the means to continue the operations. As soon as the sponsors pull away, the installations typically don't survive very long."

2010-08-21 | Courtesy: NREL | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

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