The US Army and Princeton Power Systems (PPS) are participating in a field-deployed ‘microgrid’ demonstration system as part of the army’s initiative to lower fossil fuel consumption on the battlefield.

The advanced microgrid system, including PPS inverters, was put through seven, three month-long training rotations before being deployed to ensure the systems’ readiness for harsh military environments.

The microgrid application combines large-scale solar generation with a lead-acid battery storage system and smart controls.

The US Department of Defense is, for the first time, assessing microgrid technologies in an operational environment in an attempt to increase the energy efficiency of operation while also reduce risks to troops and costs spent on consuming energy.