The Army's ability to accomplish its mission depends on secure, uninterrupted access to power and energy.
Today, fuel convoys meet energy needs on the battlefield. Army installations depend on electricity from grids, which are vulnerable and exposed to acts of nature or man.
Consequently, energy security is an Army priority. We are changing Army culture, making energy a consideration in everything we do. Every Soldier must become a "power manager too."
The Army is focused on three lines of effort, : "Soldier Power," "Basing Power," and "Vehicle Power." Soldier Power is the energy required for a dismounted Soldier. Basing Power is the fuel and energy needed on our installations and forward operating bases. Vehicle Power is the energy associated with air- and ground-tactical and non-tactical vehicles.
Sufficient Soldier Power affects not only the Soldier's soldier's reach, but also his or her mobility, agility, interoperability, and sustainability. We are decreasing the dismounted Soldier's energy load through deploying advanced Soldier soldier-tested power systems thatwhich are lighter, more capable, and have significantly reduced logistical requirements.
The Army is establishing secure energy and water supplies on permanent and forward operation bases through efficient systems, power management, and renewable or alternative energy sources.
Net Zero pilot installations are pioneering innovative, holistic approaches to designing and managing resources at their installations, focused on reducing energy, water and waste.
The newly established Energy Initiatives Task Force is developing large large-scale renewable projects. More than 180 renewable energy projects are being evaluated. The Army's goal is 1 gigawatt of capacity by 2025 2025---- enough energy to power 250,000 homes.
Since 2003, the Army's total installation energy consumption has decreased by 13 percent even as the total number of personnel assigned has increased by 20 percent.
The private sector has invested more than $1.03 billion on Army installations through Energy Savings Performance Contracts. Through this program an annual energy savings exceeding 9.45 trillion British Thermal Units per year have has been achieved. An additional $600M 600 million in investments will be contracted during the next two years.
New Advanced Medium Mobile Power Source generators being installed are up to 21 percent more fuel efficient, and have reduced total ownerships costs, increased reliability, and enhanced power generation capability. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed 28 minigrid distribution systems on bases in Afghanistan, saving approximately 50 million gallons of fuel annually annually. That is - equivalent to eliminating 55 truckloads of fuel per day, reducing fuel convoys and Soldier soldier risk.
Improved vehicle fuel efficiency in tactical vehicles translates into increased mission effectiveness, smaller logistics footprints, and greater endurance. To ensure flexibility, the Army is certifying tactical vehicles for bio-fuel blends, when they become readily available.
The Army is participating in a pilot program to test electric vehicle charging alternatives for non-tactical vehicles (NTV). Additionally, more than 41percent of our NTV fleet (32,600 vehicles) are alternative fuel or hybrid. As a result, the Army reduced our NTV petroleum use by 8 percent in 2011.
The Army will make prudent decisions to ensure the Army of the future has access to the same resources as the Army today. We are working to use energy to our best advantage. The development of force-wide energy doctrine and operating principles--coupled with technological investments, operational training, education, and facilities management--improves our overall energy security and, in turn, our ability to perform our global mission.
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