FORT DETRICK, Md. – The U.S. Army, through the Office of Energy Initiatives and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Defense Logistics Agency Energy collaborated with Ameresco Federal Solutions Group to add a 6 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) to the existing 18.6 MW solar renewable energy facility at the Fort Detrick Army Garrison in Frederick, Maryland. The BESS will provide guaranteed utility cost savings of $125,000 annually to the government, and project completion is scheduled for early 2023.
The BESS will provide frequency regulation services to Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland independent system operators. In addition, the installed BESS will be microgrid-ready, allowing for future resiliency functions at Fort Detrick to support mission readiness.
“The resiliency of our installations is an important priority for the Army,” said Mr. Paul Farnan, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. “This BESS aligns with the Army’s Installation Energy and Water Strategic Plan to provide installations with energy resilience, efficiency, and affordability to enhance readiness. I am very grateful for the continued collaboration amongst all stakeholders to promote resilient, carbon pollution-free energy for the Army and our local communities,” said Farnan.
In 2015, the U.S. Army awarded a 26-year Renewable Energy Supply Agreement to Ameresco and a lease of approximately 67 acres to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the 18.6 MW solar renewable energy generation system on Fort Detrick. Ameresco completed the solar project in 2016, which includes 59,994 solar panels, nine central inverters and transformers, and medium-voltage overhead and underground electric distribution. Currently, the project serves approximately 12 percent of Fort Detrick’s annual electric load requirements.
Fort Detrick is home to the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command. It includes the bio-defense agency and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. Fort Detrick remains the world’s leading research campus for biological agents that require special containment.
The OEI serves as the Army’s central program management office to develop, implement, and oversee privately financed and large-scale energy projects focused on achieving resilience on Army installations.
The USACE serves as the real estate execution agent for Army land and supports the OEI.
The Defense Logistics Agency Energy provides acquisition support for facility energy commodities and services, including coal, natural gas, electricity, renewable energy, energy savings performance contracts and long-term renewable energy project development.
Ameresco, Inc., founded in 2000, is a leading cleantech integrator and renewable energy asset developer, owner and operator.
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