FORT DETRICK, Md. - The U.S. Army, through the Office of Energy Initiatives and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and in coordination with the Defense Logistics Agency Energy and Ameresco Federal Solutions Group, added a six megawatt (MW) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to the existing 18.6 MW solar renewable energy facility here.
The BESS will provide the government a guaranteed utility cost savings of $125,000 annually, as well as provide frequency regulation services to the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland Independent System Operator.
Additionally, the system will be microgrid-ready, allowing for future resiliency functions at Fort Detrick to support mission readiness. Project completion is scheduled for early 2023.
“The resiliency of our installations is an important priority for the Army,” said Mr. Paul Farnan, principal deputy assistant Army secretary 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.”
In 2015, the U.S. Army awarded a 26-year Renewable Energy Supply Agreement and a lease of approximately 67 acres to Ameresco in order 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. The project currently 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, which includes the bio-defense agency and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.
OEI serves as the Army's central program management office for development, implementation and oversight of privately financed, and large-scale energy projects focused on achieving resilience on Army installations.
USACE serves as the real estate execution agent for Army land, and supports the OEI.
DLA-E 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 clean tech integrator and renewable energy asset developer, owner, and operator.
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