Army floating solar array is the largest floating system in the Southeast

By U.S. Army Public AffairsJune 8, 2022

This solar array, the largest floating system in the Southeast, will provide carbon-free on-site ene
This solar array, the largest floating system in the Southeast, will provide carbon-free on-site energy at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON – The Hon. Rachel Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, will participate in a ribbon-cutting event on June 10 for a floating solar array at Fort Bragg, North Carolina – the first of its kind in the Department of Defense and the largest floating system in the Southeast United States. The 1.1-megawatt floating solar system, located on the Big Muddy Lake at Camp Mackall on Fort Bragg, also includes a 2MW/2 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system.

A collaboration between Fort Bragg, Duke Energy and Ameresco, this utility energy service contract project will provide carbon-free on-site generation, supplement power to the local grid, and provide backup power for Camp Mackall during electricity outages.

An electronic “recloser,” funded by the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, is also being demonstrated as part of the system. Reclosers respond to transient events, like a tree limb brushing against a power line, to quickly reset the system and restore power. This technology provides better protection for system power lines and minimizes damage to sensitive electronic equipment in the event of power interruption.

“This project fulfills the commitment made in our Army Climate Strategy to increase resilience while delivering clean energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Jacobson. “When we collaborate with local utilities and industry to promote energy resilience while powering the local grid, it is a winning solution across the board.”

Fort Bragg is the largest military installation by population in the Army and is the home of Airborne and Special Operations forces, with approximately 49,000 military personnel, 11,000 civilian employees and 23,000 family members.

For more information, please email the Army Energy Team at usarmy.pentagon.hqda-asa-iee.mbx.energy-initiatives@army.mil.