When U.S. military members are deployed in the Middle East, they often have limited access to sustainable energy sources. To help reduce carbon emissions from troops abroad, Idaho National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Defense are developing three pilot demonstration projects that will estab Contact online >>
When U.S. military members are deployed in the Middle East, they often have limited access to sustainable energy sources. To help reduce carbon emissions from troops abroad, Idaho National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Defense are developing three pilot demonstration projects that will establish clean energy and sustainability solutions for the U.S. Army Central Command in Kuwait. The projects are part of a program called Operational Energy.
The projects have significant environmental implications for Kuwait, which gets 99% of its power from fossil fuels. Operational Energy will diversify the area’s energy economy with resilient and sustainable power sources. These efforts will also improve quality of life for the soldiers. In particular, troops will no longer eat and sleep in the same space as the diesel generators, grappling with the fumes and noise.
The inaugural project focused on a microgrid solution to store energy and eliminate the need for costly and energy intensive solutions like diesel generators. “The first project successfully guided the first hybrid microgrid installation for the U.S. in Kuwait,” said Bob Turk, one of the managers on this project. “We used advanced inverters, battery storage and specialized solar photovoltaic implementations” so the Central Command operation area in Kuwait can operate more sustainably.
The second installation successfully implemented a unique 40-kilowatt carport solar power system design. “This shows that a collaboration between solar inverters and diesel generation can be achieved while maintaining stable operations,” said Turk. “This system eliminates the need to rely exclusively on diesel and proves that sustainable solutions can serve the same purpose.”
“INL has been with this project since its inception,” said Porter Hill, one of the Kuwait field implementation team members. “Our efforts began with basewide feasibility studies, thinking about different energy options, building efficiencies and power system possibilities that might work for the (Central Command) area.”
From the feasibility study, the team was able to lay out several options for program development concepts and field implementations. The INL team initially served as subject matter technical experts and in an advisory role. Then, in early 2022, some of the team members traveled to Kuwait to help conduct the pilot tests for each of the three installations.
“We’ve tried to stay a little more engaged with this project to make sure the team out in Kuwait felt our support and understood our rationale behind major design decisions and best practices for moving forward,” said Kurt Myers, another INL manager on the project. “This is truly a first of a kind effort, and it’s been a privilege to be able to shepherd this project through both the challenges and triumphs.”
The data collected from these efforts will inform further microgrid research and development activities. It will inform aspects of novel, inverter-based microgrid system controls. It will also help the team adjust its control algorithm approaches and may be used for artificial intelligence applications in microgrid management systems development, including the automation of changes to control settings depending on forecasts, use-cases and time of year.
“The research and development implications of this project are substantial,” Myers said. “When we work on projects like this, from base-wide feasibility to pilot scale implementation, we’re able to figure out the bugs and kinks with the design as we go along. Our efforts here will inform future microgrid implementations as we continue pushing toward net-zero solutions worldwide.”
About Idaho National LaboratoryBattelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development, and also performs research in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and the environment. For more information, visit. Follow us on social media:Twitter,Facebook,InstagramandLinkedIn.
Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.
These days, we''re all trying to do more with less, but GE can help. Our upgrades and modernizations can help you get more from your existing assets. Discover the possibilities with our interactive upgrades selector.
Whether you need 24/7 technical support, live remote diagnostics, onsite field engineering, or parts management, we have you covered with GE Vernova''s Controls Lifecare Services (CLS).
Join Dr. Jeff Goldmeer, Brian Gutknecht, and special guests for the final season of our 3-part series as they discuss the roles digital and electrification will play in the energy transition.
Aside from being able to provide cutting-edge turbines, GE continues to play its part in Kuwait''s evolution by developing local, high-value professionals through places like the GE Kuwait Technology Center (GEKTC). The GEKTC is a first-of-its-kind facility, serving power sector customers home and abroad, and it uniquely includes a Training Center, a Tooling Center, and a division for progressive R&D.
With all of this knowledge, learning, and ingenuity focused in one place, the GE Kuwait Technology Center is capable of driving Kuwait Vision 2035 on another front with the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA).
The GEKTC has been operating since 2016 through KDIPA and continues to foster localized research, provide hands-on training, and build an innovation ecosystem to serve the power sector in Kuwait and beyond.
This first-of-its-kind facility in Kuwait not only underlines GE''s long-term commitment to the country but also complements KDIPA''s objectives that focus on attracting value-added direct investments to ensure transfer of technology with a strong focus on talent and skill development of Kuwaitis for a sustainable future.
Additionally, KDIPA and GE, along with relevant ministries, government entities, and other stakeholders, will continue to collaborate to support Kuwait Vision 2035, especially in the transition toward a lower carbon energy future to help create a more sustainable living environment.
The capabilities of the GE Kuwait Technology Center are dynamic, to say the least. With a host of various trainings to support the power sector, a cutting-edge R&D Center, a Tooling Center that can maintain and modify power-generation tech—including integrated hydrogen solutions for greater plant performance—the GE Kuwait Technology Center is poised to steer the future of energy in Kuwait.
GE gas turbines can run on diverse fuels. More than 100 GE gas turbines have already operated on fuels that contain hydrogen, accumulating over 8 million operating hours. With KDIPA navigating through government groups for local investments, and GE''s proven ability to cut emissions, our journey in inventing new solutions for the energy sector is just beginning.
The GE Kuwait Technology Center (GEKTC) is a flagship facility that fosters localized research, provides hands-on training and builds an innovation ecosystem specifically for the power sector.
Kuwait''s EQUATE Group, in partnership with the National Technology Enterprise Company (NTEC), has completed a solar power project that will deliver clean renewable energy for the Public Authority of Industry (PAI).
About Kuwait microgrid development
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Kuwait microgrid development have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Kuwait microgrid development for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Kuwait microgrid development featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
