US Army Ameresco inaugurates renewable energy system at Fort Detrick

The U.S. Army and energy solutions provider Ameresco have launched a renewable energy system at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland.

The project is part a Contract for 2022 integration of the battery energy storage system (BESS) with the existing 18.6 MW DC and renewable solar power plant at the base, operating since 2016.

As part of this initiative, Ameresco deployed a 6-megawatt BESS solution to increase the efficiency of the installation’s electrical network.

The system is expected to improve power quality and reduce unintended fluctuations, ensuring overall energy security and sustainability at its core.

“We are proud to lead initiatives that not only advance the energy security of the U.S. military, but also align with our commitment to consistently deliver the most innovative and supplier-neutral energy solutions,” Ameresco Executive Vice President Nicole Bulgarino he noticed during the ribbon cutting ceremony.

“This project at Fort Detrick is a step toward future development, including potential integration with a microgrid system that will provide continued essential backup power and support Army-critical operations during potential outages.”

Using a “shared vision”

Fort Detrick is a 1,200-acre (4.8 km2) critical installation in Frederick.

The center supports various segments of the U.S. military, such as the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, the 21st Signal Brigade, the Defense Health Agency and the U.S. Space Force.

Since its establishment in the 1930s, Fort Detrick has remained one of the U.S. government’s key communities for scientific and medical research, including biological defense programs and other pathogen-focused research.

Ameresco wrote that the use of an energy-saving solution in the installation would allow the base to continue to play a role in military and related development.

“The Army and industry partners like Ameresco share a common vision to create a sustainable, resilient and clean energy future,” Assistant Secretary for Defense Installations, Energy and Environment Rachel Jacobson he stated.

“The 6 MW/h energy storage system we are inaugurating at Fort Detrick… is an example of cutting-edge innovation and the success of partnerships.”

“This win-win outcome benefits the Army, local Maryland communities and many other stakeholders.”