The United States military is always in search of new, game-changing technologies that will enable its efforts to be more streamlined and successful, especially for troops on the ground. It’s no surprise, therefore, that the military is now looking to renewable energy for help. With funding from the American Recovery and Investment Act, two new technologies based on solar and wind power are in the development phase and will soon be ready for deployment.The first, called REPPS (the Rucksack Enhanced Portable Power System), utilizes portable solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to keep laptops and other similarly-sized electronics running in the field for extended periods of time without recharging. The second technology—RENEWS (Reusing Existing Natural Wind and Solar system)—combines solar and wind energy with inverter technology to generate and transmit power via AC/DC outlets. It will be especially valuable for powering communications and surveillance equipment in remote areas that are completely off the grid and may not even have vehicle access.
These innovative renewable energy technologies will provide game-changing technology to the military for three key reasons: increased mobility, the ability to stay in the field longer, and enhanced protection from exposure as a result of fewer battery changes. In fact, 700 REPPS and 125 RENEWS are slated for deployment to troops in Afghanistan as soon as development is complete.
0 comments:
Post a Comment