Military renewable energy generation for forward-operating bases is subject of DARPA proposers day April 27

ARLINGTON, Va., 15 April 2011. Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., will host a proposers day on 27 April in Arlington, Va., to brief industry on a military renewable energy program called Deployed Energy Storage (DES) to develop a power-distribution system from traditional and renewable power sources for forward operating bases.This forward-deployed power-distribution system must give military personnel access to an uninterrupted military reserve energy supply, even with power interruptions lasting for days, or with long periods of reduced energy supplies. The intent is to reduce the amount of fuel necessary for generating power at forward operating bases.The proposers day will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hilton Arlington hotel, 950 N. Stafford St., in Arlington, Va. The hotel's telephone number is 703-528-6000. The proposers day is free of charge. DARPA officials will discuss the DES program, answer questions, and allow companies interested to present their capabilities for teaming opportunities, DARPA officials say.

The DES program seeks to provide uninterruptible power for forward operating bases during short-term power fluctuations lasting from milliseconds to hours, as well as during long-term power fluctuations lasting from hours to days. Photovoltaics power generation, for example, could be disrupted by a cloud passing in front of the sun, the sun setting, or a storm lasting for several days. Wind power, similarly, can stop when the wind dies down.

DARPA officials envision a DES system composed of short-term energy storage, long-term energy storage, and integrating the power storage with microgrid technology. Components of the system must work together to provide intelligent load sharing among several different storage and generation technologies.

The system at full charge will be able to provide an average load of uninterrupted power of 150-kilowatts for nine days with 90 percent reduction, and 30 days with a 30 percent reduction in power from renewable power generation. Companies chosen to participate in the DES program must demonstrate a 100-to-150-kilowatt average load system for 30 days.

Those who would like to attend the proposers day must register no later than 4 p.m. on 22 April. Request proposers day registration forms by e-mail at [email protected]. Use the subject line: Proposers Day Information.

After the conference, those attending may meet individually with Dr. Robert Mantz. Schedule appointments by e-mail at [email protected].

More information about the proposers day is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/DARPA/CMO/DARPA-SN-11-35/listing.html.