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“In today’s grid system, power generators [coal, nuclear, gas] are located far from the load — the place where people live, work, and use power,” Menicucci says. “This requires much distributed wiring and has a potential for power disruption.” What the team envisions for military bases is an energy surety system that uses more small generation units and storage nearer the load, referred to as a microgrid, and less generation at big plants.
These bases can operate with or without the grid. In addition to being smaller, the power generators would integrate a diversified fuel mix, include secure on-site fuel storage, and apply sustainable technology. Rush Robinett, senior manager of Sandia’s Energy and Infrastructures Futures Group, says this model is “like back to the future.” Military bases used to co-manufacture energy in the same area as is proposed here, he says. “Now most are totally dependent on the grid for power.”