SPIDERS

SPIDERS (Smart Power Infrastructure Demonstration for Energy Reliability and Security) is based on a Joint Command Technology Development (JCTD) project between Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security.

The objective of the SPIDERS JCTD is to demonstrate that microgrids developed using Sandia’s Energy Surety Microgrid (ESM) methodology have the ability to maintain operational surety through secure, reliable, and resilient electric power generation and distribution to mission critical loads. The results of the SPIDERS JCTD will help inform infrastructure investment decisions needed to reduce the “unacceptably high risk” of extended electric grid outages.

The SPIDERS JCTD will incorporate three separate microgrid installations, and uses a “crawl, walk, run” approach that lends itself to streamlining processes for DoD and civilian microgrid adoption.

• Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii—circuit-level microgrid, the crawl stage.
• Fort Carson in Colorado—larger microgrid that will incorporate a large photovoltaic system and vehicle to grid storage, the walk stage
• Camp Smith in Hawaii—the entire base will be incorporated into the microgrid; significant renewable energy and storage will be implemented, the run stage.

The SPIDERS JCTD addresses four critical requirements needed to enhance electric power surety for national security:

• Protect defense critical infrastructure from power loss due to physical disruptions or cyber attack to the bulk electric grid.
• Integrate renewables and other distributed generation to power defense critical infrastructure in times of emergency.
• Sustain critical operations during prolonged utility power outages.
• Manage DoD installation electrical power and consumption efficiently, to reduce petroleum demand, carbon “bootprint,” and cost.

SPIDERS Implementation Plan