Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage  -  August 22, 2018

Lockheed Martin joins Army for battery storage system

The U.S. Army will host BESS—Battery Energy Storage System—at its Fort Carson, Colorado base. Construction has begun on the system by AECOM, a global infrastructure firm, using Lockheed Martin's GridStar^® Lithium energy storage system. The 4.25 MW/8.5 MWh system is part of an energy savings performance contract (ESPC) project to reduce Fort Carson's energy costs and increase its energy resilience.

A statement from AECOM noted that "though there are some existing energy storage systems at military bases, this unit will be the largest stand-alone commercially contracted battery at an army base. The large, revenue-generating BESS operates behind Fort Carson's electric utility meter. It reduces electrical demand during peak intervals, thereby increasing power grid resilience. Because it was procured via ESPC, it required no capital expenditure by the Army."

While BESS has primarily been used for demand charge reduction, the system may also be used in the future for renewables optimization (Fort Carson has large photovoltaic assets), frequency and voltage support for Fort Carson's distribution grid and, potentially, microgrid support.

"Lockheed Martin is pleased to collaborate with AECOM to develop and implement the new military infrastructure that will help Fort Carson increase its resiliency and reduce their electricity costs," said John Battaglini, director with Lockheed Martin Energy. "The versatility of energy storage is a key enabler for the military's aggressive goals of achieving energy resiliency."

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