Princeton, N.J., September 12, 2011 — Princeton Power Systems, in conjunction with the U.S. Army, is participating in a field-deployed "microgrid" demonstration system.
The advanced microgrid application combines large-scale solar generation with a lead-acid battery storage system and smart controls. The project is part of the Army's larger groundbreaking initiative to lower fossil fuel consumption on the battlefield.
Princeton Power Systems contributed the large-scale inverters for the system, for both the solar array and battery banks. Prior to deployment, the microgrid, including PPS' inverters, went through seven training rotations over a three month span at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. The success of the testing ensured the systems' readiness for harsh military environments.
The microgrid application is the first attempt by the Department of Defense to assess microgrid technologies in an operational environment. Decreasing the demand for energy on the battlefield is a key military challenge, as it will increase the energy efficiency of operations, limit the risks to troops, and reduce the amount of money spent consuming energy.
