As the largest military force on the planet, the US Department of Defense (DoD) is also the largest consumer of energy in the world. Every year, the combined forces use 3.7 billion kilowatt hours of electricity and 120 million barrels of oil, totaling around $20 billion. In order to save some cash and to avoid having to purchase fossil fuels from countries hostile to American interests, the DOD plans on drastically increasing its renewable energy capabilities. In a report published this week by Pike Research, the U.S. military intends to ramp up its existing 80-megawatt renewables capacity four-fold to 3,200 megawatts by 2025.

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Post tags: "wind power", air force, army, biomass, department of defense, dod, fuel cell, geothermal, green energy, hydrokinetic, navy, Pike Research, renewable energy, report, solar, us military

The United States Military has long been a supporter for alternative energy in order to make the assorted Armed Forces as efficient as possible. The efforts have seen the development of everything from fighter jets running on biofuel to solar powered backpacks for troops in Afghanistan. One of the biggest challenges facing the US Army, however, has been how to make their Ground Combat Vehicles (GCVs) more fuel efficient. Currently, the average Army soldier uses 22 gallons of gasoline a day, but that is set to change with BAE Systems unveiling the specifications for a hybrid-electric U.S. Army tank – a vehicle that has been in the works for four years.

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Post tags: army, bae systems, California, Ground Combat Vehicle hybrid, Ground Combat Vehicle hybrid bae systems, hybrid tank, hybrid tank bae systems, Michigan, Northrop Grumman Ground Combat Vehicle, Northrop Grumman Ground Combat Vehicle hybrid, tank, U.S. Army, us army hybrid tanks, us military alternative energy, us military hybrid tanks

In an effort to shed its reliance on foreign oil, the United States Airforce has expressed the desire to switch to biofuels to run its warplanes. With approval to use these fuels slated to clear by 2012, the Airforce will hopefully set a precedent for the other arms of the military. One obstacle preventing this smooth transition? Biofuels currently cost approximately ten times more than conventional fuel.


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Post tags: Airforce, alternative energy, army, biofuel, foreign oil dependence, JP-8, navy, renewable energy

We’ve all heard by now that the army is trying to reduce its “carbon bootprint” with everything from solar panels to hybrid aircraft. The military’s latest green initiative is to tune up their tanks with hydrogen fuel cell technology — in an ideal situation, tanks would gather hydrogen from JP-8 diesel fuel and convert it to raw electricity.

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Post tags: army, fuel cells, green design, green transportation, hydrogen, military, renewable energy, sustainable design

A huge milestone was recently reached at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida when an A-10C Thunderbolt jet took to the air running its engine on plant based fuel. The Air Force is the largest consumer of petroleum in the Department of Defense — they guzzle 2.4 billion gallons per year — and is hoping to wean themselves off foreign oil in the coming years. This flight was the first step in proving to their critics that measures can and will be taken to clean up the energy that fuels their aircraft.

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Post tags: armed forces, army, bio fuel, camelina, department of defense, eglin air force base, florida, ir force, jet fuel, renewable energy, sustainable jet fuel

Are you good at video games? Then you might be able work the Dragon Runner, a 14 lb bomb-disposal robot unveiled today by the British Ministry of Defence. The robot, which measures 9″x8″x3, can be worn as a backpack and is capable of climbing stairs, opening doors, lifting up items, and it can even dig around explosives — all via a game console-like controller.

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Post tags: army, bomb disposal, bombs, dragon runner, eco design, green design, hurt locker, uk army