Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      A newly-installed 134 kW photovoltaic array at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is part of the Pacific Energy Assurance and Resiliency Laboratory, a renewable energy microgrid project demonstrating new ways for military facilities to address energy needs. (Photo courtesy of HNU Energy/Joseph Cannon)PEARL microgrid project demonstrates new possibilities in military energy resiliency
                        
                        
                        A newly-installed 134 kW photovoltaic array at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is part of the Pacific Energy Assurance and Resiliency Laboratory, a renewable energy microgrid project demonstrating new ways for military facilities to address energy needs. (Photo courtesy of HNU Energy/Joseph Cannon)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

PEARL microgrid project demonstrates new possibilities in military energy resiliencyPublished Feb. 27, 2017
                    
                    By Holly Jordan
                    
                    
                    Air Force Research Laboratory
            **WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --**The Air Force Research Laboratory is leading the way for resilient, cleaner, and cost-competitive energy solutions for military installations.
AFRL’s Advanced Power Technology Office and the Hawaii Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies have initiated the design of the Pacific Energy Assurance and Resiliency Laboratory , or (PEARL), a renewable energy microgrid laboratory that is part of an ongoing effort to demonstrate new ways military facilities can address energy needs.
A microgrid is a small, independently-sourced power system that, although attached to the main power grid, can work independently if necessary, providing a source of electricity if needed without reliance on the main energy supply.
PEARL will allow researchers to evaluate renewable energy generation, storage, and control technologies by demonstrating new variances of hydrogen fuel cell, gasification/waste-to-energy, and wind turbine technologies, in addition to new battery and photovoltaic (solar) systems. Mission assurance and cybersecurity are also critical facets of the project.
Under a cooperative agreement with AFRL, HCATT awarded a $1.5 million contract to Kansas City-based architect and engineering firm Burns & McDonnell to begin initial design efforts on the PEARL project, located at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.  Key project partners, including HCATT, AFRL, HawaiiI Air National Guard, the National Guard Bureau, Air Force Civil Engineering Center, MilTech, and Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawaii, recently joined in the design proposal review for the first of six planned microgrids. The grids intend to meet Air Force energy assurance and resiliency objectives for the HIANG 154th Wing.  
“Microgrids are an important piece of the energy puzzle in terms of providing secure and reliable energy for DoOD installations,” said Kevin Spitzer, the AFRL program manager Kevin Spitzer.  “They provide a measure of energy assurance to guard against natural disaster, cyber threats, and disruptions in power, helping to ensure continued operations.”
The Air Force is increasing its focus on microgrid technologies in an effort to achieve new levels of energy resiliency for military installations.  Spitzer says Mmicrogrids such as PEARL support the Air Force’s overarching energy goals to improve resiliency, optimize demand, and assure ensure supply.  Additionally, they can help reduce fossil fuel use, minimize solid waste, and lower greenhouse gas emissions associated with military operations.  
The PEARL project also complements the State of Hawaii’s mandated transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.AFCEC 



PACAF 



AFMC 



AFRL 



Hawaii ANG 



National Guard Bureau 



PEARL 



JB Pearl-Harbor Hickam 



HCATT 



MilTech 



Naval facilities Engineering Command Hawaii 



microgrids 



Wright-Patterson AFB Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF Kendall visits Bangor ANG Base
                    
                    Vice President Harris congratulates USAFA Class of ‘24
                    
                    Senate confirms Melissa Dalton as next Under Secretary of the Air Force
                    
                    ‘One Team, One Fight’: SecAF visits Keesler AFB
                    
                    SecAF Kendall experiences VISTA of future flight test at Edwards AFBInnovation
                AFSFC reaches final phase of fielding Model Defender gear
                    
                    Around the Air Force: PCS Allowances, Air Task Forces, All-Volunteer Force
                    
                    AFIMSC focuses I-WEPTAC topics on GPC solutions
                    
                    Optimizing AI, Air University hosts Artificial Intelligence Symposium
                    
                    AFIMSC tools deliver data-driven solutions across DAFMAJCOM News
                AFMC to expand AcqDemo workforce
                    
                    AFMC empowers small businesses for Air Force reoptimization
                    
                    Acquisition Instructor Course Class 25A open for nominations
                    
                    Air Guard leaders host 2024 Wing Leader Conference
                    
                    Referral bonuses aim to help fill mission-critical vacancies
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil