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      The Energy Challenge, an open crowdsourcing initiative, sought solutions to innovatively shape the future of resilient energy production, transmission, use and storage, thereby reducing demand and reliance on fossil fuels, while modernizing the energy infrastructure.Reimagining Energy
                        
                        
                        To address energy challenges, the Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability, or AFWIC, [now AF Futures] Disruptive Technology Team, in partnership with AFWERX, launched the Reimagining Energy for the DoD Challenge, Sept. 2, 2020. The Energy Challenge, an open crowdsourcing initiative, sought solutions to innovatively shape the future of resilient energy production, transmission, use and storage, thereby reducing demand and reliance on fossil fuels, while modernizing the energy infrastructure. (U.S. Air Force graphic courtesy of AFWERX)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

DAF seeks to modernize energy infrastructure through energy campaignsPublished April 2, 2021
                    
                    By AFWERX Public Affairs
            **ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --**The Department of Defense is one of the largest single consumers of energy and relies heavily on fossil fuels to meet national security objectives. The way energy is generated, transmitted, stored, and used, energy today is both a paramount combat enabler, and a potentially crippling vulnerability. History leads us to conclude that future wars will likely be fuel-limited environments. Critical infrastructure such as refineries, storage tanks, and distribution networks present lucrative targets to an adversary. Yet, the Air Force’s energy needs continue to grow. The reliance on fossil fuels lead to physical and geopolitical challenges in the security landscape, while alternative energy sources pose other challenges of their own. As the Air Force continues to reorient itself for great-power competition, the need to build more resilient energy infrastructure and supply chains has become increasingly urgent. The time has come to reimagine usage, generation, transportation, and storage of energy.
To address these challenges, the **Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability**, or AFWIC, [now **AF Futures**] Disruptive Technology Team, in partnership with **AFWERX**, launched the **Reimagining Energy for the DoD Challenge** Sept. 2, 2020. The Energy Challenge, an open crowdsourcing initiative, sought solutions to innovatively shape the future of resilient energy production, transmission, use and storage, thereby reducing demand and reliance on fossil fuels, while modernizing the energy infrastructure.
Solutions ranged from those that could be implemented immediately, some that required further development, while others were ‘moonshot’ ideas that may or may not be implemented until 2045. “The disruption of the energy sector is already happening. There’s unbelievable innovation occurring in how we produce, transmit and store energy,” said Col. Charles Bris-Bois, Air Force Disruptive Technology Team. “The DoD must partner with those leading this disruption in both industry and academia, to ensure we maintain our competitive advantage.”
The opportunity to partner with other Air Force organizations in the energy space grew with the inclusion of the **Air Force Research Laboratory**Transformational Capabilities Office, **AFRL** Advanced Power Technology Office and **SAF/IE** (Installations, Environment, & Energy). This proved to be an excellent partnership addition, consisting of the primary Air Force organizations that are focused on reshaping and identifying energy technologies for the future.
The Energy Challenge’s open call for topics garnered 903 submissions of which 179 finalists were invited to present their ideas to expert reviewers from across the government—the largest AFWERX challenge to date. The culminating event was a virtual showcase held Feb. 9, 2021. The event was introduced by Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements **Lt. Gen. S. Clinton Hinote**, who highlighted the importance of the Energy Challenge, noting “ ... we need a mind-shift of the way we are thinking about alternative forms of energy” and that “ ... energy is a limiting factor to our operations and the options we can [effectively] provide to our leadership.”
The showcase included 1,895 participants from industry, government, academia and advocacy groups, and a program that included six keynote speakers, 10 technical panels, and multiple networking sessions. The breadth and depth of the proposed solutions provided by industry covered a wide range of topics to include: fixed and mobile energy generation and storage, energy transmission and distribution, new warfighting and operational equipment, data availability for improved planning and decision making, and energy culture, policy and education.
The AFRL TCO saw a unique opportunity in the Energy Challenge and is in the process of awarding several contracts in the areas of wireless power distribution, flexible power generation, renewable power generation, battery solutions, and innovative electrical equipment. This is part of a $6 million campaign that **Chris Ristich**, TCO director, says, “ ...will connect emerging energy technology to the challenges of expeditionary air operations, and inspire new approaches to power the Air Force.” Additionally, the Energy Challenge facilitated the connection of many of the participating companies with other potential funding organizations and venture capitalists.
In addition to the Energy Challenge, the AFWERX prime initiatives has now established an **Energy Prime campaign**, modeled on the **Agility Prime** electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing, or **eVTOL**, effort, will leverage the research and interest community built by the Energy Challenge to select a specific concept or technology to drive to commercialization, in partnership with private capital and industry. Concepts currently under consideration are highly efficient airframes and propulsion to reduce overall aviation fuel burn, as well as concepts for drop-in replacement liquid fuels that can be produced at forward operating bases for both jet fuel and installations. Though still in the conceptual phase, Energy Prime holds the promise to accelerate critical, dual-use technologies to commercialization within an approximately 36-month timeframe.
The two initiatives, Reimagining Energy Challenge and Energy Prime, align with President Joe Biden’s Climate Plan to “ ... make a historic investment in clean energy and innovation” and “accelerate the deployment of clean technology throughout our economy ... by reducing the carbon footprint.” The timing of these efforts proved insightful, providing an incredible opportunity for the DoD to partner with forward-thinking industries and academia to identify, fund and launch new, out-of-the box energy strategies and opportunities.
The Department of the Air Force is committed to accelerating clean energy opportunities, while addressing national security concerns stemming from requirements for energy dense fuels. The ideas generated, and solutions examined as a result of both the Energy Challenge and Energy Prime campaigns, are critical components to those efforts as the department plans for the future, with an eye on reducing its carbon footprint, while maintaining a competitive advantage.
The Department of the Air Force is further committed to expanding its partnerships with the commercial industry, research communities, and government entities to invest in innovative solutions that will shape the future of resilient energy production, transmission, use and storage. These efforts reduce the demand and reliance on fossil fuels, while modernizing the energy infrastructure.
AFRL TCO will announce, and release a follow-on article in the coming weeks highlighting their selected solutions from the Energy Challenge, and expand on how each of these solutions will help transform DoD, and specifically the Air Force’s energy dependence and reliability. It is through these ongoing collaborative events we are forging strategic partnerships that will have impacts reaching far and wide, and continue to break department and industry barriers. The future is bright, and we are excited to remain a leader in pushing DoD’s energy initiatives.FS 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



AFwerX 



AF Ventures 



Reimagining Energy 



AFWIC 



disruptive energy 



resilient energy production 



modernizing 



DoD challenge 



Energy Challenge 



AFRL 



TCO 



SAF/IE 



partnership 



energy technology Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 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