The Department of Defense is the world's largest user of energy. Military planners are interested in diversifying the energy/fuel portfolio so energy managers are looking at cleaner forms of energy with the ability to meet baseload power demands at military installations around the world. Over the last 12 years, the military has deployed and tested various technologies to process waste and generate power. A proven solution that can efficiently process military waste, while also generating clean, renewable energy could dramatically change the way the military handles solid waste. Such as solution would take an environmental liability and create a clean source of renewable energy. In addition to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by diverting waste from area landfills, a waste-powered energy microgrid can substantially reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. This reduces the logistics of waste hauling and fuel delivery, creating a more sustainable and resilient installation. The Air Force Office of Energy Assurance set a goal to eliminate 20% of the single points of energy failure within its critical infrastructure by 2025, in accordance with the 2017-2036 Energy Flight Plan. Our concept of a waste-powered energy microgrid solves this mandate. Waste-to-energy technology convert/combust municipal solid waste in an environmentally safe combustion system to generate electricity, provide district heat, and reduce the need for landfill disposal. These systems have all the required pollution controls to meet strict air quality standards. This proposal involves the use a commercial solid waste conversion technology, coupled with an updraft gasifier to convert the waste into electricity. This solution would utilize waste as a resource to generate energy in a microgrid application for critical infrastructure. National Energy proposes to leverage technologies that have been successfully deployed in the commercial sector, and introduce these solutions the Department of Defense to solve two primary challenges: solid waste/recycling and power generation. Together, we can achieve energy security and enhance the resiliency of the installation, while enhancing the quality of the environment. Waste will play a critical role in helping installations reduce operational costs and achieve its sustainability goals. The goal of this proposal is to evaluate a market fit for our technology within the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense.
