USMC has successful test of wind / solar power on deployment

[littlewolf]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a0b6ae3a9-0677-4a30-9920-dfea1851a5c9&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

snip

While securing the area around Sangin was the objective of the 3/5, the unit's India Company had another objective: prove out the Marines ambitious new renewable energy program called exFOB, which uses wind and solar energy to power everything from battery packs to cooling and heating systems used in living quarters and operations centers.

snip

According to Marine Corps documents, the system proved itself such a success in operations that two patrol bases are currently operating entirely on renewable energy, with a 90 percent reduction in fuel required at a third base—and the unit was even able to conduct a three-week foot patrol “without battery resupply, reducing load on Marines by 700 lbs.”

snip

One India company squad leader, Sgt. David Doty, is quoted as saying that on his patrol base, “our generators typically use more than 20 gallons of fuel a day. We are down to 2.5 gallons a day,” thanks to the exFOB technology.


much more at the link ....
sorry the link is so long ....

[Thunderstruck]

1. I wonder why the military is flirting with renewables in a world awash in oil.

:sarcasm:

[bluestate10]

6. Make sense operationally. Units that eliminate weak spots in their

supply line can operate longer, allowing them to do more tasks.

[elleng]

2. Excellent news!

'typically use more than 20 gallons of fuel a day. We are down to 2.5 gallons a day,” thanks to the exFOB technology.'

[Snoutport]

3. leave it to the military to come up with on-the-ground use of a new system

sigh.... i guess, since we fund the military, that this is a win for the people...just not in the green hippy peace way we pictured.

[littlewolf]

4. many times the military comes up with stuff and it is then

marketed to the civvie side .... many of these ideas (and others) will find their
way into the market place .....

[lostnfound]

9. The Roomba makesvall that robot warfare stuff worthwhile

Just kidding..but I do love my Roomba.

[bluestate10]

7. Many products that are exclusively used by civilians were tested out by the military. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

10. They're the only ones getting any real money for science and R&D

so we may not have a choice.

[BR_Parkway]

5. On first read my initial thought was "why are we attacking India now?

[bluestate10]

8. I did a double take until I recognized the unit naming scheme. nt

[MadHound]

11. Wait, whoa, hold on,

I thought that renewables couldn't do such things. That we must have either nukes or coal to do such things.

Silly me for taking the anti-renewable crowd seriously:rofl: