Exciting news is brewing at Pearl Harbor military base! A solar microgrid system there is getting a high-tech upgrade with hydrogen technology. This innovation comes as part of a project by the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
BWR Innovations, the brains behind this project, recently announced a two-year subcontract. Their mission? To develop a hydrogen fuel cell microgrid (H2MG) that could be a game-changer for the US Department of Defence.
So, what’s the plan? The H2MG project will bring together gaseous and liquid hydrogen production, storage, and utilization technologies. And where better to test it out than at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickman (JBPHH) in sunny Hawaii?
JBPHH is already home to a 1.5MW solar microgrid system known as the Pacific Energy Assurance Renewables Laboratory (PEARL). Since 2016, PEARL has been showing off how military facilities can meet their energy needs while keeping an eye on mission assurance and cyber security.
With hydrogen joining the mix, this microgrid is about to become even more impressive. It’s a shining example of how cutting-edge technology can make our military bases cleaner, more efficient, and ready for whatever challenges come their way.