Cogenra Solar Selected By U.S. Department of Defense for 2012 Installation Energy Test Bed Initiative
Cogenra Solar, provider of distributed solar cogeneration systems and renewable energy service solutions, announced that its solar cogeneration technology has been selected by the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) for its Installation Energy Test Bed initiative for FY2012. Cogenra’s hybrid solar solution is among the 27 projects chosen from 575 proposals competing to demonstrate effectiveness in meeting the DoD’s goals on environmental, energy and economic performance.
Cogenra was chosen for a $2M contract for two military sites, a U.S. Navy and a U.S. Army facility, that were specifically selected based on diverse building types, climates, and hot water usage to expedite adoption of solar cogeneration at other DoD sites nationwide upon completion. Producing hot water and electricity, the installations will be evaluated throughout the year to demonstrate high energy production and cost effectiveness of the technology for military applications.
“We are honored to be among the very few companies selected by the DoD to be part of their renewable energy efforts,” said Dr. Gilad Almogy, CEO of Cogenra Solar. “This program is a great vehicle to demonstrate solar cogeneration’s many benefits to the DoD, such as lower energy costs, reduced dependence of fossil fuels, and decreased greenhouse gas emissions. We welcome this opportunity to grow Cogenra’s footprint in the military market.”
With more than 300,000 buildings and 2.2 billion square feet of space, the DoD spends $4 billion a year on the “facility energy” to power these buildings. The Installation Energy Test Best Initiative is a pivotal program for testing, evaluating and scaling up innovative new energy technologies to improve the U.S. military’s energy security and reduce facility energy costs. Demonstrations focus on renewable energy sources that are mission-compatible and at the appropriate scale for remote military installations. Cost, performance and reliability data gathered from operational deployment of innovative renewable energy sources on DoD installations will inform decisions on their widespread applicability across DoD.
The two Cogenra installations will deliver hot water and electricity to the sites’ dining halls for cleaning and cooking as well as residential quarters for everyday uses, such as showing, laundry and other amenities. Based in California, the Port Hueneme Naval Base in Ventura County will have a 242 kWrooftop array, and the Army Parks Reserve Forces Training Area in Dublin will deploy a 121 kW system. In addition to the standard install, the project scope includes development of design tools in order to facilitate rapid adoption of solar cogeneration on other DoD sites.
Cogenra’s solar cogeneration solution encompasses both photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies to deliver low-cost electricity and hot water in one modular and scalable system. Capturing up to 75 percent of the sun’s delivered energy, Cogenra’s technology maximizes energy production by producing hot water from the waste heat of PV generation.
In addition to the award by DoD, Cogenra was among an elite group of twelve vendors selected to exhibit its technology in September 2011 at ExFOB, the U.S. Marine Corps’ Experimental Forward Operating Base demonstration to determine how energy efficient technologies hold up in the extreme desert environment. As a result, the Marine Corps selected Cogenra’s technology for further testing and validation with the possibility of expedited deployment at Forward Operating Bases around the world.
About Cogenra Solar: www.cogenra.com