Solar Energy
and Military -- Why Uncle Sam Dabbles on It
We all know
that everyone is going Green and many groups have been
picketing at the US Congress to stop people and industries from
adding more fumes on the earth's atmosphere. Although solar
energy meets the need of people who shout "Save the
Environment," you would be surprise to know that Uncle Sam and
the high-ups are into solar energy and
military is a big part of it.
The largest military solar
power center in Nevada
The Federal Government has built the largest
solar power center yet in the Air Force base in Nevada.
The Nellis Air Force houses 140 acres of solar panels. The
Nevada solar power plant beats out Serpa Power Plant in
Portugal, which previously held the record as the largest
solar farm in the world. Portugal's power plant can
generate 11 megawatt of power a day while Nevada boasts of
14.2.
However, Nevada's solar farm
powers only 25% of the camp. Nonetheless, this is already a
great feat considering that the camp would save as much as
$83,000.00 for a fully-commissioned solar farm.
The flexible solar panels
in tactical missions
The Solar energy and military
relationship is not limited to powering up bases; it is eyed as
the power source that the troops can use during tactical
missions.
In today's
world wherein the best army or naval troops are those who have
the latest gadgets in tow, the biggest problem that should be
solved is how the troops (who are in mission) could power their
telecommunication and tactical gadgets without carrying bagfuls
of batteries.
Today, with the advent of flexible
solar panels, the US Military uses tents with flexible solar
panels that power all the sophisticated equipment under the
solar tent. Their troops, on the other hand carry a universal
solar recharger connected to flexible solar cells to power
up some of their carried equipment.
Space-bound solar
panels
The most ambitious project in mind
to date is the space-bound solar panels that is expected to be
created and in full-commission within the next ten years.
It is true that the US Military
could just create solar power plants in strategic areas to
power their camps and bases. However, this type of energy
generating farm has its limitations: its energy storage is
limited when it is cloudy and it cannot store energy at night;
when there's no sunlight, there would be no energy.
This is where the space-bound
solar panels come in. It is envisioned to be a solar energy
source that the military could enjoy all day long, whether it
be sunny or cloudy. The 1-kilometer solar panels in space are
expected to absore energy emitted by the sun, without any
physical (or work of nature) barriers. It will then beam
electrical power in a form of microwaves or laser down to the
base camp receiver
And since the solar panels are in
space, it could be available for use anywhere. That's something
the US Military greatly needs: a portable solar power source
that never dries up even when nightfall comes.
We can expect more project on
solar energy and military is (undoubtedly) would be behind it.
It would be great thing especially if they perfect this
technology. Energy from home would be free forever until the
sun stops shining.
|