White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico is planning a second solar-enabled microgrid, following the launch of its first system in February 2025. The new project is being developed by ABM and its joint venture partner, AACON-RavenVolt, according to ABM’s November 3 announcement.
The planned microgrid is expected to include a carport-mounted solar power system, battery energy storage and dispatchable generators. The article does not specify its capacity or construction schedule.
White Sands’ existing microgrid combines a 700-kilowatt solar array with a 500-kilowatt natural gas generator and a 500-kilowatt lithium-ion battery system. Built by the HSGS-Ameresco joint venture, it supplies backup power to four groundwater wells that provide potable water to the range’s main post.
The system is designed to meet an Army requirement for up to 14 days of independent water and power delivery during a grid outage. Solar provides daytime electricity, while the battery stores surplus energy for later use and the generator serves as backup.
ABM has described its partnership with RavenVolt as a way to provide federal agencies with energy resilience and infrastructure construction capabilities. The White Sands project extends the military facility’s use of solar power paired with storage and on-site generation.
Sources: CleanTechnica.