Deciding to Decide: AEITF Announces MATOC Awardees...Will be Announced in 6 Months

Got a number of question on why the Fort Detrick solicitation was not being done under the auspices of the (supposedly) impending MATOC.  According to the AEITF LinkedIn site, "Extensive competition was received in each of the four technologies (biomass, geothermal, solar and wind). The Source Selection Evaluation Board (SSEB) kicked off evaluations on October 15, 2012. The SSEB will evaluate one technology at a time. Staggered awards will be made once the evaluations for each technology are completed. We anticipate announcement of the MATOC awardees by May 2013."  So if you are hoping for something in the next six months, installations will have to act on their own.  For those who are waiting, set your calendar for early summer and check in regularly.   Have a great Thanksgiving.  Dan Nolan

Sunrise in Maryland: EITF Post First RFP

The much anticipated first RFP for Renewable Energy under the auspices of the Army Energy Initiatives Task Force hit the streets recently.  Run over to FedBizzOpps and look up solicitation SP0600-13-R-0402 for the solar opportunity at Fort Detrick, Maryland.  The minimum array size is 10 MWs.  The Defense Logistics Agency – Energy is requesting proposals to purchase the power output in a long term, firm fixed price contract.

Interestingly enough, this is being done outside of the Huntsville MATOC which, to the best of my knowledge,  has not yet been awarded. Haven’t heard anything about the due date on that but will keep my ear to the ground.

This is an Enhanced Use Lease coupled with a potential 30 year Power Purchase Agreement.   The provisions of the EUL require the lessee to provide in kind services and, in addition to any proffered in kind services, there is a requirement to build 50K sqft building AND provide "other" in kind services in the form of a PPA rate discount.  Seem like you get caught coming and going! 

60 days over the holidays will be tight for this kind of proposal with proposals due in early January.  This didn't come in the form anticipated and it begs the question, “If installations can do it this way, why the MATOC?”, but, hey, it is the season for giving and this looks like a gift that will keep on giving…..for 30 years!  Go unwrap it!  Dan Nolan 

Money for Nothing and Watts for Free: More Fifth Fuel Tips

While we wait for the 100 plus proposals submitted for the Corps of Engineers’ Renewable Energy MATOC to be declared “compliant” or “non-compliant” (the equivalent of 007’s License to Kill), guest blogger Vince Marshall wants to remind us that the cheapest, safest, most secure electron is the one you don’t use.  Here is his piece on how to make money on the “Fifth Fuel”.  Thanks, Vince!

Energy Efficiency 101: Five Tips to Save You a Bundle

Over the years I have had many conversations with fellow energy professionals regarding how best to do our jobs. Some folks (especially the newer ones) tend to believe that expensive projects with outside contractors must be initiated in order to reduce base energy costs. Nothing could be further from the truth. In short, there are a handful of activities that are guaranteed to reduce consumption without a lot of muss and fuss.

Navy Biofuels R&D Get Royal Boost: Branson in Virgin Territory

Thanks for the heads up from Suzanne Hunt and the Carbon War Room.  In the latest exchange of fire over DOD's participation in the R&D for biofuels, the Navy got some help from British nobility in the form of Sir Richard Branson.  Sir Richard's Carbon War Room, according to their website, attempts to harness the efforts of entrepreneurs to leverage market driven opportunities to reduce carbon emissions.  Among its’ “divisions” is the Aviation & Renewable Jet Fuel Operation.  Their mission is “to reduce the aviation industry's greenhouse gas emissions by accelerating the scale-up of a sustainable renewable jet fuel industry.”

A video was provided by the CWR supporting the U.S. Navy’s biofuels charettes.  Development of biofuels is a critical element in increasing U.S. energy security, but some have argued that at a time of diminishing budgets, we cannot afford this kind of R&D. Take a look at the video and decide for yourself. BRANSON VIDEO.  Dan Nolan

Village Stability Energy: Not What I Thought I Was Getting

Yesterday's post: Thanks to Paul Roege for the tip of the day.  Big day for Army Energy at the annual Association of the U.S. Army exposition at the DC convention center today. You will have to register if you have not done so previously, so plan for a little extra time.  Information on the rest of the schedule is HERE.   If you can make it down, the schedule for today is as follows:

Tuesday, 23 Oct 

1500-1530 Village Stability Energy to the Edge Forum at Army Booth, REF, 1500-1530, Exhibit Hall B, # 1775

The 1500 event is of interest for all those who understand that local economic development and education are the keys to success in peace keeping operations.   I personally saw their effectiveness in Kosovo and when Joe Sartiano was running the Power Surety Task Force for the REF in 2008, he attempted to launch "Village Power" but got no where with the leadership then in charge.  Finally, the times have caught up with the idea.  Lights at night for study and power for start up industries create economic opportunities that can counter the propaganda of terror. 

UPDATE

Unfortunately,the REF briefing was not about village power.  It was about setting up a FOB to provide village stability (security) in austere conditions, not providing power to villages.   The briefing, provided by a very earnest Major, was a rehash of FOB energy problems that were first identified in 2006 by Joe Amadee at FOB Lemonier in the Horn of Africa. Read this post from 2009 for perspective.  Too many generators that are not optimized providing energy to energy inefficient structures and systems.  The only difference now is that the REF is providing an "Operational Energy Specialist" to selected outposts.  Don't get excited; there are only 8 of them.

Why is the REF still doing this after six years?  Why hasn't the acquisition system stepped up to provide the Requirements necessary to spark the solutions? The same contractors are milking the same system instead of finding ways to make the acquisition system work.  I am often accused of being critical (overly?) of DOD efforts in operational energy. Perhaps I am, but I hate to see money spent on doing the same thing over and over again.  Go back and read the reports we created for the Army  in 2006, 2007 and 2008.  Read the reports written for the USMC in 2009 and the USAF in 2010.  It is the same stuff.  Either get it into the acquisition system and fix the problems or stop wasting my tax payers dollars.    Dan Nolan.

DOD Science Fair: USAF and USMC Look for Industry Help

The quest for energy security in the operational realm continues. The Army announced that it has taken a major step in changing its energy culture and increasing energy efficiency by deploying the Advanced Medium Mobile Power Systems (AMMPS) with the 173^rd Airborne Brigade in Afghanistan. The system, which has been in the acquisition process since the ‘90s, is expected to provide 21% more efficiency and 95% more reliability.  I assume this was calculated based upon optimum loading.  I never saw a generator optimally loaded, but you have to work from some sort of a baseline.  PM, Mobile Electric Power is deploying the system in a new manner whereby they will do an assessment of requirements and then install a right-sized generators to meet that amount of power.  They are also providing the training.

New Report out on DOD Energy Innovation Looks at Past and Points to Future

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a K Street research firm, has just published a report describing DOD energy policies and actions to date, with an eye on what's likely coming up in the near-to-mid term future.

For some DOD Energy Blog readers who might lament some aspects of DOD energy moves to date, the report contrasts DOD vs. US national leadership on energy matters:

National U.S. policymakers have failed to implement a robust and cohesive clean energy innovation strategy. In comparison, DOD has embarked on a multi-year effort to develop and procure low-carbon energy technologies and fuels to increase national energy security and improve safe energy access for the Armed Forces.

In 2011, the DOD released Energy for the Warfighter: Operational Energy Strategy, a plan for addressing its energy-related challenges. Included in the plan are three strategic goals that reflect these challenges and guide its investment decisions: 1) More fight, less fuel; 2) More options, less risk; and 3) More opportunity, less cost

Definitely a reminder, not only of how far we have yet to travel, but how far we've come. You can read the whole report HERE. Andy