CHAMPAIGN, Ill. –The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL), in partnership with long-time industry collaborator LEMA, has reached two major milestones in the development of next-generation unmanned, resilient power generation systems designed to support military operations in austere and contested environments.
In January, the teams installed and activated new unmanned power generation components at ERDC-CERL’s ERDC Forward Operating Base Laboratory (EFOB-L). The installation marks a significant advancement in decentralized energy technologies that can operate with minimal on-site personnel while delivering reliable power in remote locations where traditional infrastructure is limited or nonexistent.
“One of the primary goals of EFOB-L is to work with industry partners to take a commercial solution and customize it to the needs of the Warfighter. We are excited at the tremendous progress we have made over the past 24 months to transition much needed technology from the lab into the hands of the Warfighter,” said Dr. Jess Lyons, ERDC-CERL project manager for the LEMA effort.
Reliable energy remains a cornerstone of Army operations — powering mission-critical equipment, communications systems and operational facilities. In contingency environments, traditional fuel-based generators can create logistical burdens and operational vulnerabilities due to the need for long supply chains and frequent resupply increasing manpower and cost.
To address these challenges, ERDC-CERL has been continuously exploring ruggedized, decentralized energy solutions capable of improving operational capacity and increasing mission assurance. Self-sufficient tactical power systems are expected to play an increasingly important role in future contested environments where mobility, resilience and autonomy are essential.
Through multiple research initiatives, ERDC-CERL and LEMA are developing modular, unmanned power systems designed to operate in remote and isolated areas while reducing the demand placed on traditional tactical generators. The systems combine resilient energy generation with digitally controlled energy storage that can operate continuously to provide reliable off-grid power.
One of the latest prototypes, a single bifacial photovoltaic panel with dual‑axis tracking and a maximum AC output of 5.8 kilowatts, is the result of a lesson-learned redesign stemming from earlier efforts between LEMA and ERDC-CERL while exercising this system in the field. The power system and tracker underwent modifications to achieve a lighter weight design while increasing power output. The ultimate goal of these improvements is to increase ease of deployment, robustness, and performance.
The group of four panels is the result of a separate but connected effort by ERDC-CERL and LEMA to explore how to power towers and sensors in an operational environment. Though these photovoltaic panels are also bifacial with dual-axis tracking capability, these panels provide 9.2kWh per hour in normal operation and 12kWh per hour at ERDC-CERL’s EFOB-L when the ground was snow-covered. The design emphasizes mobility, durability, and the ability to operate effectively across a wide range of harsh environments.
LEMA has extensive experience deploying solar tracking systems in remote locations around the world. These systems generate high-efficiency resilient energy and store power digitally, enabling continuous operations even in areas without access to conventional infrastructure.
“The collaboration between ERDC-CERL and LEMA is an example of how defense and industry can work together to improve mission assurance and reduce the logistical burden of resupply and the need for maintenance manpower downrange,” said Randy Sullwold, Head of LEMA Defense.
As part of the current collaborative effort, researchers are adapting LEMA’s technology to meet U.S. government operational standards and mission requirements. By reducing dependence on long fuel supply chains and decreasing the demand for manpower to operate these systems, this technology has the potential to enhance general operational security while improving the Army’s overall agility and maneuverability.
Over the coming year, the ERDC-CERL and LEMA teams will conduct a comprehensive resiliency analysis to evaluate the technology’s durability, reliability, and performance during extended operation and exposure to harsh environmental conditions. These evaluations help prepare the technology for future deployment across a variety of operational environments, a priority shared by both ERDC-CERL and LEMA. This research reflects ERDC-CERL’s continued commitment to developing innovative, resilient energy technologies that support Warfighters wherever their missions take them.