24 Sep 2025

Assessing Heat Pump Technologies in Cold Regions for Army Installations

Abstract: Air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) can efficiently provide building heating and cooling. To assess the performance of ASHPs in cold regions for the Army Installation Technology Transition Program, we installed an air-to-air minisplit ASHP in Fairbanks, Alaska. This Interior Alaska location is exposed to extreme cold. The appropriate size of the unit was determined using building size and air temperatures from the location. Using monitoring equipment, the heating performance of the unit was analyzed using measurements collected over the winter months. Finally, the coefficient of performance (COP) was calculated, and a thermal camera was used to assess the heating performance qualitatively. The ASHP effectively heated the building during the project, and ASHPs are therefore recommended for use in cold regions.

22 Aug 2025

Local Integrated-Technology Energy System to Meet Operational Needs (LITES ON) Project

Abstract: The ability to reliably charge battery systems, whether for vehicles, mission support equipment, or stationary purposes, is especially important in remote and cold regions. The US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) project team evaluated and documented the performance of potential photovoltaic (PV) battery charging configurations (e.g., controller component) for use in such regions, especially as backup alternatives to other grid-connected charging stations that support Army installations, with a unique focus on the power electronics components of the system. In addition to its potential to support building energy resilience, this work complements other work that considers electrification of the DoD fleet of vehicles and the needed grid-connected infrastructure. This work adds to the growing information available on lithium ion (Li-ion) battery performance in cold regions by monitoring the battery performance as part of the test configuration. The results help better inform design and performance requirements needed for cold regions applications as well as the acquisition of such systems.