Energy Surety for US Army Buildings in Afghanistan

Energy access and reliability are high priorities at the U.S. Army bases in Afghanistan. Using photovoltaic (PV) arrays can help diversify the systems that supply energy to a given area increasing energy safety, security, reliability and sustainability—and thus improving energy surety. PV systems, which convert incoming solar radiation into usable electric power, may be a wise choice for bases in the Middle East because the solar resource is relatively constant and abundant. Solar resource refers to the amount of solar radiation a given location on earth’s surface receives. The solar resource for two locations were investigated in this study using site-specific weather data combined with satellite generated data produced by NASA’s Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resource project. This research compares the cost effectiveness and potential energy production of a PV system for 1,500 sq. ft housing units at two locations in Afghanistan with varying weather conditions