US Military Ups RE Tech at Moroccan Base

The US military, completing an exercise in Morocco, tested a new environmentally-friendly energy system to purify water, light tents, and power equipment via solar energy while also learning to leverage technology.

The regularly scheduled US-Moroccan military exercise, dubbed the African Lion 06, includes approximately 550 US Marines training local Moroccan forces on tactics, techniques, and procedures. And as Morocco is keen to diversify its energy mix with renewable energy, the Marines are fostering a relationship including this goal by incorporating a system that can also provide LED lights for medium-sized general purpose tents and power outlets for small electrical items.

The Expeditionary Forward Operating Base program (ExFOB), if implemented, will significantly reduce troops’ dependency on generator fuel. Chairman and Chief Scientist at Rocky Mountain Institute Amory Lovins noted in a paper titled “DOD’s Energy Challenge as Strategic Opportunity” that energy is a major source of global instability, conflict, pollution, and risk. As a result of US oil production on the decline and risks associated with accruing oil from top producers, the US Department of Defense (DoD) is attempting to restructure its energy agenda.

Lovins said the new shift wouldn’t be easy. “It requires fundamentally redesigning military energy flows to support fast-changing strategic, operational, and tactical requirements.” The need for proper implementation of alternative energy has the DoD and US Armed Forces currently evaluating various RE sources.

The ExFOB team is testing this project in Morocco and will report their findings to respective offices in Virginia, making recommendations to the Executive Integrated Processing Team. The ExFOB is attempting to decrease consumption of fossil fuels and to help protect the environment. While doing so, it is also leading by example for its training program in other countries.

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