Ameresco Wins Contract for 20-MW Military Microgrid in Texas

Ameresco has scored a large win — a $133.5 million package — to install a 20-MW microgrid and energy resiliency and efficiency improvements at Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) in Texas.

The award came from Defense Logistics Agency Energy, which manages the global supply chain for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, 10 combatant commands, other federal agencies, and partner and allied nations.

During a power outage, the microgrid will be able to island from the grid via its control system and provide off-grid power to the Air Force facility, using 11.7 MW of new solar photovoltaics, a 4 MW/8 MWh battery system, and 4-MW of gas-fired generators.

The sweeping microgrid and energy resiliency project also encompasses a combined heat and power system with nine microturbines for a total capacity of 585 kW and 5 MW of roof-mounted solar. Ameresco has selected San Antonio-based Mission Solar Energy to manufacture and provide over 54,200,370W of Buy-American compliant solar modules.

In addition to providing energy security and resiliency, the onsite energy system portion of the project will help offset electricity purchases from the grid.

Ameresco plans significant energy efficiency improvements and upgrades to 900 buildings across  the five military installations.

Project design calls for energy and water conservation in 14.7 million square feet of buildings to reduce energy use by 24 percent annually. Other improvements include HVAC management control systems, over 2 million gallons of thermal energy storage, building envelope improvements, and more than 140,00 LED lighting systems.

Work will be done at Lackland Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston, Randolph Air Force Base, Kelly Field Annex, Camp Bullis and Medina Annex, all part of JBSA.

Ameresco will do the work under a self-funding energy savings performance contract. The project will receive $2.7 million from the federal Facilities Sustainment Restoration and Modernization program.

The ESPC is guaranteed to provide $8.7 million in annual energy savings to JBSA. Ameresco will provide ongoing operations and maintenance services to the base to support the new energy systems.

Construction begins this fall and is scheduled to be complete during the summer of 2021.

“Ameresco is proud to support the mission of Joint Base San Antonio through energy assurance and new infrastructure,” said Nicole Bulgarino, executive vice president and general manager, federal solutions, Ameresco. “This project will provide critical infrastructure improvements to JBSA through energy conservation and will enhance the energy security of the installation through redundant, reliable backup generation assets.”

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