Why the U.S. DoD Sees a Big Future in Front-Line Solar
If you were to spend a few hours in the halls of Congress or on virtually any social media platform, you may start to doubt the need for a renewable energy transition. Yet while politicians, pundits, and average Joes continue to debate the need for and merits of these technologies, one rather surprising organization has decided to put renewables at the forefront of its future initiatives: the U.S. Department of Defense.
The U.S. DoD continues to actively embrace solar solutions across multiple organizational levels. In this article, we’ll discuss just why that is, how it reinforces the reality of energy production, and what it means for the future of war and peace alike.
The DoD Sees Solar as Integral to U.S. Security
While the DoD is clearly aware of and eager to mitigate climate change’s effects on its armed forces, the primary reason behind the organization’s implementation of renewables like solar is far more tactical. For years, DoD commanders have had to confront the challenges of transporting fossil fuels to the front lines, remote operation bases, and mobile convoys. In fact, many estimates claim that missions related to logistics and infrastructure result in more casualties than combat. This has led military leaders to a sobering conclusion: fossil fuel dependence is now one of the largest threats to mission safety, security, and success.
A huge reason for this is the sheer amount of energy used by the military. For instance, few people know that the U.S. DoD is actually the world’s largest institutional consumer of petroleum. This is because it relies heavily on petroleum-based fuel to sustain its forward-deployed locations, many of which lie far away from accessible power grids. And while weapon platforms and vehicles obviously require large amounts of fuel, DoD reports indicate that the single largest battlefield fuel consumer is generators, which provide power for base support activities.
Since transporting fuel to forward-deployed locations presents such an enormous logistics burden and risk, solar energy is an extremely attractive alternative. According to experts at Doman Energy, a U.S.-based utility-scale solar engineering firm, solar energy already has the potential to power the entire front lines. With the right implementation plan, solar could make front-line operations far more self-sufficient and secure, aligning with the DoD's goal to boost operational effectiveness while minimizing risks.
Climate, Combat, and the Changing Military Landscape
All of this is not to say that climate change has had no impact on the thinking of top military brass. In fact, military leaders consider climate change a “threat multiplier” for many reasons, including its potential to increase conflict over resources and its impact on existing military tactics. Despite what some of the politicians back home might say, the DoD is already seeing the effects of extreme weather events, climate change-related humanitarian crises, and mass migration events. And when a bastion of conservative ideals like the U.S. military recognizes the reality of climate change, it’s hard to take pundits seriously when they cry “hoax.”
Right now, there are hundreds of military minds attempting to solve the issue of the melting Northwest Passage. As it becomes an increasingly valuable shipping route, tensions may escalate between the United States, Canada, and - most importantly - Russia. Yet even all of this pales in comparison to the threat posed by the U.S. military’s energy problem.
For instance, General David Petraeus once emphasized that "energy is the lifeblood of our warfighting capabilities.” Taking this at face value, it seems unnecessarily risky to rely so heavily on non-renewable energy sources that actually contribute to the problems underlying many global conflicts. Because aside from being the largest single user of petroleum, the U.S. DoD is also the world’s largest institutional producer of greenhouse gasses. In this way, adopting solar is not only a way to increase security for active missions, but reduce the number of potential future missions.
Concerns about the U.S. government’s rampant fossil fuel consumption are a major sticking point for the current administration. In fact, a broader U.S. government initiative implemented by President Joe Biden aims to phase out gas-powered vehicles by 2035. Biden has also signed an executive order stating that all light-duty vehicles acquired by the government will be emission-free by 2027. This is significant, considering the government owns more than 650,000 vehicles and purchases about 50,000 annually.
While the U.S. military currently remains exempt from these mandates, it too is making strides to adopt electric and hybrid vehicles. But that’s just one part of it. Among other stipulations, U.S. installations must have the capability to sustain themselves for two weeks without power from the grid. This includes providing suitable power to all of the facility’s vehicles.
“In the very near future, we could see solar playing a much bigger role in the U.S. military,” says Doman Energy VP Aaron Burkhart. “This would not only save lives, but allow military units in the field to act as its own self-sufficient power grid.”
The idea of a military that is virtually immune to power outages, rising energy costs, and the risks associated with transporting fuel is extremely attractive. That’s why the U.S. is already using portable solar arrays at “fixed-site” locations, particularly remote sites that rely on off-grid power. “If you can generate your own electricity on-site, you can drastically enhance the resilience of the entire military,” Burkhart says. “You get a base that can generate its own power, fuel and refuel its own vehicles and weapons systems, and – most importantly – reduce or potentially eliminate dangerous fuel resupply missions. It’s as much about lives as logistics.”
Envisioning a Solar Military
By continuing to invest in solar technology and integrating it into front-line operations, the DoD can address the dual challenges of climate change and the logistical vulnerabilities associated with fossil fuel use. This approach will not only safeguard personnel; it will help bring the U.S. military into alignment with the United States’ broader environmental and security objectives. Still, there’s no way to snap one’s fingers and create an entirely solar-powered military. Just like the civilian renewable transition, the DoD will have to take on these new initiatives in careful, well-planned steps. And with renewable naysayers watching the transition with critical eyes, there’s little room for error.
It’s common for some politicians and pundits to argue against any major changes or innovations, but these individuals often see the U.S. military as the ultimate “sacred cow.” That’s why it’s so important to highlight the tactical reasons behind these new solar initiatives. “It’s about security first,” says Burkhart. “The military isn’t going green for the sake of going green. It’s waging a war against a vulnerability caused by fossil fuel reliance. It just so happens that those vulnerabilities will also increase the longer it waits to make the transition.”
If you look at history, it would hardly be surprising if the U.S. military pioneered solar self-sufficiency before civilians can enjoy the same luxury. After all, the military has always been at the forefront of technological development, spearheading everything from GPS and Duct Tape to digital photography and microwave ovens. To solar engineers like Burkhart, it’s surprising that people think this particular military initiative is motivated by anything more than maintaining technological superiority. “Imagine you have a forward operating base that’s entirely solar, which means it’s completely self-sufficient from power to weapons to drone systems and vehicles,” he says. “That would provide an enormous strategic advantage over an enemy that needs constant fuel resupply, without which they can’t even turn the lights on.”
The Future of Defense
Whatever the talking heads say, The Department of Defense's shift toward renewables is not some environmental gesture but another step in a constant strategic evolution. Nonetheless, it highlights the broader realization that renewable energy sources like solar power can provide significant tactical advantages on the battlefield and reduce operational vulnerabilities.
The integration of solar power into military operations is a telling example of how necessity drives innovation, with the potential to fundamentally change the landscape of military logistics and combat readiness. Most importantly, the switch move could very well catalyze broader changes in energy policy and technology adoption both at home and abroad.