By: Ian Clark
About the author: Ian Clark is the Director of Operations for Energy and Mobility Solutions at TechFlow and a retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel with over three decades of military service. His leadership roles included Deputy Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander for Marine Corps Installations West at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, where he was responsible for ensuring the energy resilience of Camp Pendleton’s critical infrastructure.
The rising frequency and intensity of extreme weather events continue to expose vulnerabilities in traditional power grids, posing significant risks to national defense. Hurricanes, wildfires, and winter storms have caused widespread outages and highlighted the fragility of our energy systems. Beyond protecting their own installations, the military must also be prepared to assist communities through the Defense Support of Civil Authorities mission during natural disasters.
For the military, energy disruptions are not just an inconvenience—they directly threaten operational readiness. Reliable energy is essential for maintaining command centers, supporting deployments, and ensuring the operation of critical systems. Climate scientists warn that extreme weather will only intensify, and NOAA’s 2023 report confirms a record number of billion-dollar weather disasters in the U.S. Addressing energy vulnerabilities is not just a sustainability initiative; it’s a strategic imperative.
Energy: The Backbone of Military Operations
Reliable energy powers every aspect of modern military operations—from infrastructure and advanced technologies to global logistics. Military bases rely on stable energy to maintain command centers, support remote deployments, and operate critical systems such as satellites and remotely piloted vehicles. However, centralized power grids are particularly vulnerable to disruptions from extreme weather or cyberattacks, which can compromise national security and operational continuity.
In 2019, the Department of Defense reported that two-thirds of mission-critical installations face climate-induced risks. Power outages can halt operations, delay responses, and expose vulnerabilities to adversaries. Strengthening energy resilience is a necessity in an increasingly unpredictable world.
Beyond Renewables: A Multi-Layered Approach to Energy Resilience
Energy resilience requires a multi-faceted approach. While renewable energy sources such as solar and wind play an important role, they alone are insufficient for ensuring the military’s operational needs. The solution lies in diverse energy systems that integrate renewable sources with traditional generation, advanced microgrids, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies also enhance resilience by storing excess energy for deployment during critical periods.
Each military base has unique energy requirements based on its mission and geography. For example, a desert installation may rely on solar and battery storage, while a coastal base facing hurricane threats may require hardened microgrids and backup generators. Tailoring energy solutions to specific mission needs ensures sustained operational capability without a complete overhaul of existing infrastructure.
The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Innovation
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are essential for scaling and implementing effective energy solutions. The Department of Defense often leads innovation in energy resilience, but industry collaboration is critical for translating military needs into mission-ready solutions. The right industry partner must act as a systems integrator—free to select the best available technologies and customize them into cohesive, scalable solutions.
Flexibility is crucial. By combining off-the-shelf solutions with mission-specific adaptations, the military can enhance operational readiness without unnecessary complexity. A successful PPP balances innovation, adaptability, and standardization to deliver cost-efficient solutions while meeting site-specific requirements.
Building Energy Systems for Long-Term Resilience
The future of military energy systems hinges on smart integration—utilizing AI and data analytics to monitor demand, optimize production, and allocate resources with precision. Each base’s unique history, infrastructure, and environmental conditions shape its energy requirements, making a strategic approach essential. This begins with a comprehensive site assessment to evaluate existing infrastructure and mission-specific needs. While standardization offers a cost-effective baseline, customization is crucial for addressing site-specific challenges like retrofitting legacy systems or adapting solutions to the local environment.
Long-term resilience depends on building flexible, mission-oriented solutions that can adapt to evolving threats. By combining standardization, customization, and advanced integration, the U.S. military can develop energy systems that are robust, responsive, and capable of meeting any challenge.
The Path Forward
Extreme weather events and aging infrastructure will continue to test the resilience of military energy systems. However, by leveraging the right mix of technologies, fostering strong public-private partnerships, and prioritizing adaptability, the Department of Defense can build a future-ready energy infrastructure that enhances mission readiness and protects national security.
Energy resilience is an operational necessity, not a luxury. The challenge now is to implement the right solutions in the right places, ensuring that our forces remain powered, prepared, and protected against an increasingly unpredictable world.
