Camp Lejeune is getting a $22M energy upgrade in the near future. Here's what we know
Energy use aboard Camp Lejeune is about to get a lot more reliable and a lot more cost-efficient now that Duke Energy has been awarded a $22 million contract.
The $22 million utility energy service contract (UESC) will be used for the design and construction aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune of a microgrid at the military base, according to a recent news release from Duke Energy.
"While many installations have backup generators, microgrids provide a more sophisticated generation source," the release said. "Microgrids enable operators to manage the power load and everything plugged into the grid while redirecting power to critical missions that require an uninterruptible energy supply during an unplanned power outage."
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Due to Camp Lejeune's proximity to the coast, which leads to a higher chance of tropical storms and hurricanes, energy in the case of unplanned power outages can be critical.
The release said the microgrid includes upgraded electrical infrastructure, five megawatts of on-site natural gas-fired generation, a 5.4-megawatts battery energy storage system, integration of an existing solar photovoltaic system and a microgrid controller to provide integrated demand management, black start and islanding capability.
“We're excited to bring additional energy reliability and resiliency to Camp Lejeune," said Vice President of Distributed Energy Solutions at Duke Energy, Melisa Johns, in the release. “This project offers a number of innovative and integrated solutions that will lead to more efficient energy use and significant cost savings to Camp Lejeune.”
Camp Lejeune, which is home to the largest concentration of Marines in the Marine Corps, makes up nearly 20% of the Marine Corps' installation energy consumption, the release explained. This is why the microgrid is not the first energy efficiency project to take place at Camp Lejeune.
In 2015, Duke Energy also completed a 13-megawatt solar facility, the release said, adding this project will further reduce energy demand and consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs at the installation by upgrading solar photovoltaic system inverters and installing lighting upgrades.
Solar photovoltaic systems convert sunlight directly into electricity.
“The Marine Corps is investing in state-of-the-art infrastructure to position installations to prevent, recover and survive a prolonged loss of electrical service from weather – and climate-related events,” explained Marine Corps Installations Command Public Works Director Walter Ludwig in the release. “This UESC award is a major step toward furthering the reliability, resilience and efficiency of Camp Lejeune’s electrical infrastructure and on-site generation capabilities.”
The release added the award leverages Energy Resilience Conservation Investment Program funding to install the microgrid at Camp Johnson – an education and training area located within Camp Lejeune.
The project is expected to be completed in mid-2024.
Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at mstarling@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daily News: Duke Energy awarded $22 million contract for Camp Lejeune energy project
