| When we think of the modern military we know we | | | | This is anticipated to be able to provide any military |
| are envisioning a highly technical entity. The military | | | | operation with a source of uninterrupted energy due to |
| tends to be the first group to understand, use and | | | | the satellite’s location in outer space. The way it |
| implement some of the most modern discoveries. | | | | would work sounds extremely simple – the |
| This is true particularly where solar power is | | | | collectors would receive an endless supply of sunlight |
| concerned. It is put to use on almost every piece of | | | | as they remained in orbit. This energy would then be |
| mobile equipment from tanks to jeeps. Some | | | | transferred via a microwave beam to a ground based |
| contemporary soldiers are outfitted and equipped with | | | | collector. This all translates to a military capacity for |
| foldable solar panels (some with them built directly into | | | | supplying any area of the planet (to which a collector |
| field gear such as jackets) that can power small | | | | was supplied) with electrical service regardless of |
| portable devices such as GPS units and even cell or | | | | weather conditions. |
| satellite telephones. The modern military also uses solar | | | | Additionally, the United States military is also the builder |
| technologies for less complex functions, such as solar | | | | of the world’s largest solar power plant. Currently, |
| powered floodlights used to illuminate flagpoles and | | | | the Nellis Air Force base in Nevada has approximately |
| memorials at military bases and buildings around the | | | | 140 acres of solar panels, which are capable of |
| world. Clearly, this all means that solar power has been | | | | providing 25% of the camp’s energy usage. Once |
| constantly and continually improved and implemented | | | | the panels are entirely operational they will be saving |
| by the military since it was first harnessed in the 1950s. | | | | the base roughly $83,000 each year in electrical usage. |
| Today, solar technologies – particularly where the | | | | As it happens, Nellis Air Force base also uses solar |
| military is concerned – are put to use primarily for | | | | security lights to provide security to the soldiers |
| creating continuous feeds of energy. This is the reason | | | | stationed on the base. |
| that it appears on vehicles and in soldier’s | | | | Of course it isn’t just the financial savings that has |
| backpacks, and also the reason that it is used in the | | | | the government, and everyone else, so deeply |
| many satellites that orbit the Earth. To date, one of the | | | | interested in solar power, it is also the ability to reduce |
| most discussed and anticipated of the military’s | | | | energy consumption and instead rely on renewable |
| solar projects is the space based solar collector farm. | | | | resources. |