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Corvias Partnership Accelerates Army’s Fort Riley Energy Resiliency, Cost Savings

Sunday, February 23rd, 2025

New solar array part of program to offset 40% of annual consumption costs

Fort Riley, Kan. (February 19, 2025) – Corvias, a leading energy and infrastructure solutions provider, in collaboration with Sunstone Energy Development and City, Light & Power, completed Phase III of an ongoing energy independence and security effort at U.S. Army Garrison Fort Riley, recently marking a month of successful operations as part of its broader mission to support the U.S. Department of Defense’s operational resilience and readiness goals.

The project supports the DOD’s goal to provide 100% of the energy load required to sustain the critical mission of each U.S. military installation by the end of fiscal year 2030.

This latest phase consisted of two solar PV arrays, both of which finished interconnection in December and provide rate stabilization and energy security to Fort Riley housing communities. The program offsets nearly 40% of annual electricity consumed by the housing community and also contributed to the $2 billion of community economic impact recently announced by Fort Riley’s Garrison Commander, Col. Jerry Nunziato.

“This work continues to ensure a reliable and secure supply of energy to on-post housing and the surrounding area,” said Jim Champagne, Corvias Senior Vice President of Asset Management at Fort Riley. “Along with our partners, Corvias continues to implement strategies to mitigate vulnerabilities and potential disruptions that may affect the readiness of service members and their families.”

Over the past 10 years, Sunstone Energy Development, a joint venture between Corvias Solar Solutions and Onyx Renewables, has provided renewable energy solutions across the Corvias Army housing portfolio.

“For Onyx, delivering quality, resilient clean energy solutions is at the core of our mission,” said Kevin Cox, SVP of Origination at Onyx Renewables. “These onsite solar installations at Fort Riley not only enhance energy security and reliability for service members and their families but also underscore the long-term benefits of renewable energy in strengthening critical infrastructure.”

Corvias’ industry-first Solutions Through Partnerships approach is built on a shared commitment to assisting the Department of Defense in sustaining the critical mission of each U.S. military installation by supporting readiness.

The newly completed solar arrays add to two previously completed rooftop phases for the of the Corvias-led solar program at Fort Riley – already one of the largest in the state of Kansas.

For more information on Corvias improvements on Fort Riley, visit our website.

Posted in Army, Power, Press Release | No Comments »

BlueBird Revolutionizes Tactical VTOL UAVs with Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Technology

Monday, February 17th, 2025

[Emek Hefer, Israel, February 17, 2025] – BlueBird Aero Systems proudly unveils its latest breakthrough: A field-proven operational Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) UAV, powered by a new PEM Fuel-Cell technology developed over the past several years by H3 Dynamics in the USA. This cutting-edge innovation redefines operational capabilities by delivering an electric VTOL UAV with unprecedented flight endurance of over 6 hours, unmatched reliability and a sustainable energy solution.

The WanderB-VTOL is an electric VTOL Mini-UAS, designed for rapid deployment and operation in any environment. Combat-proven, it can effectively function in GPS-denied and spoofed conditions. The WanderB-VTOL is a mature and proven products, in service with over 25 global customers, with more than 350 platforms delivered to date.

The hydrogen fuel-cell powered WanderB-VTOL has accumulated a considerable number of flight-hours that validated the system’s exceptional performance, including continuous operation for over six hours. BlueBird Aero Systems’ rigorous testing has demonstrated reliability and mission readiness. The fuel-cell enables up to 1000 operational hours (until maintenance round) and requires easy maintenance.

Bluebird Customer’s will be able to enjoy this extended endurance by upgrading their WanderB-VTOL systems with the new Fuel-Cell power source.

The WanderB-VTOL specifications:

Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): 18 kg

Flight Endurance: Over 6 hours

Flight Ceiling: 16,000 feet

Payload Capacity: 1.5 kg

Operational Advantages of Fuel-Cells vs. Lithium Batteries

The fuel-cell provides much higher energy-density than Lithium Batteries, allowing the UAV to stay on target for significantly longer durations at the same weight, with significant operational advantages: reducing takeoffs and landings cycles to reduced strain and maintenance cost, longer and more efficient missions, less “dead” time on the way to the target’s area. For example, a mapping flight powered by a fuel-cell can cover a much larger area.

“This is a significant technological milestone for the tactical UAV industry” said Avi Elraz, VP R&D and Engineering.

A Smarter, Greener Energy Solution

At the core of this revolutionary system lies a hybrid solution, combining a hydrogen fuel- cell with a backup battery. The fuel-cell provides a continuous, clean power source, generating electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, with water as the only byproduct. The backup battery ensures additional energy when needed and acts as an emergency source of energy.

BlueBird’s solution redefines sustainability in UAV operations, ensuring that environmental responsibility meets high performance. This breakthrough not only offers a significant leap in energy efficiency and mission longevity but also sets a new standard in eco-friendly innovation.

“Bluebird is already leading the VTOL UAV market with battle-proven, reliable and capable UAVs, and now, with WanderB-VTOL powered by Fuel-Cell, even more capable with unmatched endurance for a more effective missions” said Ronen Nadir, Founder and CEO of BlueBird Aero Systems.

With its high performance, high availability and comprehensive customer-support, BlueBird’s fuel-cell powered WanderB-VTOL is tailored to meet the demands of both military and civilian markets.

For more information about the fuel-cell powered WanderB-VTOL and BlueBird’s range of UAS solutions, please visit www.bluebird-uav.com

Posted in International, Power, Press Release, UAS | No Comments »

Army Scientists Develop New Battery Treatment Process

Tuesday, February 4th, 2025

ADELPHI, Md. — U.S. Army scientists have developed a new surface treatment that could lead to more efficient and longer-lasting batteries for military applications.

The team at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory, known as DEVCOM ARL, created a process that treats multivalent metal electrodes with an acidic solution, creating an ultra-thin protective layer that improves overall battery performance.

“This quick, commercially viable treatment process creates a unique interphase layer that’s thinner than a human hair, yet significantly impacts how rechargeable zinc batteries perform,” said Dr. Travis Pollard, a chemist at DEVCOM ARL. “For Soldiers, this could eventually mean more reliable and longer-lasting power for their essential equipment.”

The research team’s work focuses on next-generation battery technology that goes beyond current lithium-ion capabilities. Their approach includes applying an acidic solution to the battery’s metal electrode, followed by a controlled drying process that creates a specialized thin protective layer.

Potential applications include:

Military energy storage systems
Portable electronics
Electric vehicles
Grid-scale energy storage
Advanced defense systems
Portable power solutions

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published the patent application (20240387882) on Nov. 21, 2024, following the team’s May 21, 2024, filing. The research team includes Drs. Lin Ma, Marshall A. Schroeder, Oleg A. Borodin, Travis P. Pollard and Kang Xu. The technology, as part of a growing portfolio of disclosures related to zinc/multivalent rechargeable batteries, will soon be available for licensing through the Army’s technology transfer program, offering opportunities for commercial development and broader applications beyond military use.

“We don’t just do research here; we try to make sure that our breakthroughs have the widest possible impact,” said AnnMarie Martin, team lead, Technology Transfer. “Through our technology transfer programs, we look for partners in industry, whether it’s big corporations or small startups, to take our ideas and develop them into commercial products.”

Martin said the new battery tech could be used in everything from military equipment to electric cars.

“This is a great way to ensure our taxpayer dollars have the biggest impact,” she said.

For information, visit the lab’s webpage on patent license agreements, or reach out to the laboratory via the contact us page.

By U.S. Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory Public Affairs

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Power, Research | Comments Off on Army Scientists Develop New Battery Treatment Process

Army Considers Microreactors to Increase Installation Readiness and Resilience

Tuesday, December 31st, 2024

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army is engaging with the advanced nuclear energy industry to explore potentially siting a microreactor on one or more Army installations by 2030, in furtherance of the Army’s commitment to installation resilience and mission readiness.

“When it comes to installation energy resilience and reliable power to support operational and strategic readiness on installations, we can’t leave anything off the table,” said Rachel Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. “We are actively developing a solution set that includes all types of power that will meet those needs; nuclear is one that we are looking at as part of our deliberate and thoughtful planning.”

Advanced nuclear power is one solution under consideration as part of a deliberate and thoughtful planning process aimed at ensuring reliable energy access for critical military missions.

The Army is dedicated to developing a comprehensive set of energy solutions, including nuclear, to meet its future needs. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance mission assurance, readiness and power-projection capabilities through a forward-leaning energy enterprise that leverages next-generation technologies.

The Army has partnered with the Defense Innovation Unit, interagency partners and utility providers to evaluate environmental, economic and safety factors that are crucial for determining reactor placement and operation.

From U.S. Army Public Affairs

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Power | 1 Comment »

Offshore Windmill Farm Connection to Power Grid: Rheinmetall Clears Explosive Ordnances in Baltic Sea

Sunday, November 24th, 2024

The Düsseldorf-based Technology Corporation Rheinmetall has gained a valuable order for clearing explosive ordnances in the Baltic Sea in order to establish the condition for connecting an offshore windmill-farm to the power grid. The value of this commissioning is within a low double-digit million Euro range.

The order to Rheinmetall was placed by grid operator 50Hertz within the OST-6-1 project and contains the detection of contaminations, their identi¬fication, the documentation, and hence, the recovery of explosive ordnances. Recovered trans¬portable contaminated waste and remains of weapons will be handed-over to the authorities or blown up on site.

This is the first major order for the Cooperation concerning offshore explosives ordnances detection and clearing. The offshore work to be carried out by Rheinmetall Project Solutions GmbH began in July 2024 and is expected to be completed in May 2025.

The commissioning underlines Rheinmetall’s expertise in the field of offshore explosive ordnance detection and safe clearance, in which all legal and environmental aspects are taken into account.

The aim is to clear the area in order to enable grid operator 50Hertz to lay offshore extra-high voltage cables and install two offshore platforms off the coast of the Fischland-Darß region. This project involves Rheinmetall AG being the project lead, alongside specialized companies from Germany and Norway.

Posted in International, Power, Press Release | 1 Comment »

Galvion Delivers an Order of 400 MAX-8 Mission Adaptive Charging Stations to AeroVironment

Friday, November 8th, 2024

Galvion, a world leader in the design and manufacture of integrated power and data management solutions and innovative head protection systems, has delivered the first order of its Nerv Centr® MAX-8 Mission Adaptive Charging Station™ to the US defense tech company, AeroVironment (AV).

The initial order of 400 units will be followed-up with an additional 800, to be delivered during 2025 and 2026 as part of a Long-Term Purchasing agreement.

AV is a leading provider of innovative, lightweight, and reliable uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), specializing in versatile solutions designed for tactical reconnaissance and surveillance. Galvion’s MAX-8™ has been integrated to deliver intelligent and adaptable charging for AV’s UAS battery systems, replacing the existing solution. Following close collaboration and extensive testing, Galvion successfully designed a universal adaptor that enables the MAX-8 to interface across AV’s small uncrewed aircraft systems (SUAS). This partnership extends beyond the initial orders, as the two companies will collaborate on future UAS charging solutions to meet evolving needs and drive continued product innovation.

Galvion’s Nerv Centr® MAX-8™ is a portable charging solution built to withstand the harsh conditions of expeditionary operations, where UAS operations are becoming increasingly vital. With the ability to draw power from multiple sources, including AC, solar and vehicle, the MAX-8 battery adapters offer the ability to charge different types of UAS and other batteries simultaneously, with no setting changes needed. The MAX-8 features intelligent functionality, including prioritization of needs, topping off the fullest battery first, automatic evaluation of power source and adjustment of charge rates to maximize power and minimize charge time.

“AV is proud to partner with Galvion for our battery power management solutions for our small UAS. This Universal Battery Charger provides our customers with seamless plug-and-play functionality, featuring universal adapters that enable efficient charging for all of AV’s current and future batteries across both our small UAS and ground control stations,” said Mike Jorgens, AV’s sr. product line manager.

Todd Stirtzinger, CEO at Galvion, said: “Our relationship with AV is a great example of Galvion’s commitment to developing productive collaborations with industry partners to better serve the warfighter. AV is recognized as a leader in designing and delivering innovative UAS solutions; Galvion is an expert in power management and charging – together, we can accelerate the pace of innovation by helping AV focus on UAS systems, while we concentrate on maximizing operational efficiency by keeping them charged.” He added: “With this initial order of 400 MAX-8 charging stations and customized adaptor delivered, and another 800 in the pipeline, we’re very much looking forward to building our relationship with AV and finding opportunities to further drive industry advancements.”

Posted in Contracts, Power, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on Galvion Delivers an Order of 400 MAX-8 Mission Adaptive Charging Stations to AeroVironment

GM Defense Debuted “Next Gen” Tactical Vehicle at AUSA 2024

Friday, October 18th, 2024

GM Defense, a subsidiary of General Motors (GM), unveiled its new “Next Gen” tactical vehicle prototype at this week’s AUSA 2024, the annual meeting and exposition of the Association of the U.S. Army.

Based on the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD ZR2 truck, the rugged and durable Next Gen combines GM’s 2.8L Duramax® turbo-diesel engine with a 12-module battery pack, in addition to drive motors for the front and rear axles that enable Silent Drive and Silent Watch, technologies that make the vehicles harder to detect.

Side view of GM Defense’s Next Gen tactical vehicle

The technologies enable stealthy ingress and egress through high threat zones, with onboard power to support high-energy-demand sensors, shooters, and Soldier kit. The vehicles offer active and passive safety features, including roll-over protection, anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, four- and five-point seat belt harnesses, and 360-degree camera capabilities.

“Our Next Gen vehicle is a game-changing mobility solution that delivers tactically significant capabilities by integrating GM’s proven commercial technologies,” said Steve duMont, president of GM Defense. “This rugged and highly capable diesel-powered vehicle offers tactical advantages, such as Silent Operations, exportable power, and increased range with extended mission duration. Our warfighters deserve the latest technology that industry can offer in order to gain and maintain competitive advantage over our adversaries. Our Next Gen mobility solution can be customized and fielded now.”

Next Gen offers the following tactical advantages:

• Silent Drive and Silent Watch, enabling low acoustic and thermal signatures;

• Exportable power capable of charging mission systems;

• Tactically significant range with extended mission duration;

• Designed to be autonomy-ready with manned and unmanned options; and

• Add-on armor capable.

In addition, Next Gen provides sustainment benefits, including:

• Fuel demand reduction;

• The ability to use existing JP8 fuel infrastructure;

• Lower maintenance requirements from reduced parts and subsystems in the overall propulsion system; and

• Reduced logistics tail for fuel, batteries, and vehicle parts.

“Next Gen’s ‘wow’ factor is right behind the wheel,” said John ‘JD’ Johnson, vice president of GM Defense’s Government Solutions and Strategy Division. “Customers need to drive this highly capable vehicle to see, feel, and hear the benefits. Next Gen fundamentally changes the discussion around modern mobility through the tactical benefits delivered by its propulsion system, including its ability to address the power gap in the formation. This highly capable tactical vehicle leverages billions of dollars of investments GM has made in R&D and innovation to enhance warfighter capability. We encourage customers to test drive it so that we can get these capabilities fielded immediately.”

Next Gen is offered in two-, four-, and six-seat configurations. The vehicle will be optimized to support multi-mission capabilities, including command and control, launched effects, network extension, counter unmanned aerial systems anti-armor, casualty evacuation, and other critical missions.

Posted in AUSA, Mobility, Power, Press Release | 8 Comments »

OTTO and Freedom Atlantic Unveil WedgeX to Provide Communications Overmatch for the Dismounted Warfighter

Monday, October 14th, 2024

New Tactical Power and Data Communication Solution Aims to Extend Equipment Runtime, Lighten Loadouts, and Simplify Comms Kits Reconfiguration.

Washington D.C. (Oct 14, 2024) – OTTO and Freedom Atlantic are proud to announce the commercial launch of WedgeX™, a revolutionary advancement in tactical communication technology. Designed to transform how warfighters manage their comms equipment, WedgeX introduces a new paradigm in the radio power/datawedge market, offering unparalleled adaptability, simplicity, and extended run-time for frontline operators.

As warfare evolves and battlefields become increasingly decentralized and unpredictable, warfighters face the daunting task of manually optimizing their communication kits to meet rapidly changing conditions. Traditional systems require significant time and attention for equipment management, detracting from the critical focus needed for mission success and survival.

WedgeX addresses these challenges by automating and streamlining comms equipment management. Featuring an advanced modular design, WedgeX enables soldiers to quickly reconfigure their kits based on mission requirements, significantly reducing the physical and cognitive load associated with managing multiple devices and adapters.

“WedgeX is a game-changer for the modern warfighter,” said Ken Jillson, Chief Technology Officer at Freedom Atlantic. “From the start, our mission was to create a communications solution that adapts to the soldier—not the other way around. The WedgeX system actively monitors how soldiers use their equipment and intelligently adjusts power distribution to ensure their most critical gear is operational when they need it most. Our goal is to keep warfighters mission-focused, eliminating the distraction of managing their gear.”

The WedgeX system features a suite of game-changing capabilities:

• Automatic Device Run-time Management: Utilizes advanced algorithms to monitor and manage equipment run-time, prioritize critical devices, and conserve battery life with features like power scavenging and temperature-aware charging.

• Multi-Mission Modularity: A flexible design supporting various mission profiles and power needs, from short-term to extended operations.

• Simplicity: Seamlessly integrates data from tactical devices into a unified, configurable data hub and power controller, eliminating the need for extra cables and adapters.

“WedgeX represents a significant leap forward in tactical communication systems,” stated Dan Stanek, President of OTTO. “By offering automatic run-time management and a streamlined configuration process, WedgeX enhances operational efficiency and soldier survivability. It’s designed to meet the evolving demands of modern combat.”

The WedgeX System comprises two primary components: the WedgeX Radio Power Adapter and the SideLink Modular Radio Hub Adapter. The Radio Power Adapter, installed between the radio and battery, supports existing tactical radios with a MIL-STD twist-lock bayonet-style battery interface. The SiswLink connects the WedgeX, radio data interfaces, ATAK EUD, and external data devices, ensuring seamless integration without the need for additional unnecessary external devices.

Co-developed by OTTO and Freedom Atlantic, WedgeX provides warfighters with a comms overmatch by redefining tactical radio power and data distribution. This innovative solution offers rapid adaptability, extended run-time, and lighter loadouts.

Contact OTTO today for more information or a demonstration.

Posted in AUSA, Comms, Power, Press Release | 1 Comment »