Siemens and Johnson Controls have won contracts from the US Army for renewable and energy efficiency projects totalling over $60 million.

The deals were announced last week, with Siemens landing one contract and Johnson Controls two.

Siemens’ $16.8 million contract will see a 4. 465 MW photovoltaic solar system installed at White Sands Missile Range, which will over twice as large as the Army’s current largest 2 MW installation at Fort Carson in Colorado.

The White Sands system will provide over 10% of the site’s electricity needs, saving around 10 million kWh and $930,000 in energy costs a year.

Meanwhile, Johnson Controls will install around 5500 solar panels at Fort Bliss in Texas, which will provide about 2.2 million kWh of electricity.

The military facility will only act as host for the facility but will benefit by purchasing the electricity generated by the system at a lower rate than available from the grid. Over the lifetime of the system, it is expected to save the Army around $40 million.

The contract with Johnson Controls also includes a new energy management system to monitor and control usage in 20 buildings at the base.

A second contract worth $34 million will see the installation of wind and solar photovoltaic systems, as well as LED lighting and energy management control systems, at Fort Buchanan and 11 army reserve centres in Puerto Rico.

For further information:
www.usa.siemens.com/
www.johnsoncontrols.com/
www.army.mil/

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President Obama announces $4 billion for energy upgrades to buildings (5-Dec 2011)
US Army forms renewables task force to battle energy costs (15-Aug 2011)
US military to install backup fuel cells (27-Jul 2011)