Power the Fight: Capturing Smart Microgrid Potential for DoD Installation Energy Security

Ensuring resilient, secure energy for U.S. military installations is no longer optional—it’s mission critical. This report brings a business leader’s perspective to the deployment of microgrid technology across domestic bases, outlining how these systems can strengthen energy security while accelerating the integration of renewable power. Drawing on extensive engagement with industry and defense stakeholders, BENS evaluates practical ownership and operating models, weighing tradeoffs in cost, speed, efficiency, and long-term resilience. The analysis also explores how microgrids can extend beyond installation boundaries to support surrounding communities during disruptions—from natural disasters to cyber or physical attacks.

Beyond the technology itself, the report confronts the real barriers to scale—fragmented regulations, procurement challenges, and legacy constraints—and offers clear, actionable recommendations to overcome them. It also introduces a financial modeling tool to help the Department of Defense identify where microgrid investments deliver the greatest economic and strategic value. With input from more than 40 BENS members and experts, this work underscores a broader opportunity: a coordinated, nationwide effort to modernize military energy infrastructure can not only enhance defense readiness, but also catalyze innovation and resilience across the U.S. energy system.