Outside developed areas, which are few and far between, even the most basic supplies must be shipped in. But at least servicemembers will have access to electricity, no matter how far they are from civilization - thanks to a technology developed by Arlington, Virginia-based SkyBuilt Power.
SkyBuilt announced this week that it had signed a contract with the U.S. Army to supply renewable-energy power stations to troops in Afghanistan. The company's power units, SkyBuilt CEO David Muchow said, "can reduce the threat from improvised explosive devices by reducing the need for fuel convoys, while saving operating expenses, maintenance and spare parts required with diesel generators."
They also have tiny heat signatures, he noted, making them ideal for stealth operations.
SkyBuilt's power stations use various renewable inputs, like biomass, wind and solar to provide energy for electronics systems or water-purification machines - and they will soon be put to the test in Afghanistan. If green energy can work in one of the world's harshest environments, it can work almost anywhere.
