PENSACOLA, Fla. - Construction has begun on a solar microgrid pilot project Gulf Power is building and will operate in partnership with Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City. The project is part of the Air Force plan to rebuild Tyndall as a more resilient base. It could serve as a prototype for future Department of Defense installations. Tyndall sustained a direct hit from Category 5 Hurricane Michael in 2018 and suffered some $4.7 billion in damage. Nearly 500 buildings were beyond repair. In 2020, the Air Force announced they would rebuild the base as an “Installation of the Future,” with updated building codes, “smart building” technology and features that will make the base more storm resilient. Gulf Power, part of Florida Power and Light, expects to complete the microgrid early next year. A microgrid is a small network of electricity users with a local source of supply that is usually attached to a centralized national grid but is able to function independently, a so-called "island mode." At Tyndall, the microgrid will comprise a 150-kilowatt (kW) solar array and 450 kW, 2.5-hour battery. The microgrid will have a 10-year lifespan and support three buildings on base. By partnering with Tyndall, Gulf Power and FPL will have the opportunity to further explore cutting-edge microgrid technology, while supporting the U.S. Air Force and the local economy. (Source: Destin Log, 11/11/21)
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