This project will demonstrate Mojave Energy Systems Inc.'s (Mojave) innovative liquid desiccant Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) technology as a high-performance, energy-efficient solution to chronic moisture control problems in Department of War (DoW) buildings. Especially in humid and marine zones, conventional systems overcool and reheat air, resulting in poor humidity control, high energy use, and mold-related maintenance issues. By replacing up to three existing DOAS units with Mojave’s ArctiDry units, this project will provide a direct performance and cost comparison. Specific objectives include maintaining humidity within target ranges, achieving an integrated seasonal moisture removal efficiency > 9 lb/kWh, ensuring retrofit feasibility, and demonstrating a simple payback < 24 months.

Mojave’s innovation lies in its commercially available, cost-effective approach to separating temperature and humidity control. Instead of overcooling and reheating air, the system uses a lithium chloride liquid desiccant to absorb moisture; it regenerates the desiccant using waste heat from its own direct expansion system. This simple, self-contained product delivers reliable, low-maintenance, precise humidity control with up to twice the energy efficiency of conventional DOAS units, without requiring domestic water, exhaust air, or complex auxiliary systems. The project will quantify performance through pre- and post-retrofit monitoring of energy use, indoor air quality (IAQ) (via dewpoint and relative humidity), and operational costs. Success will be measured by improved IAQ, reduced energy consumption, seamless integration, and economics favorable for energy savings performance contract/utility energy services contract (ESPC/UESC) deployment.

The Mojave ArctiDry is expected to provide superior humidity control and indoor air quality compared to conventional systems, addressing a persistent and costly challenge for DoW facilities. By maintaining lower dewpoints, the ArctiDry is expected to reduce risks of mold and material degradation. The system is also expected to cut energy use for dehumidification by up to 50%, with affordable capital costs and simple payback periods under 24 months based on energy savings alone—excluding additional benefits from reduced maintenance and moisture damage. As a commercial product already being specified by architectural and engineering firms, Mojave is positioned for rapid DoW deployment. This demonstration will generate the validated performance and cost data ESCOs need to confidently integrate the technology into ESPC/UESC projects, accelerating its adoption across the DoW portfolio. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2028)