Department of Defense (DoD) installations need scalable, secure, and operable microgrids to ensure mission continuity under real-world conditions. While past demonstrations proved feasibility, the current challenge is achieving standardized, repeatable performance across diverse sites. 

The primary objective of this project is to develop a DoD-owned Microgrid Cohort like Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI)’s commercial sector Microgrid Cohort to accelerate adoption and operational readiness across installations. The Cohort will provide a structured forum for installations to share experience, reduce risk, and build internal capability. The objectives of the DoD Microgrid Cohort are to: 

• Refine existing knowledge into comprehensive guidelines for designing, analyzing, implementing, operating, and sustaining microgrids.
• Collect and cross-pollinate wisdom and experiences from prior and current microgrid developments as well as leading practitioners, such as life-cycle costs, including operation and maintenance for each asset, commonalities, differences, and failure modes.
• Identify gaps and recommended next steps for DoD-owned microgrids.
• Educate microgrid owners and operators about technical and managerial roles, responsibilities, and workforce development. 

The technology that EPRI brings to this project is a collaborative research, development, and demonstration model that EPRI has utilized and refined over the last 50 years. The project team will leverage a combination of EPRI’s extensive experience, collaborative industry inputs, and technoeconomic analysis methods and tools for achieving the project’s objectives defined above for DoD-owned microgrids.

This project will enhance energy resilience and mission assurance by enabling secure, scalable microgrid deployment across DoD installations. By standardizing design and operational practices, it will reduce complexity, accelerate implementation, and ensure consistent performance across a range of site conditions. The initiative will strengthen operational security through resilient control architectures designed to sustain critical loads during disruptions. Moreover, the Cohort will build DoD’s technical capacity and operational capabilities by providing personnel with the tools, training, and guidance required to effectively operate, maintain, and modernize microgrid systems. Collectively, these efforts will support long-term ownership, optimize lifecycle costs, modernize energy infrastructure, and align microgrid capabilities with the evolving operational requirements of DoD missions. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2027)