The objective of this topic area was to seek studies to collect and synthesize best practices for acquisition, validation, operation and sustainment of DoD-owned microgrids. The goal was to ensure microgrids are achieving their intended performance objectives and the Department is sufficiently planning for the enduring operation and sustainment of these systems over their lifecycle.

Proposals in response to this solicitation should have identified gaps, develop recommendations and documentation to simplify and template a uniform approach to DoD microgrid ownership. Of particular interest were studies that did one or more of the following:

• Evaluate costs for proper maintenance, sustainment and replacement of microgrid components and functionality over the system life cycle.
• Evaluate process and develop recommendations for obtaining and maintaining cybersecurity approvals that satisfy DoD Risk Management Framework requirements and maximize system uptime.
• Evaluate approaches to validate and monitor microgrid performance during acceptance testing and while in operation, including circuit performance monitoring/measurement during islanded operations.
• Define system components to inform DoD Real Property Classification System and recommendations for calculating sustainment costs for microgrid-enabled components.
• Develop methods to validate a microgrid’s ability to meet energy availability and reliability requirements outlined the addendum to DoDI 4170.11, “Metrics and Standards for Energy Resilience at Military Installations.”¹
• Develop recommendations and templates to ensure operators are sufficiently capable of performing required tasks. Outputs may include development of training material, Owner’s Manual templates, Standard Operating Procedure templates, commissioning requirements, performance verification tests, operational strategies, maintenance requirements, resilience exercises, etc.
• Capture the lessons learned from both, successful and under-performing DoD microgrid investments and document commonalities in capabilities, gaps, failure-modes, etc., across different DoD microgrids.

¹https://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/Downloads/IE/Metrics%20and%20Standards%20for%20Energy%20Resilience%2020%20May%202021.pdf

Successful project outcomes will increase the knowledge and functionality of microgrids on military installations and the ability of the Department to operate and sustain these systems. Findings will inform DoD installations in their microgrid planning activities and help establish a potential transition path for microgrid infrastructure, from base operating support contracts to government operators.

DoD is actively investing in microgrids to build energy resilient installations; for example, Army set a goal to build a microgrid at every installation by 2035. To inform planners, engineers and acquisition professionals involved in microgrid development for DoD, the Department has drafted new Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) on Resilient Installation Microgrid Design. This UFC is expected to be published in the coming months and will provide much needed guidance on the initial stages of microgrid development, however there is very little experience to draw on to inform the Department on what it takes to properly operate and sustain these systems once they are built.

There are few DoD-owned/operated microgrids and as more systems are built, commissioned, and handed over to installations to operate and maintain, it is critical that the Department properly plans for sustainment. While microgrids offer a lot of potential to improve installation energy resilience, these systems ultimately rely on capable people, protocols, and sustainment practices in order to perform as designed.

Current category codes in DoD’s Real Property Classification System do not sufficiently account for the difference between electrical components, control systems and communication devices that are associated with a microgrid and those that are not. This can lead to inaccurate inventory of key components and inadequate planning for sustainment funding. Microgrids do not easily conform to existing asset management processes and require different considerations for effective maintenance (preventative, corrective, RMF compliance) and sustainment.