Development and Application of an Approach to Optimize Renewable Energy Systems in Afghanistan

Abstract

Energy systems in Afghanistan are currently limited to diesel only solutions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) do not have means to optimize various energy solutions when designing or modifying Afghanistan National Security Force (ANSF) installations in Afghanistan. The logistics of transporting diesel fuel increases risk to personnel and operations security, and can have a myriad of obscured costs. The purpose of this research is to develop an approach to prioritize multiple stakeholder needs and optimize a power portfolio based on actual environmental conditions. The approach seeks to reduce problems associated with fossil fuel systems by supplementing diesel generators with renewable energy solutions. The approach produces the data necessary to generate a rubric containing optimal combinations of energy systems to include both renewable and diesel power sources. The rubric aids in determining energy system characteristics for any given location in Afghanistan. The results demonstrate millions of dollars in savings while simultaneously reducing risk to operations and personnel in Afghanistan. This approach can be adapted to any region on the globe.