Public Works Department Sigonella Increases Resiliency in the Midst of OAR

Photo By Lisa Woodbury Rama | Sigonella, Italy - - Antonino Piluso, Installation Energy Manager (IEM), Public Works Department (PWD), Naval Air Station, Sigonella inspects a solar panel on the installations 1MW photovoltaic system farm. PWD Sigonella managed a major demand for essential base services in support of the installations recent efforts to Operation ALLIES REFUGE. (photo by UT2 Maruyama Austin, PWD Sigonella)  

ITALY

10.26.2021

Story by Lisa Woodbury Rama 

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Europe Africa Central

Sigonella, Italy -- The Public Works Department (PWD) onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella faced quite a few unforeseen challenges recently when the installation was involved in direct support to Operation Allies Refuge (OAR). Providing logistical support for any military installation during a major population increase will likely require innovative, rapid solutions to challenges even the most seasoned contingency planners may not envision. PWD overcame the vast majority of theirs thanks to teamwork, resourcefulness, process improvements and sunshine.

NAS Sigonella was integral to the success of the rapid evacuation of personnel out of Afghanistan by providing a safe haven for evacuees awaiting transfer to the U.S. The peak number of travelers onboard the installation was 5,000 people – double the average population of the base. The air station, known as “The Hub of the Med,” has over 34 U.S. commands and activities and their missions had to continue regardless of OAR support requirements.

NAS PWD established a necessary/critical permanent utility tracking board to guarantee the availability of potable water, sewage, electricity and heating fuel for the entire installation - tenant commands, residents and evacuees combined.

Antonino Piluso, Installation Energy Manager (IEM), and his team closely monitored the electrical consumption and established thresholds for the maximum capacity of the electrical system. If the base was approaching or exceeding the thresholds, the IEM and PWD High Voltage Shop had contingencies in place to remedy the issues.

Although the potable water production of the base approached 100% of the maximum capacity, the electrical demand did not cross any of the thresholds that were established. PWD had been able to increase the electrical power maximum capacity because of the photovoltaic (PV) systems installed in previous years.

The first PV farm has been active since 2015 and since then two more systems are now in use that have increased the virtual maximum electrical power capacity of the installation by 23%. The largest system can produce up to 1MW of power on a sunny day, consists of over 4,000 panes and covers nearly three acres. It has the capacity to power up to 400 homes for a year.

“Traditionally, PV systems were seen as expensive renewable energy projects that would, eventually, provide savings, but the experience of OAR provided confirmation of their value, namely that PV systems can add to the resiliency and virtual capacity of the electrical power system of a military installation,” said Piluso.

Navy shore Installations play a critical role in promoting readiness, generating the force structure necessary for mission success, and enabling combat operations. Through improved energy efficiency and increased utilization of renewable energy at our Installations, the Navy gains both a Strategic and Force Protection Advantage.

Diversifying our energy supply to incorporate alternative energy sources like renewables increases our Installations’ resilience, so that we can continue operations in the event of a commercial grid failure. Transforming energy usage and innovating base systems improves our energy resiliency, reducing vulnerabilities to Sailors and providing a reliable source of energy and water to Navy facilities.

PWD Sigonella is continually looking for ways to gain these advantages.

NAVFAC EURAFCENT executes approximately $1 billion per year in construction, professional engineering and facilities services for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and NATO commands in countries throughout Europe, Africa and Central Command where the Navy is the DoD lead agent for military construction.

• Date Taken: 10.26.2021
• Date Posted: 10.26.2021 10:11
• Story ID: 408013
• Location: IT