US Army aims to use EVs and solar panels for net-zero emissions by 2050

Among the items listed in its action plan, the U.S. Army wants to install a microgrid at all of its installations by the mid of the next decade and achieve carbon-free onsite power generation capabilities by the end of the decade. Last year, we covered how the Army is working towards using mobile nuclear reactors that would aid in reducing its carbon emissions.

As part of its immediate efforts to rein in carbon emissions, the U.S. Army wants to reduce its greenhouse gases by as much as 50 percent by 2032, using 2005 emissions as a baseline while incorporating installation-wide building controls by 2028, the document said.  

To address the massive consumption of fuel at its installations, the Army will replace its light non-tactical fleet with electric vehicles in the next five years while all non-tactical vehicles will be replaced by an electric fleet by 2035. 

With regards to acquisition and logistics, the document aims for a significant reduction of operational energy and water usage by 2035 as it adds mature electrification technologies to its platforms. It also aims for developing a purpose-built fleet of hybrid-drive tactical vehicles by 2035 while working on developing charging capabilities at all its facilities that can support an all-electric tactical fleet by 2050.

An ambitious plan

Starting 2024, the U.S. Army will publish best practices and climate change lessons every two years as it tries to reduce greenhouse emissions from its training programs by 2028. The Army will also introduce climate change topics in its workforce training programs no later than 2028, such that all operational and strategic exercises conducted after this period include climate change risks and threat considerations. This is to ensure that by 2035, all Army personnel in strategic headquarters have advanced credentials in climate change topics, the document said.