Environmental Security Technical Certification Program

The Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, is a Department of Defense (DoD) initiative focused on demonstrating and validating innovative technologies that address critical environmental, energy, and resilience challenges across military installations. The program's primary goal is to accelerate the transition of promising solutions from research to operational deployment by rigorously testing them in real-world DoD environments. ESTCP aims to reduce technology adoption risks, provide reliable performance and cost data, and enable decision-makers to implement validated solutions that improve military readiness, environmental compliance, and cost efficiency.

Environmental Technology Demonstration/Validation funds are allocated to develop and test cutting-edge technologies that support DoD modernization priorities, including nuclear deterrence, missile defense, and industrial base readiness. The program targets persistent challenges such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, unexploded ordnance (UXO) in underwater environments, conservation and range sustainment, and hazardous materials elimination in weapons systems. Demonstrations are conducted at DoD facilities, with formal test plans and technical reviews to ensure accuracy and data integrity. Objectives include maximizing training days, reducing regulatory burdens, and enabling next-generation systems deployment while maintaining military readiness.

Energy Technology Demonstration/Validation focuses on evaluating and deploying advanced energy and water technologies to enhance the security and resilience of military installations. This program directly supports Executive Orders related to energy security and grid reliability, addressing vulnerabilities from commercial power grid dependence, cyber threats, and severe weather. Demonstrations include microgrid design tools, atmospheric water generation, advanced HVAC controls, and electric vehicle integration. The goal is to improve installation energy system reliability, reduce operational costs, and ensure mission continuity during disruptions. There is an increased emphasis on energy resilience technologies such as long-duration storage and thermal networks.

Sustainable Technologies Evaluation and Demonstration (STED) Program aims to validate cost-effective, domestically sourced alternatives to widely used technologies, thereby reducing supply chain vulnerabilities and supporting operational readiness. STED evaluates products such as improved lubricants, advanced cleaning agents, and reusable targets, focusing on performance, maintenance reduction, waste minimization, and health impact mitigation. The program seeks to accelerate technology transition across DoD and federal agencies, prioritizing solutions that enhance readiness and supply chain security.

Natural Hazards and Installation Resilience Technology Demonstration/Validation is designed to develop and demonstrate infrastructure hardening technologies and decision support tools that protect installations from natural hazards. The program supports mission resilience during extreme weather events and addresses challenges such as permafrost degradation, coastal erosion, wildfire risk, and drought. Initiatives include the Innovation Landscape Network, rapid testing of autonomous firefighting vehicles, and permafrost stabilization projects. Objectives include strengthening critical infrastructure, improving operational capabilities, and developing resilience metrics in coordination with other agencies and DoD Sentinel Landscapes partnerships.

Congressional Adds in FY 2024 and FY 2025 include targeted investments such as On-base Microgrid Resiliency, Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Destruction, Environmental Research-to-Demonstration Partnership Centers, and Immersion Cooling for data centers. These projects are intended to address specific operational needs, accelerate technology transition, and enhance installation resilience. Microgrid resiliency projects integrate long-duration energy storage to meet reliability requirements, while AFFF destruction initiatives focus on deploying technologies to eliminate legacy firefighting foam contaminants.

ESTCP employs a competitive selection process, soliciting proposals from government, academia, and industry, with multi-agency panels reviewing submissions to ensure high-quality demonstrations. The program's acquisition strategy is flexible, allowing for a mix of contracts and DoD-organic execution. In FY 2024 and FY 2025, hundreds of proposals were submitted, with approximately 50 selected annually for funding. Strategic adjustments in FY 2026 reflect a shift toward energy resilience and infrastructure hardening, with reductions in certain program areas to promote government efficiency and align with executive directives.