OUSD (R&E) MODERNIZATION PRIORITY: General Warfighting Requirements (GWR) TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Nuclear; Electronics; Space Platform OBJECTIVE: Energy-enabled DoD expeditionary operations require capabilities that increase flexibility and agility in force posture and employment. Expeditionary and contingency operations must be conducted in remote areas, austere environments, or locations otherwise experiencing degraded infrastructure, logistical support, and deficiencies in basic power, water, food, shelter, security, and medical care. To support these mobile and forward operating locations, transformational technologies in the areas of deployable energy generation, storage, and transmission are needed to provide resilient power to command and control nodes, crewed stations, and operational equipment. Concepts are being explored where all the necessary supplies (food, water, shelter, etc.) will be delivered via rocket where up to 100 tons of cargo can be delivered rapidly to any point on earth. Along with the creation and development of the power systems, this topic seeks to further investigate the specific requirements for the transportation of the power systems using containers such as the ISU-90 and 20 foot CONEX boxes. That is, what are the unique requirements of the container system (shock, vibration) needed to house and subsequently deliver the power system. The rocket delivery is anticipated to be a fee for service and development of a rocket to support deliver is not part of this Topic. This topic seeks to preform system-of-systems analysis, concept exploration, test and evaluation of capabilities of expeditionary power systems and their ability to be delivered by the emerging commercial rocket market and the ability to quickly transport these systems to any point on the globe. DESCRIPTION: The National Defense Strategy identifies threats across Asia and beyond as a principal priority for the Department. To confront this reality, the U.S. must project combat power across the globe via its expeditionary forces. These forces emphasize rapid mobility and agility and require fuel and power generation to move, fight, and to sustain. As the DoD seeks the capability to employ highly mobile forces able to get to any point on the earth via rocket and move from one location to another within theater complicating adversary targeting solutions, the traditional energy supply must also become mobile, lighter and be delivered via cargo container on a rocket capable of up to 100 tons of cargo. It is anticipated that the power generation requirements are between five kilo-watts (5kw) and fifty kilo-watts (50kw). As the adversary adapts to this operational concept, traditional diesel/JP8-powered electrical generators need to be supplemented to improve expeditionary energy resiliency/diversity to power the fight. Improving the efficiency of existing technologies with the addition of new renewable power generation, storage and distribution technologies will provide a light and mobile power generation capability to enable the capability to execute a highly mobile conflict. The main deliverables will be modeling and simulation (M&S), Test and Evaluation of concepts and sub-scale experiments in expeditionary power systems and the ability to deliver these systems via rocket. PHASE I: This topic is intended for technology proven ready to move directly into Phase II. Therefore, a Phase I award is not required. The offeror is required to provide detail and documentation in the Direct to Phase II proposal which demonstrates accomplishment of a Phase I-like effort, including a feasibility study. This includes determining, insofar as possible, the scientific and technical merit and feasibility of ideas appearing to have commercial potential. It must have validated the product-market fit between the proposed solution and a potential AF stakeholder. The offeror should have defined a clear, immediately actionable plan with the proposed solution and the AF customer. Relevant areas of demonstrated experience and success include: M&S, cost benefit analysis, risk analysis, concept development, concept demonstration and concept evaluation, laboratory experimentation and field testing. Phase I type efforts include the assessment of emerging light weight, portable and rapidly deployable power systems including generations, storage and distribution. Phase I type efforts would include concepts, sub-systems, components and laboratory experimentation of expeditionary power generation and the ability to rapidly deploy these systems. PHASE II: Eligibility for a Direct to Phase Two (D2P2) is predicated on the offeror having performed a Phase I-like effort predominantly separate from the SBIR/STTR Programs. These efforts will include M&S, simulation of prototype concepts, cost benefit analysis, system-of-systems studies, experimentation and evaluation of expeditionary power systems and rapid logistics concepts that enable quick transport of these systems to ports across the globe. Prototypes, M&S and experimentation should explore a wide range of small, light-weight and transportable power generation, storage and distribution systems leveraging commercial processes and systems to the maximum extent possible. These capabilities should consider areas that are unique to expeditionary forces and military logistics for power generation up to 50 kw. Delivery of these systems should consider ISU-90 and 20 foot standard commercial cargo containers. Phase II efforts shall conduct analysis, M&S, experimentation and sub-scale experiments to address military-unique requirements in power generation and transportation that may not be otherwise met by commercial space transportation capabilities. No funding will be invested in developing commercial rocket systems. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Phase III shall include upgrades to the analysis, M&S, T&E results and provide mature prototypes of system concepts. Phase III shall provide a business plan and address the ability to transition technology and system concepts to commercial applications. The adapted non-Defense commercial solutions shall provide expanded mission capability for a broad range of potential Governmental and civilian users and alternate mission applications. Integration and other technical support to operational users may be required. REFERENCES: L. Grigsby, Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution, Third Edition, CRC Press, 2012; Mitsubish Power, Hydrogen Power Generation Handbook, Second Edition, June 2021; Small Nuclear Power Reactors, World Nuclear Association, November 2021, https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-power-reactors/small-nuclear-power-reactors.aspx; T. Hamacher, A.M. Bradshaw, Fusion as a Future Power Source: Recent Achievements and Prospects, 18th World Energy Congress, 2001; A. Gupta, R. Sengupta, Analytical Study of the Development of Nuclear Fusion Reactors as Potential Source of Energy In the Future, 2019; Academia, Power Generation, Recent Papers in Power Generation, https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/Power_Generation; B. Jasim, P. Taheri, An Origami-Based Portable Solar Panel System, 2018 IEEE 9th Annual Information Technology, Electronics and Mobile Communication Conference (IEMCON); KEYWORDS: Power Generation; Power Storage; Power Distribution; Portable Power Systems; Light-Weight and Transportable Power Generation; Cargo Containers for Power Systems; Shock and Vibration Isolation;
