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Remote Electrical Power Via Solar-Powered Trailers

We need power if we are going to use technology.

When I was in the Army and trying to find a military headquarters in the dark of night driving around in the woods (where no one had lights on), the technique I used was to have the driver stop, turn off the jeep's engine and listen for the sound of generators. It worked great! Even back in the "old days," we needed electrical power. 

For any command post or incident command post, electricity is a given commodity that is required for operation. Most remote sites run on generators and to do that, they will need fuel.

One alternative that is becoming more viable is the use of trailer-mounted solar panels, such as NexGen's solar-powered trailers.

For now, I don't see these totally replacing gas- or diesel-powered generators, but they could become another tool in the toolbox for remote sites in "sunshine states" that could power remote communications installations when commercial power fails. 

Just another alternative for you to consider.

 

Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.