Israeli Military—Going Green

April 2, 2014

Israel Air Force photovoltaic cells already installed
Israel Defense Forces Thanks to a new plan to install solar panels throughout Israel, the IDF is increasing its use of green energy, replacing expensive diesel generators that pollute the environment.

The IDF is the largest organization in Israel, with bases across the country. That means we have a responsibility to protect not just the people of Israel, but its environment too. There are dozens of operational sites with generators that require diesel fuel to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These generators have caused a large amount of pollution and have cost the IDF about 13 million dollars per year.

“We started to run a pilot project to examine alternative energy sources, with an emphasis on solar energy,” said Col. Oded Yackobovitz, a commander in the IDF Ground Forces. “It’s all about combining solar panels, hybrid generators for backup, batteries and electrical supervision.”

The pilot project took place in southern Israel, and after a successful year it was decided to transform dozens of operational sites into solar energy sites. “Most importantly, the biggest advantage is the use of green energy—less pollution and the use of more natural [resources] to create energy. This plan is a major step towards a greener IDF,” Col. Yackobovitz concluded.

Photos by www.idfblog.com The addition of these solar panels is far from the IDF’s first step towards an environmentally friendly military. During the past several years, the Israel Air Force [IAF] has been transforming its entire energy infrastructure into alternative fuels, with an emphasis on solar power.

The IAF’s revolutionary project “Blue Going Green” (blue is the official color of the Air Force), is so sweeping and systematic that it seeks a net-zero-energy air force by the year 2033. Among the methods of energy conservation used by the “Blue Going Green” project are water heating, solar power grids, grey water recycling, natural sewage treatment and natural and induction lighting.

Source: Excerpts of an article from the Israel Defense Forces