PASADENA, CA (November 10, 2016) – Parsons is pleased to announce that the Smart Power Infrastructure Demonstration for Energy Reliability and Security (SPIDERS) Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) has received a 2016 Federal Energy and Water Management Award. SPIDERS was a collaborative effort by the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and Department of Homeland Security to develop innovative microgrid solutions to improve the energy security of critical assets at U.S. military bases. Parsons, as a subcontractor and lead, provided key support through all phases of the project.

“SPIDERS is an important step toward greater energy efficiency and the security of our nation’s energy assets,” stated Tom Roell, Parsons Vice Chairman and Group President. “I am proud of our teams’ contributions to this project, which will help to ensure a continuous energy supply to our military bases.”

The SPIDERS project successfully demonstrated the capability to develop cybersecure, energy-efficient microgrids to meet the energy needs of U.S. military bases. The benefits include increased resilience to cyber attacks, severe weather, and other threats to the commercial power grid. In addition, through the integration of renewable power sources, the microgrids created greater energy efficiency and reduced the bases’ carbon footprints.

In three phases ending in November 2015, the SPIDERS JCTD deployed microgrids at three U.S. military bases in Hawaii and Colorado. Each phase expanded the scope and complexity of the demonstration: During Phase I, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI, the project synchronized existing backup power supplies with a photovoltaic array to increase the availability of electricity to a single facility. During Phase II, at Fort Carson, CO, the SPIDERS smart grid integrated existing power supplies with renewable energy sources (including photovoltaic arrays, stationary energy storage, and bidirectional electric vehicle charging) and added cybersecurity systems. Phase III, conducted at Camp Smith, HI, was the first basewide demonstration of a microgrid capable of providing long-term power using onsite industrial-quality generating equipment integrated with renewable energy sources (solar and stationary energy storage). This final phase also demonstrated the ability to generate up to $1 million in cost savings through ancillary services to the local utility.

Parsons played a key role throughout the SPIDERS JCTD, providing design and construction support during Phase I, cybersecurity design support during Phases II and III, and network design support during Phase III. The corporation has delivered energy solutions to customers in federal, regional, and local government and private industry for more than 60 years. It has delivered cybersecurity solutions for more than 30 years.