Alliance OH – 20 Jan 2021 – AFWERX, the catalyst for fostering innovation within the U.S. Air Force, announced Special Power Sources as one of the 179 participating teams selected from across the globe competing to Reimagining Energy for the DoD.

The AFWERX Challenge is centered around six topics – Fixed and Mobile Energy Generation, Energy Transmission and Distribution, Fixed and Mobile Energy Storage, New Warfighting and Operational Equipment, Data Availability for Improved Planning and Decision Making, and Energy Culture, Policy, and Education. The proposals selected to advance represent innovative solutions to allow for more effective warfighting and humanitarian missions less reliant on fossil fuels.

Located in Alliance OH, Special Power Sources is competing in the Fixed and Mobile Energy Generation Challenge alongside a diverse group of teams – originating from the vast regions of North America, Europe, Australia and other allied countries – that represent entrepreneurial startups, small businesses, large enterprises, academic institutions and research labs all vying to Reimagine Energy for the Department of Defense. 

“The AFWERX Reimagining Energy for the DoD Challenge is critical to our mission of increasing collaboration between large businesses and entrepreneurs to accelerate solutions for the Air Force,” stated Mark Rowland of AFWERX. “On behalf of AFWERX and the Department of Defense, we congratulate the teams advancing to the next phase. Their contributions are invaluable and have the potential to create game-changing results across the Air Force enterprise.” 

The Fixed and Mobile Energy Generation Challenge strives to find alternative energy sources so we can decrease reliance on fossil fuels. The Department of Defense (DoD) consumes large amounts of operational and facility energy to provide a combat-credible force. The DoD is one of the largest single consumers of energy globally, and the Air Force is the largest user of fuel energy in the US Government. The way we generate, transmit, store, and use this enormous amount of energy today is both a paramount combat enabler and a potentially crippling vulnerability.

The SPS submitted project is to develop and optimize a 5kW Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technology for low cost, lower temperature and high energy efficiency. These systems will be designed to support remote, mobile and infrastructure applications for base operations to protect critical Information Technology (IT) designated assets.

“With this showcase selection, Special Power Sources’ recognized product strategy is to provide continuous power running on renewable fuels in the range of 250W to 5kW+ serving USAF, US Army and other government agencies.  Our SOFC remote power products are light weight, fuel efficient, reliable and quiet to support evolving Multi-Domain Operations at the airmen/soldier to the medium power need levels,” explains Roland Dixon, President of Special Power Sources.

To learn more about the Reimagining Energy for the DoD Challenges, click here 

ABOUT SPECIAL POWER SOURCES
Special Power Sources (SPS), LLC has acquired the assets and IP of Atrex Energy who has been deploying Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) power generators in commercial applications for over 8 years. The commercial products, in the 250W to 1500W ranges, have shown tremendous reliability and longevity in remote, off-grid applications even when deployed in “the middle of nowhere”. Special Power Sources is a renewable energy technology company developing, manufacturing, and servicing for our 650+ units delivered to USA, Canada and Mexico for Gas & Oil, Telecommunications & Mining Industries.

ABOUT AFWERX
Established in 2017, AFWERX is a product of the U.S. Air Force, directly envisioned by former Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. Her vision of AFWERX — to solve some of the toughest challenges that the Air Force faces through innovation and collaboration amongst our nation’s top subject matter experts. AFWERX serves as a catalyst to unleash new approaches for the warfighter through a growing ecosystem of innovators. AFWERX and the U.S. Air Force are committed to exploring viable solutions and partnerships to further strengthen the Air Force, which could lead to additional prototyping, R&D, and follow-on production contracts.

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Media Contacts:
Roland Dixon, 978.808.0825
Roland.dixon@spsources.com

AFWERX Media Contacts:
support@afwerxchallenge.com
Marketing@afwerx.af.mil