Solar-Powered Marines See Big Gains In Afghanistan : All Tech Considered : NPR: "U.S. Marines may be on the verge of turning a long-time enemy into an ally. In this case, that enemy is the desert sun. Thanks to flexible solar panels, the sun can help run military equipment — and it may even cut down on casualties.
By using solar power and placing an emphasis on energy conservation, Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment say they cut diesel consumption in their generators from 20 gallons a day to 2.5 gallons a day, according to a Marine report.
The regiment tested the equipment in Afghanistan at the end of last year, in what may be the first large-scale military test of solar power there.
Marines who used the technology say it helps in three main ways(...)
That all sounds great — but another report, from a Marine training exercise here in the U.S., adds a different perspective."
