Indiana Army National Guard Microgrid & Electrical Resiliency (ERCIP) at Camp Atterbury

The Indiana Army National Guard faced a critical challenge of energy vulnerability at Camp Atterbury, one of its most strategic installations, housing important training and mobilization facilities. To ensure mission readiness regardless of grid conditions, HEAPY was selected to manage a comprehensive energy resilience project for Camp Atterbury’s critical facilities.

This $32 million project involves coordination with multiple stakeholders, including Duke Energy, the Department of Public Works (DPW) Energy Branch, and the Installation Energy Water Plan team. This energy project improves Camp Atterbury’s operational capabilities by providing reliable power to critical facilities during outages. The microgrid system supports over 50 ground-coupled heat pump buildings and allows for future expansion to incorporate technologies such as hydrogen electricity generation and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The completed project will reduce Camp Atterbury’s carbon footprint while improving energy independence. The system is designed to operate in both island mode during emergencies and grid-connected mode under normal conditions, enhancing the installation’s energy efficiency and operational reliability.

Scope of Services

HEAPY is leading a multidisciplinary team in developing an integrated energy system that combines renewable generation, storage, and distribution components to improve the installation’s energy independence, enhancing power security and sustainability for facilities essential to the mobilization and force-generating installation (MFGI) mission.

HEAPY’s approach focuses on integrating multiple energy systems while minimizing disruption to ongoing operations through breaking the engineering services down into three phases:

• Type A Services (0-35%): Site investigations, stakeholder interviews, design charrettes, and conceptual designs. This includes presenting multiple configuration options, conducting life cycle cost analyses, and preparing environmental assessments.
• Type B Services (35-100%): Design development through construction documents, including coordination with utility providers and permitting agencies.
• Type C Services: Construction administration including submittal reviews, field observations, and system testing during the 24-month construction period.

Technical Components

• 3 MW fixed-axis ground-mounted photovoltaic solar array
• 100kW solar parking structure for the DPW facility
• 5MW/5MWh energy storage system
• 5 MW natural gas generator
• Campus-wide LED retrofit across 499 buildings
• Redundant electrical distribution infrastructure
• Integration with existing utility-owned microgrid systems

Technical Elements

• Integration with existing Duke Energy infrastructure and microgrid controls
• Implementation of automated transfer switches and medium-voltage switchgear
• Testing for microgrid controllers
• Environmental assessment covering multiple potential sites
• Energy modeling for future needs