Several British Army bases in Cyprus have now been fitted with solar-powered EV chargers from Beam Global.
The new EV ARC solar powered chargers will be used to power EVs used on the army base, and they fit into a standard sized parking space. This is the first of several planned installations for British military bases; the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has ordered $1 million (£777,800) worth of Beam products, which will be delivered in months to come.
“We’re really happy to have recently procured ten Beam solar-powered EV ARC charging systems,” said the commanding officer of transport unit HQ BFC, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Taylor. “These portable charging stations fit within a standard parking space and will harness the abundant sunshine from Cyprus and provide a clean energy source, significantly contributing to our environmental responsibility and enhancing our emergency resilience. They will support electric vehicles on Sovereign Bases Area camps during daytime or nighttime and will at the same time remind everyone of the importance of innovation to enhance capabilities by utilising our planet’s solar power.”
Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global added: “This first ten EV ARC deployment out of Beam Europe validates our entrance into the European market – the largest in the world for our products. As the year progresses, we will continue to deliver on the many orders in our global pipeline and to build upon the tremendous momentum that our entrance into Europe has created.”
Decarbonising defence
Around the world, defence operations have begun seeking ways to decarbonise their domestic and international operations, including solar PV installations.
In June last year, a 3,000 PV panel solar farm was unveiled at the Duke of Gloucester Barracks in South Cerney. Named Project Prometheus, the development spans 1.1 hectares of land on the base and is capable of generating a third of the electricity the base needs to operate. Combined with the MoD’s other solar sites, the use of solar power is estimated to save the department £250,000 each year.
The British Army currently operates three solar farms, with a fourth under construction. The first-built of these, a 2.3MW site at the Defence School of Transport in Leconfield, was delivered by Centrica Business Solutions, while the other two completed sites were developed in conjunction with renewable energy installer 3ti.