US Army launches new laboratory to study alternative energy

The US Army is continuing its pursuit of alternative energy with the launching of its new Ground Systems Power and Energy Laboratory (GDSPEL). The facility began operation this week and will be responsible for researching advanced military technologies with a focus on energy. Hydrogen fuel cells and hybrid energy systems will get a great deal of attention as the Army has taken a keen interest in these two fields of power recently. The agency has highlighted energy as a matter of national security and has been working to promote sustainability, energy efficiency and energy independence. GDSPEL will be continuing the experiments conducted by these two branches in the hopes of making more progress in fuel cell technology. Researchers will be working to make fuel cells more efficient and affordable while also finding ways to increase their performance. The laboratory is expected to focus its work in hydrogen fuel cells on how the energy systems can be used for transportation.