Army partnering with Framingham energy firm to examine use of 3D printing in energy infrastructure upgrades

The exterior of a military facility, with a fence and sign for the U.S. Army

Image | Courtesy of Google Maps Framingham-based Ameresco has announced a project with the U.S. Army which will see the firm explore using 3D printing to provide energy efficiency upgrades to a facility in Michigan.

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By Eric Casey

Ameresco has announced a project with the U.S. Army which will see the Framingham-based clean energy firm explore using 3D printing to make large-scale energy efficiency upgrades at Department of Defense facilities.

The project will see Ameresco collaborate with Tennessee-based 3D printing firm Branch Technology and the federally-funded, Colorado-based research firm National Renewable Energy Laboratory, according to an Ameresco press release issued Wednesday.

The three firms will work together to design and install an energy-efficient envelope of insulation panels which will be placed over the exterior of the U.S. Army’s Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan. Covering about 6,250 square feet of the building’s envelope, the project is expected to improve energy efficiency by 50% and aims to provide a model for future upgrades to military and federal buildings.

“Partnering with the U.S. Army as they push the envelope on sustainable innovation is inspiring,” Nicole Bulgarino, president of federal solutions and utility infrastructure at Ameresco, said in the press release. “This pilot project isn’t just about lowering energy costs; it’s about rethinking how we approach building retrofits across large institutions. Using 3D printing to bring energy efficiency to Detroit Arsenal is a bold step, and we’re proud to be part of the Army’s journey toward a greener future.”

As part of the pilot project, National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Colorado facility will be the site of a 300-square-foot mockup to gather more specific data on energy savings and costs which can be achieved through the use of 3D-printed insulation panels.

Ameresco has previously worked with the military on multiple energy infrastructure projects, including building a backup power generation plant and underground transmission lines at a major military site in California, a project which was announced in November 2023.

Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.