New Use Energy reaches xTech Adaptive Strike finals after Fort Irwin trial

New Use Energy Solutions advanced to the finals of the U.S. Army’s xTech Adaptive Strike competition after a three-week field test at Fort Irwin with the 3rd Infantry Division. The company says its SunCases delivered 100% uptime in harsh desert conditions, underscoring demand for portable power that reduces vehicle idling and fuel use.

Why it matters: - New Use Energy Solutions is moving into the final stage of a U.S. Army prize competition focused on ready-to-deploy technologies for contested environments. - The Fort Irwin trial tested whether portable power could support soldiers without keeping vehicles running, which can cut noise, thermal exposure and fuel demand. - The company’s field performance in Ukraine and at the National Training Center positions its systems for military use in harsh environments.

What happened: - New Use Energy Solutions, Inc. was selected as a finalist in xTech Adaptive Strike, a U.S. Army competition. - The company completed a three-week field deployment at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, as a semi-finalist. - The exercise supported elements of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division. - NUE deployed four different SunCase models, totaling 18 units, across the full deployment. - The company reported 100% performance during the three-week period.

The details: - NUE’s portable power lineup included four models of SunCase units and tactical ultralight solar panels. - The systems were used to support small devices such as ITAK and MiFi pucks, along with larger loads such as Tactical Servers and Forward Operating Bases. - The units were sized to fit inside standard vehicle configurations. - The SunCase 1213 was the most popular model during the exercise. - The SunCase 1213 weighs 30 pounds and stores 1.3 kWh of energy. - Soldiers trained on the SunCases in less than five minutes. - The cases offer AC, USB and 12V DC outlets. - The SunCases used polypropylene cases and air filters designed to handle high temperatures and dust. - Soldiers cleaned the cases with wet rags. - A captain in the 3rd Infantry Division said the SunCase 605 powered a TAC device, laptop and MiFi device for 36 hours before needing a charge.

Between the lines: - NUE framed the trial as proof that battle-tested commercial power systems can work in U.S. Army training and operational settings. - The company’s emphasis on one-hand carry, quick setup and multiple outlet types suggests the Army values portability as much as raw capacity. - The focus on avoiding idling vehicles points to a broader battlefield shift toward quieter, lower-signature power sources. - Paul Shmotolokha, NUE’s CEO and a U.S. Army veteran, said Ukraine experience helped shape the approach, and he cited four years of field use with 99% of units still working except those captured or destroyed in battle. - John Webber, NUE’s vice president of sales, said the systems helped soldiers power communications gear without wasting fuel or exposing vehicles at night. - Shmotolokha also said real field trials matter more than watching technology online.

What’s next: - NUE plans to return to the National Training Center for the final stages of the competition. - The company says it will showcase additional innovations, including thermal mitigation solutions. - The xTech Adaptive Strike competition continues as the Army evaluates technologies that can improve Soldier effectiveness in contested environments.

The bottom line: - NUE turned a battlefield-proven product into a formal Army validation step, and the next test is whether that performance holds up in the competition’s final round.