NATO chief suggests battle tanks with solar panels as militaries go green

From The National

Here’s a fun one.

Nato should examine how it can power tanks and jets with alternative energy, such as solar panels, to reduce its carbon emissions, the alliance’s secretary general said.

Reducing reliance on fossil fuels would also make troops less vulnerable to attack because they would not have to rely on long supply lines getting fuel to the front line, Jens Stoltenberg said.

The Nato chief suggested that militaries should advance research into low-emitting vehicles because of the advantages they bring, at an online seminar titled New Ideas for Nato 2030.

“Nato should do its part to look into how we can reduce emissions from military operations,” he told the Chatham House event. “We know that heavy battle tanks or fighter jets and naval ships consume a lot of fossil fuel and emit greenhouse gases and therefore we have to look into how we can reduce those emissions by alternative fuels, solar panels or other ways of running our missions.”

https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/nato-chief-suggests-battle-tanks-with-solar-panels-as-militaries-go-green-1.1160313

Best line in the story.

He told the seminar that his background as a UN envoy on climate change helped with the proposals.

https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/nato-chief-suggests-battle-tanks-with-solar-panels-as-militaries-go-green-1.1160313

Willis commented about this news story on social media thusly

The stupid, it burns … an M1 tank gets 0.6 mpg. A gallon of diesel contains ~ 40 kWh of energy. A solar panel puts out ~ 1 kWh per day. A solar panel is about 17 sq. ft. You MIGHT fit four of them on an M1 tank without impairing the weapons and sensors. Then you’d need four Tesla Powerwall batteries, weight half a ton.With that setup, every ten days you could move your tank 0.6 miles …w.

The GWPF also covered this story with this excellent cartoon by Josh.

Full article here.

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Ed Zuiderwijk
February 15, 2021 3:18 am

Obviously what the army needs is a Dinochrome Combat Unit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolo:_Annals_of_the_Dinochrome_Brigade

bill53
February 15, 2021 3:50 am

I have a better idea, how about no more military interventions. Then we wouldn’t need this general, his identity politics, or his idiotic solar powered weapons. Why don’t don’t we just make a Sun-powered death ray, oh wait what’s this we have already it is called a magnifying glass.

Clyde Spencer
Reply to  bill53
February 17, 2021 12:12 pm

But a magnifying glass is more effective against ants than soldiers.

February 15, 2021 9:29 am

If they REALLY want a “green” military, why not just eliminate tanks and other war vehicles completely? Or better yet, just eliminate the military? After all, military conflicts are not exactly environmentally friendly, right? No combat at all is the REAL green alternative.

Jan
February 15, 2021 11:11 am

we have met the enemy, and he is us

Clyde Spencer
Reply to  Jan
February 17, 2021 12:13 pm

Pogo would be proud that you remembered what he said.

February 15, 2021 4:54 pm

How about shutting down Nato and the UN. NATO’S task ended about a quarter century ago and the UN has morphed into a néomarxiste Global Gov run by oldy moldy apparatchicks. That would improve the climate immeasurably and cut the pressure on our “disposable” income.

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