Geminus Develops AI for Military Microgrid Management
The Air Force-funded project uses digital twins to optimize power distribution between diesel generators and batteries.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Energy
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AFWERX has awarded Geminus a Small Business Innovation Research Phase I contract to develop AI software for managing microgrid power distribution. This research-stage platform aims to optimize energy usage for U.S. Air Force installations by balancing diesel generators and lithium-ion batteries.
Why it matters
The military is pursuing this technology to extend battery service life and reduce diesel fuel consumption, ensuring reliable power for critical mission equipment at remote sites.
The system utilizes physics-informed artificial intelligence and digital twins to model the behavior of physical power equipment. This platform integrates physical models with live operating data to govern the distribution of electricity between diesel generators and battery storage.
The players
AFWERX
The innovation arm of the U.S. Department of the Air Force that connects startups with military contracts.
Geminus
A Cambridge-based company that develops physics-informed artificial intelligence for industrial and military digital twin applications.
The details
Geminus will create digital twins—virtual replicas of physical systems—to simulate the electrical output and load requirements of a microgrid. By layering these models with real-world operating data, the software calculates the optimal power allocation to maximize efficiency. The technology is designed to account for the distinct characteristics of lithium-ion batteries, which store electricity, and diesel generators, which produce it on demand.
Timeline
October 27, 2026: Geminus officially announced the contract award.
The Tech Race
This project aligns with broader defense efforts to increase the autonomy of microgrids through machine learning. It builds on the growing trend of utilizing digital twins to optimize energy consumption, placing it among a competitive landscape of startups seeking to modernize military energy infrastructure.
This technology is currently in the initial research stage and is intended solely for military deployment. Future pilots will determine if these power management algorithms prove effective enough to be integrated into broader, non-military microgrid ecosystems.
The takeaway
The move to embed AI into microgrid management highlights the military's shift toward data-heavy energy logistics. Readers should track whether this Phase I research secures a follow-on pilot project, which would signal the system's readiness for field testing.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Energy management and grid technologies.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Military & Aerospace Electronics.
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