Navy gets ready for two large pathways to alternative fuel

The Navy plans to create two new acquisition vehicles this year to ensure it has a consistent supply of advanced biofuels.

As an indication of their development, the service says the biofuels will not be any more expensive than the petroleum-based diesel and jet fuels that it has been buying for decades.

By using the Defence Production Act, the Navy are able to send money to companies that supply products the military wants but aren't yet produced in economically-viable amounts.

To date, the Navy has strongly supported the use of biofuels and has paid prices that are several times the amount it spends for a gallon of fossil fuels.

Advanced biofuel technologies have now been developed enough that the Navy can start to think about a larger-scale replacement of petroleum fuels for day-to-day mission use.

Tom Hicks, the acting undersecretary of the Navy, told the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference in National Harbour, in Maryland: 'The Navy has a long history of energy innovation. From sail to coal, coal to oil, and then to nuclear, the Navy's led the way. We see biofuel as that next energy innovation, and we're taking action.'

'Through the DPA programme, DoD made awards to four companies who have now committed to producing a total of 170 million gallons of drop-in, military-compatible biofuels, with production starting in 2016,' Hicks adds.

The firms have each committed to providing biofuels at a price that's 'well below' $4 (€2.9) per gallon, Hicks said. The Navy currently pays an average of $3.73 for petroleum-based fuel.

Hicks also said the Navy has calculated that the supplied biofuels will generate 50% to 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.