US and Chilean navies further support for biofuels

The US Navy and the Chilean Navy will continue their shared research on advanced alternative fuels for power surface vessels and navy aircraft.

After a four-year mutual agreement, this latest agreement enables both countries to reduce their dependence of imported fuels, and increase their energy security.

By 2020, the US Navy aims to have 50% of its operations fuelled by alternative energy resources. Chile's goal is for 45% of its newly distributed capacity in 2014-2025 to be derived from non-conventional, renewable energy sources.

'The US Department of the Navy... is moving toward the sustained use of a 50 / 50 blended biofuel / petrol product, and encourages its military partners to work toward certification of their aviation and maritime assets to use this blended product to ensure interoperability between respective navies is maintained,' Chilean undersecretary of defense Marcos Robledo and US secretary of the navy Ray Mabus said in a joint statement.

Collectively, both navies will look at further projects on alternative fuels research and alternative energy trials.