by Brian Parkin (Bloomberg) The U.S. accepted Australia’s offer to supply biofuel for its Asia-Pacific fleet, advancing the U.S. Navy’s goal of getting half its power from renewables by 2020. The premier of Australia’s northeastern state of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, signed the deal to supply the navy’s “Great Green Fleet,” this week, according to … [Read more...]
What Is The Great Great Fleet?
The Great Green Fleet (GGF) is a year-long, Department of the Navy initiative that demonstrates the sea service’s efforts to transform its energy use. As one of the Secretary of the Navy’s key energy goals, the purpose of the GGF is to make our Sailors and Marines better warfighters, able to go farther, stay longer and deliver more firepower. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus … [Read more...]
Is the Volatile Fuel Used in Racing Cars a New Power Source for Ships?
By Keith Wallis SINGAPORE, July 7 (Reuters) - Methanol, a fuel used to power light aircraft and racing cars, is being tried out as alternative for ships, highlighting its potential in an industry under pressure to cut emissions. From next year, shipping firms will have to cut polluting sulphur emissions in vessels going to parts of Europe and North America, sparking a … [Read more...]
US Navy’s Justification for Using Mostly Biofuel Makes Little Sense
U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus mentioned in a tweet today that "by no later than 2020, at least half of our #energy will come from non-fossil fuel sources." https://twitter.com/SECNAV/status/466632557484703744 This push for biofuel is not a new initiative for Secretary Mabus who has been marketing the idea since 2009. In a speech last month at Arizona State University, he … [Read more...]
Maersk Exploring Use of Alternative Fuels
Editor's Note: We've heard it before; the number one cost faced by shipowners is the cost of fuel. With that in mind, A.P. Moller-Maersk, with an annual fuel bill of roughly $7 billion, is aggressively looking at ways to cut those costs and has began exploring the use alternative fuels - namely biofuels - as a potential cost-savings measure. Here's what they said … [Read more...]
Royal Canadian Navy to Explore Use of Biofuels
In a boost for biofuels in marine applications, the Canadian government has announced that it is exploring the potential to use biofuels for its Navy. In a notice posted on Monday, the federal government is soliciting proposals for replacing diesel with biofuels in Royal Canadian Navy vessels. Price will be a key consideration for any potential solutions. "Naval vessels and … [Read more...]
Maersk and U.S. Navy Collaborate on Biofuel Testing Initiative
Maersk and the U.S. Navy said today that they are collaborating on a R&D program that will test the use of algae-based biofuel on ships with the goal of learning more about how biofuels can be best used to diversify fuel supply and improve environmental performance. Maersk said that the tests will be conducted on the container ship Maersk Kalmar while en route from … [Read more...]