Here is an interesting time line from a pamphlet from the Esri Federal GIS Conference on the Navy’s evolution with energy, including last year’s large purchase of biofuels.
-
1774: USS Alfred, Navy’s first battleship, powered by wind and sails.
1955: USS Nautilus, first nuclear submarine
2009: First Navy aircraft engine tested on biofuel blend
2010: First flight of F/A-18 Hornet on biofuel blend
2016: The Great Green Fleet set to debut
The Green Fleet will include changes such as replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs, cutting fuel consumption by 500 barrels per year; new coatings on hulls to keep them clean and thus reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency and slash fuel use by 10%;optimized ship routing that takes into consideration ocean currents and weather; hybrid-electric drive propulsion.
