Five Friday Facts: U.S. Navy as Energy Innovator

Posted on the 04 May 2012 by 2ndgreenrevolution @2ndgreenrev

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.