US Navy Working to Lower Ships’ Fuel Costs

US Navy Working to Lower Ships’ Fuel Costs 15-Jul-2008: If the rising cost of fuel is pushing you to change some of your transportation habits, you’re not alone. The US military started to focus on energy efficiency and alternate energy sources several years ago, as a response to the triple threat of future strategic supply concerns, rising costs that eat into service budgets, and the vulnerability of their fuel supply lines to IED land mines or mine-based interdiction at sea. In addition to moves like installing wind power at Guantanamo Bay, solar-generating parking lot shaders at NAB Coronado, etc., the US Navy has a pair of key energy conservation programs that are expected to save 1.14 million barrels of oil, and about $157 million, in FY 2008. The Navy’s Incentivized Energy Conservation (i-ENCON) program is a “best practices” effort that talks to the operators and shares successful approaches among the fleet. A ship’s fuel cosumption is not a fixed total, and can vary based on shape, conditions, speed, tonnage, and other variables. By changing internal procedures and running only required power plants or improving load distribution within the ship, and adjusting key variables like ship speed during missions, ships can make performance and contingency trade-offs that make them more fuel efficient. i-ENCON began in the 1990s, and won the prestigious White House Presidential Award for Outstanding Federal Energy Management in 2002. committed to reducing ships’ energy consumption by 10% each year, and its training and awareness programs includes videos, packet books and specialized software. The most important training tool, however, is the Navy Energy Usage Reporting Systems (NEURS) that detail the energy consumption of American surface ships, and its accompanying incentive program. Underway surface ships with top-tier records receive special recognition and cash incentives of up to $90,000 or more. The money goes into commanding officers’ discretionary funds, which can be used to improve the ship and reward their crews via “recreation programs.” compared to the overall operating costs of a major surface warship, that amount of money is just a drop in the bucket. Its role in motivating best efforts and making compliance a priority throughout the ship, however, is far out of proportion to its size. Most of FY 2008’s projected fuel savings ad cost savings come from i-ENCON. The US Navy’s other major efficiency program is the Fleet Readiness, Research and Development Program (FRR&DP), which began along with FY 2008, in October 2007. FRR&DP examines new technologies that are ready for immediate deployment, and promise fuel savings that represent a solid return on investment. These technologies must be tested and validated before they can be implemented throughout the fleet. FRR&DP initiatives project more than $19 million in annual cost avoidance, mostly via fuel savings of more than 134,000 barrels. Its major success to date involves fitting stern flaps to cruisers, destroyers, and frigates ($365,000-$450,000 pr ship per year, based on oil at only $96/bbl), and now a similar solution for LSD and LHD amphibious operations ships that is expected to save about $6.3 million per year.