Navy Making Headway With Renewable Energy

By John C. Marcario, Assistant Editor

The Navy is making strong headway on the renewable energy front through the use of wind turbines and the greater integration of simulators for training, fleet representatives said during the Sea-Air-Space Exposition May 5.

"We are really just beginning to do a lot of renewable energy things. I foresee seeing a lot of wind turbines up. Right now, we really only have three [wind turbine] sites. I foresee quadrupling that within the next year," said Chris Tindal, deputy director, renewable energy, Energy Policy Office, and deputy assistant secretary of the Navy, Installations and Facilities.

The Navy is looking at 12-13 wind turbine sites and conducting studies in the hopes of giving them to industry, which would build the turbines, within the next year.

Tindal said he wants to have more public/private ventures in these efforts.

"[The Navy] wants to do that as much as we can. We don't have deep pockets and it is up to, hopefully, industry who can work with a financier to get the initial capital cost and build the power plant. Then, if we need it, we consume what we can on a base and then sell the rest of it," he said.

One of the main energy-saving priorities for the fleet is the use of simulators for training typically done by ships, vehicles and aircraft, said Rear Adm. Phillip Cullom, director, Fleet Readiness Division, and executive secretary, Task Force Energy.

"You're not burning the gas and yet you are getting the same effective training you would otherwise have," Cullom said.

The Navy has been tasked to lead the effort in biofuels by the Defense Energy Task Force. Renewable energy programs also are being written into the curriculum at the U.S. Naval Academy, Naval Postgraduate School, and Navy and Marine Corps training command centers.