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US Navy to test renewable algae jet fuel

The Navy is testing out biofuels to boost its energy security, including for use in aircraft like the "Green Hornet", an F/A-18F Super Hornet strike fighter, pictured here at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, in April

San Francisco company Solazyme has delivered a 1,500 gallon load of renewable jet fuel for the US Navy to test and certify.

Under a contract awarded by the US Department of Defense in September 2009, Solazyme has been producing jet fuel from algae, using its own fermentation process along with technology from Honeywell.

The project is part of efforts by the Navy to operate 50% of its fleet on renewable fuels by 2020.

Solazyme said its fuel, dubbed Solajet HRJ-5, is designed to meet all of the requirements for Naval renewable aviation fuel.

The fuel should also meet the requirements of the US Air Force and commercial aviation, the firm added.

Security

Jonathan Wolfson, CEO of Solazyme, said: “The military has recognized the national security imperative of creating alternative energy solutions, and this project reflects their leadership and vision in supporting new ways to power our Department of Defense.”

Those behind the project say using renewable fuel produced from algae would help the Department of Defense cut its carbon footprint and combat climate change, as well as boosting national security by reducing the military’s reliance on foreign oil.

Solazyme, which was founded in 2003, said its fuels would provide an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels.

Prior to delivery to the Navy, the fuel had already been tested by an independent laboratory to ensure it met all of the Navy’s requirements for renewable jet fuel.

The Navy has been trying out a variety of renewable energy technologies in its effort to wean itself off foreign oil supplies, including testing in a supersonic jet fighter (see this BrighterEnergy.org story).