{ "id": "RL33360", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "RL33360", "active": false, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 348955, "date": "2007-01-26", "retrieved": "2016-04-07T18:26:01.426029", "title": "Navy Ship Propulsion Technologies: Options\u00a0for Reducing Oil Use\u2014Background for Congress", "summary": "General strategies for reducing the Navy\u2019s dependence on oil for its ships include reducing energy use on Navy ships; shifting to alternative hydrocarbon fuels; shifting to more reliance on nuclear propulsion; and using sail and solar power.\nReducing energy use on Navy ships. A 2001 study concluded that fitting a Navy cruiser with more energy-efficient electrical equipment could reduce the ship\u2019s fuel use by 10% to 25%. The Navy has installed fuel-saving bulbous bows and stern flaps on many of its ships. Ship fuel use could be reduced by shifting to advanced turbine designs such as an intercooled recuperated (ICR) turbine. Shifting to integrated electric-drive propulsion can reduce a ship\u2019s fuel use by 10% to 25%; some Navy ships are to use integrated electric drive. Fuel cell technology, if successfully developed, could reduce Navy ship fuel use substantially.\nAlternative hydrocarbon fuels. Potential alternative hydrocarbon fuels for Navy ships include biodiesel and liquid hydrocarbon fuels made from coal using the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process. A 2005 Naval Research Advisory Committee (NRAC) study and a 2006 Air Force Scientific Advisory Board both discussed FT fuels.\nNuclear propulsion. Oil-fueled ship types that might be shifted to nuclear propulsion include large-deck amphibious assault ships and large surface combatants (i.e., cruisers and destroyers). A 2005 \u201cquick look\u201d analysis by the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program concluded that total life-cycle costs for nuclear-powered versions of these ships would equal those of oil-fueled versions when oil reaches about $70 and $178 per barrel, respectively.\nSail and solar propulsion. Kite-assisted propulsion might be an option for reducing fuel use on Navy auxiliaries and DOD sealift ships. Two firms are now offering kite-assist systems to commercial ship operators. Solar power might offer some potential for augmenting other forms of shipboard power, perhaps particularly on Navy auxiliaries and DOD sealift ships.\nFY2007 Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 5122/P.L. 109-364). Section 128 of P.L. 109-364 (conference report H.Rept. 109-702 of September 29, 2006) expresses the sense of the Congress that the Navy should make greater use of alternative technologies, including expanded application of integrated power systems, fuel cells, and nuclear power, for propulsion of future major surface combatant ships. The report directs the Navy to include integrated power systems, fuel cells, and nuclear power as propulsion alternatives to be evaluated within the analysis of alternatives for future major surface combatant ships. Section 360 makes it Department of Defense (DOD) policy to improve the fuel efficiency of weapons platforms, consistent with mission requirements, and requires a report on DOD progress in implementing the policy.\nThis report will be updated as events warrant.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL33360", "sha1": "de4cd1d5f4dc21eb2bcc304f693535b29ab599d6", "filename": "files/20070126_RL33360_de4cd1d5f4dc21eb2bcc304f693535b29ab599d6.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL33360", "sha1": "baec28455c9fb7ccbdc3def7605a46f28686ca90", "filename": "files/20070126_RL33360_baec28455c9fb7ccbdc3def7605a46f28686ca90.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc808450/", "id": "RL33360_2006Dec11", "date": "2006-12-11", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Navy Ship Propulsion Technologies: Options for Reducing Oil Use \u2014 Background for Congress", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20061211_RL33360_fc2a887704d4fd3fc84304b2a9cddf26ae543693.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20061211_RL33360_fc2a887704d4fd3fc84304b2a9cddf26ae543693.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs9419/", "id": "RL33360 2006-07-26", "date": "2006-07-26", "retrieved": "2006-12-05T11:31:42", "title": "Navy Ship Propulsion Technologies: Options for Reducing Oil Use - Background for Congress", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20060726_RL33360_23f840f49b34397d5ccf0c01fb0bae424fc5702a.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20060726_RL33360_23f840f49b34397d5ccf0c01fb0bae424fc5702a.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Transportation", "name": "Transportation" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Navy - U.S.", "name": "Navy - U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Alternative energy sources", "name": "Alternative energy sources" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy efficiency", "name": "Energy efficiency" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Naval science", "name": "Naval science" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Shipbuilding", "name": "Shipbuilding" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Marine engineering", "name": "Marine engineering" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy", "name": "Energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Defense policy", "name": "Defense policy" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc847585/", "id": "RL33360_2006Jun02", "date": "2006-06-02", "retrieved": "2016-06-02T05:26:07", "title": "Navy Ship Propulsion Technologies: Options for Reducing Oil Use -- Background for Congress", "summary": "This report provides background information on options for technologies that could reduce the Navy's dependence on oil for its ships, as well as four general strategies for reducing the Navy's dependence on oil for its ships: reducing energy use on Navy ships; alternative hydrocarbon fuels; nuclear propulsion; and sail and solar power.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20060602_RL33360_42f2f4e0bf9eb7cc871c4c4e6b1141593dba54a7.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20060602_RL33360_42f2f4e0bf9eb7cc871c4c4e6b1141593dba54a7.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Transportation", "name": "Transportation" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Navy -- U.S.", "name": "Navy -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Alternative energy sources", "name": "Alternative energy sources" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy efficiency", "name": "Energy efficiency" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Naval science", "name": "Naval science" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Shipbuilding", "name": "Shipbuilding" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Marine engineering", "name": "Marine engineering" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy", "name": "Energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Defense policy", "name": "Defense policy" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs10854/", "id": "RL33360 2006-04-12", "date": "2006-04-12", "retrieved": "2006-08-21T16:45:16", "title": "Navy Ship Propulsion Technologies: Options for Reducing Oil Use - Background for Congress", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20060412_RL33360_1db9207181fb1679191864f3d3945c68239b75db.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20060412_RL33360_1db9207181fb1679191864f3d3945c68239b75db.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Weapons systems", "name": "Weapons systems" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Alternative energy sources", "name": "Alternative energy sources" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Alternative fuels", "name": "Alternative fuels" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Hydrocarbons", "name": "Hydrocarbons" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Fuel consumption", "name": "Fuel consumption" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Naval research", "name": "Naval research" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Navy - U.S.", "name": "Navy - U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Warships", "name": "Warships" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Nuclear propulsion", "name": "Nuclear propulsion" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy", "name": "Energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Science policy", "name": "Science policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Defense policy", "name": "Defense policy" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Energy Policy", "Environmental Policy", "Intelligence and National Security", "National Defense" ] }