Yes, energy is contributing to the trillions of dollars taxpayers pump annually into armies, navies, and air forces. NATO and other Allied nations have identified the problem and are striving towards developing alternative energy projects in hopes of minimizing consumption.
“All in all, in financial as well as security terms, our fuel dependency creates a ‘lose-lose’ situation,” claims Ambassador Gábor Iklódy, NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges. “The more one looks at this dilemma, the more one understands why Alexander the Great was so obsessed with logistics. He once said that if his campaign were to fail, the first people he would slay would be his logisticians.”
Our growing dependence on fossil fuels, unpredictable price points of raw goods, climate change, and threats from hackers make energy security a central concern.
The U.S Department of Defense spends roughly $20 billion a year on energy! $15 billion on fossil fuels, and another $5 billion on basic infrastructure, maintenance, and security. Aside from the cost, transporting large quantities of fuel risks the lives of our soldiers as well as our environment, should an accident, attack, or spill ever occur.
But what’s the alternative?
Commander Pasquale Tripodi, Head of the Propulsion Plants Office in Italy, claims some Allies are turning towards green energy tech, specifically biofuels “to reduce their dependency on fossil sources, mainly oil. The Italian Defense Forces, in particular the Navy, have decided to finance a project to certify the use of biofuel for the naval sector which is compatible with current equipment.”
The Italian Navy is currently testing biofuels comprised of algae, agricultural byproduct, and general waste. Their next-generation technology will be tested by powering a warship on nothing but biofuel later this year. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a uniform fuel for all armed forces.
Who will make the next big energy breakthrough?
In Canada, a project by the National Research Council is focusing on developing alternative fuel for the aviation sector. Back in October of 2012, they achieved the world’s very first flight powered 100% by biofuel. "[The] historic flight represents a breakthrough for the renewable fuels industry,” says Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Carter of the Canadian forces. “It symbolizes an important threshold, not just for aerospace, but also in the development of sustainable sources of renewable energy."
NRGLab has a strategic partnership with Viscoil Holdings (www.viscoil.com) on a project to recycle waste materials into eco-friendly diesel fuel. We’ve obtained an exclusive license from Viscoil to recycle raw materials across South East Asian. For example, in Malaysia, we’re currently recycling old engine oil into useable fuel. In Singapore, we’re able to recycle 2,000 tons of agricultural waste into 600-800 m3 of fuel every single day!
Our innovative gasification project processes rice husk, coal, natural gas, and agricultural byproduct into fuel at a lower operational cost than conventional gasification methods. This may very well be the solution for countries seeking clean, secure, and affordable sources of green-energy.
To learn more, visit nrglab.asia.com.
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