Could there ever be a petroleum-free military?

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Could there ever be a petroleum-free military?

• Rosemarie Szostak, Ph.D.
• Program Manager
• DARPA/DSO

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OUTLINE
1. How much fuel does the military use? 2. The
motivation for alternatives 3. Military
specific challenges 4. What are the real
alternatives?
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The road to Talil
According to the Defense Logistics Agency DoD
uses 10-11 million barrels of fuel each month to
sustain operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other
hot spots Transportation is the greatest use
Air Force is largest user, 60 going to aircraft.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Fuel comprises 70 of Army tonnage shipped
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Energy RequirementsOperations vs. Installations
Motivations for seeking alternative energy
solutions
Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) handles all
bulk fuel purchase for DoD

• Supply of cheap oil is decreasing
• Military spending up 165 on bulk fuel between
  FY03 and FY05
• SECDEF mandate to explore alternative fuels

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CHALLENGESOperations and Installations
DoDD4140.43
Old battleships never die
2001 DSB report looked at logistics
Bulk JP-8 1.50/gal In Baghdad 16/gal On
Afghan hillside 400/gal!
Thats how we end up with
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Fuel Inefficient TOP 10
Only things that shoot
4. Equipment truck
8. HMMV
2001 DSB report
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Todays alternative fuels in the battlefieldWhy
not?
One fuel rule (JP-8)
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The future military needs alternative strategies
in addition to alternative fuels
NOW
Increase efficiency Reduce use
Track real energy costs Need to change the cost
model to reflect life-cycle, energy and logistics
costs
FUTURE
Look for revolutionary military strategies such
as moving information over materiel (doing more
with less)
ALSO
Develop energy sources based on renewables
DARPA PROGRAMS
Solar cells for electricity generation
(requirementscheap, 50 efficient) (DARPA very
high efficient solar cell program)
Convert waste to electricity We generate waste,
lets use it. Requirement90 efficient
conversion to fuel (DARPA MISER program)
Fuel substitutes with identical properties to
JP-8 and made from biomass (DARPA biofuels
program)
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Parting words
Installations (civilian solutions)
Operationswar fighting (JP-8 more use of
solar/electric, fuel flexible, increased
efficiency)
Fuel prices will continue to climb. Need for
alternative energy and alternative strategies
have never been stronger. The answers, however,
will not be found in the back of a textbook.
Military operations will always require energy
but reliance on petroleum as the energy source
can be changed.
ITS ALL ABOUT REVOLUTIONARY IDEAS