Navy energy official visits Clemson to discuss biofuels

Published: October 5, 2012

CLEMSON — The U.S. Navy is working to launch its Great Green Fleet of ships and jets powered primarily by alternative fuel sources, and it’s going to need lots of biofuels — approximately 336 million gallons by 2020 — according to Chris Tindal, the Navy’s deputy assistant secretary for energy.

Tindal discussed the Navy’s alternative energy efforts during a visit to Clemson University, which included a special presentation for the S.C. Clean Energy Business Alliance and the S.C. Biomass Council Friday. Several Clemson faculty and students, as well as representatives from South Carolina State University, also attended the presentation.

Testing on the Great Green Fleet is currently under way, and Tindal reported that the Navy is looking for more sources of biofuels in the U.S. to power the fleet, which is set to launch in 2016. A partnership between the Navy, the Department of Energy and the USDA is going to provide funding to boost the biofuels industry in the U.S.; Tindal would like to see South Carolina farmers and businesses get involved with the initiative.

“You can grow biomass and biofuels feedstocks here in South Carolina that can help,” Tindal said.

The goal is to grow businesses that can produce biofuels that are cost-competitive with fossil fuels so that the Navy and other military units will be more energy independent. This energy independence will not only be more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable, Tindal said, but it will also provide greater security for military troops who will no longer have to travel in convoys across hostile territory to deliver fuel.

“Fuel convoys are vulnerable,” said Tindal. “One out of 50 Marine Corps fuel convoys are attacked. Renewable energy on the front lines means you don’t have to get fuel to the front lines. Not only our are energy efforts saving the environment, they are also saving lives.”

Tindal said that faculty and students at research universities like Clemson can play a large role in growing the biofuels industry.

“Whatever you can do in research and development, testing and evaluating biofuels will be important,” he said. “We want to commercialize these processes, but you have to start with research before you can get to the commercial scale.”

Tindal said today’s college students are key to making the biofuels industry sustainable as an industry that will continue and grow for future generations.

“There’s only so much oil in the ground, so we’re trying to build a sustainable industry,” he sad. “At some point, my colleagues and I will retire, and someone has to come in and take our place. I want to encourage students to continue along in this process of learning about biofuels so they can take over in the future. That’s what will make it truly sustainable.”  

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