The Feasibility of Ammonia Use Aboard a Warship in the US Navy
Abstract
The United States (US) Department of Defense (DoD) is the largest institutional user of energy in the world. Within the DoD the Department of the Navy consumes the most fuel. This is an expensive endeavor that costs the taxpayer over 9 billion dollars a year. Fossil fuels also carry externalities, from environmental, to social, and even strategic availability. Alternative fuels such as ammonia can in theory offer a path not only to decarbonize but also to have a more secure and potentially cheaper fuel for the future. Ammonia is already a leading alternative fuel in the shipping industry. This report explores the potential for ammonia to serve as fuel for a warship. The novelty of this work is multi faceted, and can be understood through the points below: 1. A geospatial analysis of ammonia production and transport infrastructure in comparison to US naval bases. 2. An application of an advanced fuel tank model for cryogenic fluids on board a warship. 3. An analysis of public sentiment on naval fuel use. 4. A defense specific techno-economic analysis for an ammonia fueled warship. The report also consolidates information on technology maturity, safety, environmental, and education concerns into one place in order to provide the most comprehensive analysis of ammonia as a defense fuel. The report concludes that limitations to ammonia adoption include: fuel location, range limitations, sunk capital costs, powertrain maturity, damage control challenges, and fuel cost uncertainty. Potential drivers of change include: diplomatic pressure from allied nations, political pressure from citizens to decarbonize the fleet, and a constant or increasing oil price. At this time, the use of ammonia onboard a warship is technically possible but strategically unlikely due to the absence of pressure to change.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 10, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1215448
Entities
People
- James J. Potticary
Organizations
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford