A cost estimation analysis of U.S. Navy fuel-saving techniques and technologies

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Defense and Navy are placing a greater emphasis in energy efficiency. Though the surface fleet comprises only a small percentage of petroleum usage, seemingly small efficiencies gained could yield substantial fuel savings. This thesis follows a process of researching and collecting fuel-saving ideas, developing a method to estimate savings, subjecting calculations to sensitivity analyses by discount factor and cost of fuel, and creating prioritization listings of ideas based on predicted savings. Six technique and twelve technology-based initiatives are examined. Calculations are estimated for each idea using inputs from various sources. Sensitivity analysis is performed on the independent variables of fuel price and discount factor and rankings are computed. The prioritized listing of techniques and technologies are stable when subjected to these sensitivity analyses. And as expected, greater savings are realized when the cost of fuel is higher and/or when the discount factor is lower. For several of the practices in this study, fuel savings are shown to be substantial and worthy for consideration despite any involved risk. These findings may be used by decision makers to pursue further testing and evaluation of practices and subsequently confidently implement throughout the surface fleet, knowing that savings will remain robust despite fluctuations in fuel prices.