The US Navy flew the world’s first military jet flight using 100-percent renewable jet fuel on September 1, 2016 at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland. An EA-18G Growler, powered by ReadiJet® (CHCJ5), 100% renewable jet fuel produced by Applied Research Associates (ARA), completed the historic flight, as a part of the Navy’s military specification (MILSPEC) certification for the fuel’s operational use. The flight was the first of nine test flights that were flown with the fuel in September and follows the successful MILSPEC certification testing of ARA’s 100% ReadiDiesel® (CHCD-76) in the Navy’s Self Defense Test Ship in May.
“Initial results from the test flight showed that our CHCJ-5 performed just like petroleum JP-5. That is exactly what we expected because the chemical composition, physical properties, and energy content of our fuel are nearly identical to its petroleum counterpart,” said Ed Coppola, ARA’s Lead Engineer.
The Department of the Navy has pursued the introduction of drop-in renewable jet fuel to its operational supply as a means to increase operational flexibility and energy security. Alternatives to traditional petroleum can equip mission planners and commanders with more options, as well make the service’s supply lines more secure.
“We are excited to work with the U.S. Navy as it takes this important step toward the use of 100% drop-in renewable jet and diesel fuels in its aircraft and ships,” said Chuck Red, Vice President of Fuels Development for ARA. “Our renewable fuels continue to prove their viability as 100% replacements for petroleum in diesel and jet fuel applications, and we look forward to the opportunity to work with our Navy partners to support their operational needs. ARA’s goal is to provide an alternative renewable fuel that can be produced at prices competitive with petroleum. We are quickly closing in on that goal.”
ReadiJet® reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent compared to petroleum, but that is just one of the positive impacts of ReadiJet®. Our process can convert a wide variety of low-cost, contaminated waste feedstocks such as yellow grease from rendering facilities, used cooking oil, and brown grease recovered from grease traps into renewable ReadiJet® and ReadiDiesel®. Since these fuels are completely compatible with petroleum jet and diesel fuels and can be used in jet and diesel engines without blending, they do not have to be segregated from their petroleum counterparts. Once produced, existing petroleum infrastructure can be used without the need for costly new infrastructure for blending, transportation, and storage.
ARA and Chevron Lummus Global (CLG) developed the process for producing the fuels used in the flights based on ARA’s patented Catalytic Hydrothermolysis (CH) process and CLG’s market-leading hydroprocessing technology. ARA and Chevron Lummus Global are currently engineering the first commercial-scale Biofuels ISOCONVERSION facility. The 5,000 barrel-per-day facility will produce
renewable diesel, jet fuel, and naphtha from ultra-low carbon intensity waste oil feedstocks.
“We are continuing to take important, deliberate steps toward our goal of commercial scale production of 100 percent drop-in diesel and jet fuel from waste oils at prices competitive with their petroleum counterparts. ARA invested in the research and development of our renewable fuels starting in 2006. We did it because we recognized the value of this world-changing technology, and on September 1st, we made history,” stated Glen McDonald, ARA Senior Vice President.
