Department of Energy Supports Seabed Battery Development for Drone Submarines
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is supporting the development of seabed batteries designed to power drone submarines and seafloor sensors. This initiative is part of a Defense Department program called DEPTHS, which stands for Distributed Energy Provided Throughout the Seas. The project is being led by Zeno Power, a startup based in Washington, D.C., and Seattle. The batteries utilize strontium-90, a radioactive isotope, to generate power without the need for cables or support ships. The DOE has partnered with Zeno Power to recycle a legacy radioisotope power system stored at Oak Ridge into fuel for these systems. The project aims to provide long-term power solutions for autonomous undersea vehicles, enhancing U.S. maritime capabilities.