Underwater Nuclear Stations Set to Power Ocean Drones for Decades
Oak Ridge, Monday, 10 August 2026.
The U.S. is deploying seabed nuclear batteries capable of powering underwater defense drones for 28.8 years continuously, fundamentally transforming oceanic surveillance without needing surface support ships.
Deployment of Seabed Nuclear Power Infrastructure
The United States Department of Energy and defense partners are actively deploying ultra-long-duration seabed power stations capable of continuously charging autonomous underwater drone submarines for up to 28.8 years without external support ships or cables [1]. Utilizing radioisotope generators repurposed from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, this technology represents a significant leap forward in oceanic intelligence, surveillance, and undersea defense infrastructure [1]. The initiative moves beyond theoretical intent into implemented policy, with physical development transitioning from theoretical stages to industrial capacity as of mid-2026 [1].
Deployment of Seabed Nuclear Power Infrastructure
This deployment is part of the Department of Defense program known as DEPTHS, or Distributed Energy Provided Throughout the Seas, which aims to deploy strontium-90-based radioisotope power generators on the ocean floor [1]. In October 2023, Zeno Power, based in Washington, D.C., and Seattle, was awarded a $7.5 million contract for the project, funded by the DoD’s Operational Energy Innovation office and the Office of Naval Research [1]. This contract award signifies a concrete commitment by federal agencies to secure decentralized energy for underwater sensors and autonomous vehicle charging stations [1].
Strategic Partnerships and Funding Allocations
Project partners include major industry players such as Blue Origin, Sunpower, PowerLight Technologies, and the University of Dayton Research Institute, all collaborating on Stirling converter technology [1]. Zeno’s total funding exceeds $130 million, comprising $70 million in private capital and $60 million in contracts with the Pentagon and NASA, calculated as 130 million [1]. This financial backing underscores the high priority placed on maintaining U.S. leadership in maritime power access, as noted by Admiral John M. Richardson, retired former Chief of Naval Operations and Zeno board member [1].
Strategic Partnerships and Funding Allocations
On June 18, 2026, Zeno Power announced a lease with NorthStar to restore and operate a hot cell complex at the 1,600-acre Vallecitos Nuclear Center in Sunol, California, to industrialize nuclear battery production [1]. In SI standards, the 1,600-acre site equates to approximately 647.498 hectares, providing significant space for operations [1]. In March 2025, NorthStar completed a deal to decommission the Vallecitos site and will continue operations there while Zeno manages the hot cell facility, ensuring a streamlined transition for nuclear material handling [1].
Historical Context and Technical Specifications
A historical precedent for this technology occurred on December 15, 1961, when the Atomic Energy Commission installed a strontium-90 thermoelectric generator containing 40,800 curies in a U.S. Coast Guard light buoy in Baltimore, Maryland, to power a 5-watt electrical system [1]. The U.S. previously utilized strontium-90 thermoelectric generators in 1961, including a 10-watt generator installed in a Baltimore light buoy on December 15, 1961, containing 40,800 curies of strontium-90 titanate [1]. This historical data provides a foundational benchmark for the current 28.8-year duration targets set by modern iterations of the technology [1].
Historical Context and Technical Specifications
In January 2024, Zeno Power partnered with the DOE’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management to recycle legacy BUP-500 radioisotope power systems into fuel for its first ten-plus units [1]. While the technology is advanced, Zeno founder and CEO Tyler Bernstein noted that the specific application is right now at a lower technology readiness level compared to established power systems [1]. This indicates that while the policy is implemented, technical hurdles remain before full operational capability is achieved [1].
Implementation Timeline and Future Deliverables
Zeno Power targets first deliveries of its Stirling engine-based systems in 2027, with volume production expected to follow in 2028 [1]. As of August 9, 2026, Zeno has not announced the tank-based demonstration of a full-scale nuclear battery originally slated for 2026, having only demonstrated its heat source and electrically heated power systems [1]. This pending demonstration highlights the distinction between contracted policy and fully realized technical deployment in the current fiscal year [1].
Implementation Timeline and Future Deliverables
Concurrently, on July 3, 2026, it was reported that DARPA’s Rads to Watts program awarded $3.37 million to a team led by Morgan State University, with Project Omega, Northrop Grumman, and ARA, to develop a generator that converts radiation directly into electricity [1]. A prototype semiconductor from this parallel effort is scheduled for delivery to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in early 2027 [1]. These coordinated efforts across multiple agencies and contractors illustrate a broader strategic intent to secure long-term undersea power autonomy for defense applications [1].