Persistent, Geochemically-Driven Low-Temperature Power Systems for Subsea Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance

STTR · Phase: BOTH · Topic DON27TZ02-NV010 · Solicitation 27.TZ

The Department of the Navy’s expanding operational requirements in the Arctic domain demand persistent subsea situational awareness. Current seabed ISR nodes and Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) docking stations rely on conventional lithium-chemistry batteries. These legacy power sources present severe logistical and operational limitations: they suffer from rapid capacity degradation in extreme cold, possess highly toxic/hazardous chemistries, and require frequent, resource-intensive physical replacement (battery swapping) in highly contested or ice-covered environments. To achieve persistent, logistics-free ISR, the Navy has a critical need for an environmentally benign, deploy-and-forget power architecture. This STTR topic seeks the development of Seafloor Electrochemical Power Harvesters to generate continuous electrical current by exploiting the natural oxidation-reduction (redox) potential difference between the anoxic marine sediment (mud) and the oxygenated overlying seawater. The proposed approach must demonstrate a credible path to 5W power and 24-month endurance in sub-zero Arctic conditions through a ruggedized seabed electrochemical power-harvesting architecture that maximizes long-term energy extraction while using only indigenous sediment microbial communities and naturally occurring geochemical gradients. Proposed solutions may use abiotic or biologically mediated mechanisms via electrode design, power management, and optimum emplacement. Biocatalytic Prioritization & Environmental Strictures: While purely abiotic electrochemical approaches will be considered, approaches that leverage biologically-mediated processes (e.g., utilizing natural biocatalysis to enhance electron transfer at the anode) will be prioritized due to their potential for higher power density and self-renewing longevity. However, to prevent any risk of ecological disruption to fragile Arctic ecosystems, solutions must strictly rely on harnessing the naturally occurring, indigenous populations already present in the local sediment. The introduction, deployment, or seeding of any exogenous, synthetic, lab-grown, or non-native biological agents (microbes/bacteria) is strictly prohibited. By utilizing advanced electrode materials that naturally synergize with the local subsea environment, the system must reduce or avoid reliance on deployable primary batteries for the supported payload while ensuring operational viability in extreme cold and high-pressure conditions.

SBIR/STTR 은 미국 중소기업만 지원할 수 있습니다(Small Business Act 법정 요건). • 계열사를 포함해 상시 종업원 500명 이하 • 미국 시민 또는 영주권자 1인 이상이 50%를 초과해 직접 소유·지배 • 미국 내 사업장을 두고 주로 미국 내에서 사업을 영위할 것 • 수행책임자(PI)의 주된 근무처가 신청 기업일 것 출처: https://www.sbir.gov/faq/eligibility-requirements

Primary country

🇺🇸 United States

Also eligible

None

Foreign companies

No

Local entity

Required

Location condition

미국 내 사업장을 두고 미국 시민·영주권자가 50%를 초과해 소유한 중소기업만 신청할 수 있습니다(법정 요건).

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Official URL

https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/

Application URL

https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/

Last fetched

2026.11.06

Human review

Not reviewed — check the official announcement

First seen

2026.11.06

Data status

Auto-collected, not reviewed

AI enrichment

Needs verification