The Advanced Power and Energy for Undersea Applications program aims to develop component, subsystem and system technologies for advanced high-energy density and power density propulsion systems, and to enable increased endurance and reliability in an air-independent environment.
The program has an annual review of all current performers to cover current Navy science and technology (S&T) efforts in the areas of air-independent energy, propulsion technologies for unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) and undersea weapons. The review discusses S&T progress to date in these efforts and fosters discussion and future collaboration among the performers, while helping to formulate future S&T strategies.
Research Concentration Areas
Batteries (electrolytes, safety approaches, cathode and anode materials)
Electrochemical Models
Engines/motors for underwater applications
Fuel cells (proton exchange membrane, solid oxide and regenerative)
Fuels and oxidizers (generation, reformation, storage and delivery technologies and methods)
Hybrid systems
Refueling/recharging approaches
Semi-fuel cells (aluminum, magnesium, lithium)
Thermal power plants.
Research Challenges and Opportunities
Some examples of focus areas for research are listed below. This list is not all-encompassing. Please reach out to the program officer listed below for further information.
Anion exchange and bipolar membranes for electrochemical energy conversion
Electrochemical energy conversion in fuel cells for underwater propulsion
Next-generation hydrogen storage materials for UUVs
Operando optical studies for understanding combustion mechanisms in fuels for undersea weapons
Oxygen generation for use in UUVs.
How to Submit
For detailed application and submission information for this research topic, please refer to our broad agency announcement (BAA) No. N0001425SB001.
Contracts: All white papers and full proposals for contracts must be submitted through the ONR Submission Portal; instructions are included in the BAA.
Grants: All white papers for grants must be submitted through the ONR Submission Portal, and full proposals for grants must be submitted through grants.gov; instructions are included in the BAA.