Piedimonte San Germano, December 19, 2024, the final operational test of the Lithium Battery System (LBS) for the U212 NFS Programme took place at POWER4FUTURE Spa’s premises, marking a major milestone in submarine propulsion technology.
The event was attended by notable figures, including Mr. Joachim Sucker, OCCAR-EA Director, Vice Admiral (ret.) Matteo Bisceglia, Stategic Senior Advisor to Fincantieri’s CEO, Rear Admiral Luigi Schinelli, Head of 1st Department of Italian Naval Armament Directorate, and represents the Italian Navy’s commitment to advancing its underwater capabilities.
This milestone is the result of a decade-long collaboration between , NAVARM, FINCANTIERI, through the consortium Power4Future-FAAM – Cetena, aimed at replacing traditional lead-acid batteries with state-of-the-art lithium-ion technology. With its unrivaled capabilities, the LBS now stands among the top battery solutions in Europe and worldwide. Additionally, this cutting-edge technology represents the natural evolutionary step for energy storage solutions in the U212A class Mid-Life Update, being deeply embedded in their operational genome. The final test offered a comprehensive evaluation of the LBS, focusing on its safety, technology, performance, and adaptability to demanding and extremely challenging operational conditions.
The LBS underwent rigorous technical evaluations to validate its capabilities, with the Single String Converter (SSC) directly linked with the modules string. The test allowed the verification of the behavior of the SSC complex and the string during an operational mission by varying electrical loads, both during the battery usage phases and recharging, up to the maximum permitted levels. The entire activity, in addition to assessing the functional capabilities of the constituent components, also evaluated the effectiveness of the battery monitoring system.
The U212 NFS (Near Future Submarine) Programme is the most ambitious and innovative Submarine project undertaken by Italy.
The U212 NFS Programme covers the development, production and In Service Support for 4 submarines (3 plus 1 as option) new technology developments, 10-year in-service support as well as a new Training Centre. The contract will also include future technologies potentially including a new Fuel Cell system.
Follow us on our Telegram channel