Fincantieri subsidiary Power4Future has completed final operational testing of its lithium-ion battery system intended for the Italian Navy’s U212 Near Future Submarines.
The battery’s key parameters were monitored during the test at the Piedimonte San Germano facility, including voltage, current, and temperature during both charge and discharge phases.
It evaluated the battery system for safety, technology, performance, and adaptability to demanding operational conditions.
Operational Testing
“The [lithium-ion battery system] underwent rigorous technical evaluations to validate its capabilities, with the Single String Converter (SSC) directly linked with the modules string,” the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation stated in a press release.
The test assessed how the SSC complex and string performed during an operational mission, focusing on varying electrical loads during battery use and recharging, all the way to maximum allowed levels.
Additionally, the activity evaluated the functional performance of individual components and the reliability of the battery monitoring system.
Lithium-Ion Battery System
The lithium-ion battery system is intended to replace traditional lead-acid batteries, offering enhanced performance, safety, and sustainability.
Apart from the Near Future Submarines (NFS), it also offers a technology leap for energy storage solutions during the mid-life updates of the Italian Navy’s fleet of four U212A-class submarines.
Near Future Submarines
Four U212 NFS and two NFS Evos are planned to replace the 4 Sauro-class submarines, commissioned in 1979.
The NFS fleet is expected to be ready by 2036, with the initial three NFS likely commissioned in 2027, 2029, and 2032.
The vessels are expected to be 59 meters (193 feet) long and accommodate a crew of over 20.
They will be equipped with advanced combat, command, and control systems, long-range cruise missiles, and torpedoes.
Along with the Sauro-class, the NFS will perform a range of missions, including supporting freedom of navigation, anti-piracy, safeguarding maritime infrastructure, combatting terrorism, and joint multinational operations.
