Page 44: of Marine Technology Magazine (January 2026)

TECH FEATURE LITHIUM BATTERIES

POWERING THE

DEEPEST FRONTIERS:

CHOOSING LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR EXTREME SUBSEA VEHICLES

By William Kohnen, President and CEO, HYDROSPACE Group Inc.

s human and robotic exploration moves deeper into the ocean than ever before, the performance expectations placed on subsea vehicles continue to rise. At full-ocean depth, every system must

Aoperate ? awlessly under crushing pressures, near-freezing temperatures, and total isolation. At the center of this challenge lies one of the most mission-critical tech- nologies of all: energy storage.

Lithium batteries have become the undisputed champions of high-energy applications, delivering unmatched energy den- sity in compact, lightweight packages. For subsea vehicles, this

Twin set of 6000m translates directly into longer dives, greater payload capacity, and

DNV certi? ed expanded operational reach. But in the deep ocean, not all lithi-

Submersible Power um batteries are created equal. What truly separates a deep-sea- banks, 50 Kwhr @ 148 ready power system from a conventional battery is not just how

VDC 30 Kwhr @ 266V.

All images courtesy Ictineu Submarins SL much energy it stores, but how safely, reliably, and powerfully it delivers that energy in the most extreme environment on Earth. ture sensing, and intelligent fault protection.

Solid-state relays provide rapid, arc-free disconnection in abnormal conditions, including high-voltage con? gurations.

Beyond Energy Density:

Internal ? re-propagation barriers, water-detection systems,

Power Where It Matters

Deep-sea vehicles are power-hungry machines. High-thrust controlled exhaust pathways, and pressure-tolerant construc- propulsion, powerful lighting arrays, hydraulic systems, ma- tion further elevate safety margins. These designs are vali- nipulators, sensors, and life-support equipment demand more dated through environmental testing and are certi? ed to DNV than endurance alone — they demand sustained high current. rules for Electrical Energy Storage Systems, a critical bench-

Many high-energy lithium batteries are limited to modest dis- mark for deep-sea and manned operations.

charge rates, requiring complex parallel architectures to meet

Proven at Full Ocean Depth vehicle power needs.

ICTINEU Submarins S.L. has engineered its lithium battery Leadership in the deep-sea industry is de? ned not by speci- systems to deliver both high energy and high power. With contin- ? cations, but by performance in the ? eld. ICTINEU batteries uous current capabilities in the 80 to 120 amp range, ICTINEU have been selected to power some of the most advanced sub- batteries are purpose-built to support the heavy electrical loads of sea vehicles ever built, including platforms that have reached manned submersibles and large deep-ocean platforms. The result the deepest point on the planet — the Mariana Trench. They is fewer battery modules, cleaner system integration, and vehicles are also deployed across next-generation 6,000-meter-class that can operate with con? dence under peak power conditions. submersibles and deep-ocean systems where endurance, reli- ability, and safety are mission-critical.

Founded in 2007 in Barcelona, ICTINEU Submarins devel-

Safety Designed In, Not Added On

In manned submersibles, safety is not a feature, but the foun- oped its battery technologies alongside its own manned sub- dation. ICTINEU’s battery systems are developed speci? cally mersibles, re? ning them through ? ve generations of evolution. for deep-ocean operation, where thermal events, water ingress, Each generation has advanced compactness, safety architec- or electrical faults are simply unacceptable. Every system in- ture, certi? cation readiness, and manufacturing quality, result- corporates a comprehensive, embedded Battery Management ing in a family of scalable, pressure-tolerant lithium battery

System with individual cell monitoring, redundant tempera- systems purpose-built for deep-sea exploration.

44 January/February 2026

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