A 2018 Army study cited that U.S. and allied forces incurred 18,000 casualties due to refueling and resupply operations in Iraq and Afghanistan contingency zones. In 2009, the House Armed Services Committee declared that it costs U.S. taxpayers $400/gallon to get diesel fuel to the warfighter. As a result of the human and financial cost, Air Force Research Laboratorys Advanced Power Technology Office (APTO) created a program to create the 'Forward Operating Base of the Future.' This project supports the Air Force Civil Engineering Center's (AFCEC) 2035 vision to create a totally deployable, self-sustaining power system. Zeno is the solution the Air Force was looking for. Reliable, safe, and constant power that can fit in the palm of your hand. Or, electricity to power an austere Air Force installation or remote sensor for years in the size of 2 foot by 2 foot box. This is the future that Zeno Power is building via Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS). RPSs are a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9 technology that have been used extensively for power in deep space missions and in remote terrestrial areas. They operate by converting the heat from decaying radioisotopes into electricity. Each of these systems performed safely, reliably, and many have exceeded expectations. However, these past RPS have either been too expensive or too heavy for widespread applications. At Zeno, we are adapting and enhancing this proven technology for defense use by increasing the specific power and scalability of the system. Zeno's innovation is in its novel design that is specifically designed for our solution. Our unique design offers more power, in a smaller footprint, and with less detectable radiation signatures -- something that has not been accomplished before.
