Zeno Power
Nuclear-battery developer industrializing radioisotope power systems for lunar, space, and seabed missions at Vallecitos
The product
Zeno Power builds compact radioisotope power systems, or nuclear batteries, that convert heat from decaying strontium-90 or americium-241 into electricity or useful heat. Its roadmap includes thermoelectric radioisotope generators, radioisotope heater units, and Stirling-generator systems producing from roughly 1 watt to hundreds of watts for more than five years.
The thesis
Solar and chemical batteries are poorly suited to lunar night, permanently shadowed regions, deep space, and persistent seabed infrastructure. Zeno's systems are intended to provide years of unattended power while reusing legacy or recycled radioisotope materials.
How it runs
Integrated developer and manufacturer with engineering and testing in Seattle, nuclear-supply-chain and government work in Washington, D.C., and radiological assembly and manufacturing at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center in Sunol, California. It partners with government fuel custodians, nuclear-material processors, mission integrators, and launch providers.
How it earns
Milestone-based NASA and Defense Department development contracts, followed by planned sales of mission-specific nuclear batteries and heater units to government and commercial space or subsea customers. Public programs include a $15 million NASA Tipping Point award, a $7.5 million Navy contract, and a previously announced $30 million STRATFI effort; unit pricing and long-term production margins are undisclosed.
Why it wins
A patented high-specific-power heat-source design, access to scarce Sr-90 and Am-241 feedstocks, existing government anchor programs, demonstrated Sr-90 heat-source work at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and dedicated hot-cell production infrastructure at Vallecitos.
Evidence ledger
- website · 2026-09-04
Zeno Power identifies as a reindustrialization company.
https://www.zenopower.com - official · 2026-09-19
Confirms technology range, mission markets, delivery roadmap, Vallecitos facility, Harmonia review, Firefly integration, and key government and fuel partnerships.
https://www.zenopower.com/ - official · 2026-09-19
Describes the Sr-90 and Am-241 product architecture, thermoelectric and Stirling conversion, 1-to-hundreds-of-watts range, product families, and five-plus-year design life.
https://www.zenopower.com/tech - official · 2026-09-19
Provides the verified program timeline including the $30 million STRATFI, $15 million NASA Tipping Point award, 2023 Sr-90 heat-source demonstration, $50 million Series B, Vallecitos production site, and planned 2027 seabed deployment.
https://www.zenopower.com/about - official · 2026-09-19
Confirms heat-source fabrication partnership and states that the 2023 PNNL demonstration validated improved specific power versus historical Sr-90 heat sources.
https://www.zenopower.com/announcements/zeno-selects-westinghouse-to-fabricate-nuclear-battery-heat-sources - web · 2026-10-04
No newer company press item changing the current operating or product dossier
https://www.zenopower.com/in-the-news/press
Articles, news, and updates
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