Developer of modular power plant technology Hyliion Holdings has secured a $41.7 million contract from the US Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop and deliver two multi-megawatt KARNO power modules for validation in land and maritime applications.
The contract, described by Hyliion as its largest military award to date, will see the company develop KARNO Power Modules rated at more than 2 MW and more than 3 MW. The systems will undergo validation at Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) in Philadelphia.
The new modules build on Hyliion’s existing 800 kW KARNO architecture and are intended to expand the technology’s potential use across a broader range of US Navy vessels and land-based missions.
According to Hyliion, the multi-megawatt systems retain the characteristics that have driven navy interest in the KARNO platform, including fuel flexibility, high electrical efficiency and a low-maintenance design suited to demanding operating environments.
The company said the technology could help reduce logistical demands, extend mission endurance and provide resilient power for maritime and expeditionary operations. The modules are also designed to maintain low acoustic and thermal signatures.
“This contract accelerates the development of our multi-megawatt KARNO systems and expands the range of naval platforms the technology can support,” stated Thomas Healy, Hyliion’s founder and CEO.
The award follows continued cooperation between Hyliion and ONR on the development of the KARNO technology and represents a step toward scaling the platform for defense applications.
Hyliion is also pursuing commercial applications for the modular power architecture, including distributed power generation for data centers. The company said the common KARNO architecture is intended to provide a scalable platform that can be adapted for both military and commercial requirements.