Italy Begins Development of Reactors to Power Settlements on the Moon

Italy’s National Space Agency (ASI Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) has kicked off its Selene project, which aims to develop small nuclear fission reactors to power settlements on the Moon.

In 2023, the Selene project was among the winners of an ASI funding call aimed at developing alternative energy solutions for the Moon that overcome the limitations of traditional technologies. The Selene project is led by the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) with contributions from the Department of Energy at the Polytechnic University of Milan and Thales Alenia Space Italia. Four research centers of ENEA will participate in the project: Frascati, Casaccia, Bologna and Brasimone.

The project focuses on developing the Moon Energy Hub, which would provide a stable energy source for future lunar settlements using small nuclear fission reactors called Surface Nuclear Reactors (SNRs). The project is intended for three years to develop advanced technologies such as sensors, automation and wireless power transmission. Also, experimental tests will substantiate one of the most complex technologies for SNR that is heat recovery to check system performance and enhance technological maturity.

The key aspect of the project is to respond to the changes in power demand and interruptions. The project will also explore energy storage systems to ensure the flexibility of the systems. The Moon Energy Hub will also be equipped with a steerable energy transmission system to support activities far from the main power source and a mobile reception system for low-energy operations.

Reference to the Nuclear Engineering International