Power Source Comparison

Solar

• Solar cells
  • Proven
  • Low mass
  • Scalable
  • Low maintenance, but not maintainable
  • Degrade in high-radiation environments like the moon
  • Must be imported
  • Only works during the day

• Solar heat engines
  • High efficiency
  • Proven technology
  • High power output
  • Can be built in-situ
  • Only works during the day
  • Requires maintenance (amount unknown)

• Solar heat directly applied
  • Reliable
  • Simple
  • Can be easily built in-situ and in large quantities
  • Low mass
  • Energy not easily stored or transmitted
  • Only works during the day

• Orbital solar reflectors
  • High power output
  • Can provide light in the nightime
  • Untried, unknown
  • Difficult to build
  • High maintenance orbit
  • Reflectors become eclipsed

• Biosystems
  • Reliable in relatively simple cultures
  • Generates food & life support as well
  • Scalable
  • Take a while to get going
  • Relatively low efficiency
  • Much of the biomass must be imported
  • Only collect energy during the day
  • Complex systems: chaotic and unpredictable
  • Need to be heated and lit during the lunar night

  Nuclear

• Nuclear Fission
  • High power output
  • Reliable
  • High maintenance
  • Heavy
  • Logistical problems
  • Requires Fueling
  • Radioactive
  • Difficult to build
  • Hard to maintain
  • Some components must be imported

• Nuclear Fusion
  • Highest power output
  • Reliable
  • High maintenance
  • Heavy
  • Logistical problems
  • Requires fueling with moon-scarce elements
  • Slightly radioactive
  • Difficult to build
  • Requires (forseeable) technology advances
  • Some components must be imported

• Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTG)
  • Reliable
  • Long lifetime
  • Low maintenance
  • Heavy
  • Low efficiency
  • Logistical problems
  • Radioactive at Launch
  • Casing for launch is very expensive
  • Most components must be imported

  Batteries

• Regenerative Fuel cells
  • May be a necessary part of life support or refueling
  • Reliable
  • High power output
  • May be built in-situ
  • Requires charging
  • Needs maintenance
  • Needs something to electrolyze

• Batteries
  • Can be built in-situ in large quantities
  • Need charging
  • Need maintenance
  • Heavy

• Flywheels
  • Reliable
  • Low maintenance
  • High precision systems must be imported (2E=mv^2)
  • Needs charging