Honda’s Regenerative Fuel Cells Could Become an Uninterrupted Power Source for Lunar Bases

Metaverse Planet October 2, 2025Last Updated: November 3, 2025

2 minutes read

The solution to power outages during the Moon’s 14-day-long, freezing nights may lie in Honda’s regenerative fuel cells. Honda will collaborate with Astrobotic for this lunar project.

With both NASA and the Chinese space agency preparing for crewed missions to the Moon, significant steps are being taken toward establishing permanent lunar bases. However, many challenges still need to be resolved before these grand plans can be realized. One of the most pressing is the Moon’s approximately 14-day-long nights. During these extended periods of darkness, temperatures can plummet to as low as −253∘C (−423∘F), rendering solar panels inoperable. Therefore, providing uninterrupted energy on the Moon is a critical requirement for any permanent base.

The technology that could address this challenge may be hidden within Honda’s regenerative fuel cells. Seeking ways to adapt this technology for space programs, Honda is entering into a collaboration with the US-based company Astrobotic Technology. The two companies aim to integrate Honda’s regenerative fuel cell technology with the power infrastructure Astrobotic is developing for the lunar surface, thereby creating an energy source that can endure the Moon’s long nights.

Honda and Astrobotic to Develop a New Energy System for the Lunar Surface

Honda’s developed regenerative fuel cell system is fundamentally based on a two-stage cycle. During daylight hours, electricity generated from solar panels is directed to an electrolyzer, where pure water is split into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is stored in high-pressure tanks or alternative storage methods, while the oxygen can also be stored as needed. Once night falls, these two gases are recombined in the fuel cell to generate electricity. The resulting byproduct, water, is purified and fed back into the system. This closed-loop cycle creates an energy model capable of continuous operation.

However, for the system to be viable in lunar conditions, it must be made vacuum-sealed, resistant to extreme temperature variations, and protected against lunar dust. Furthermore, the volume and mass issues created by the need to store hundreds of kilograms of hydrogen must also be resolved. The newly established partnership with Astrobotic Technology will pave the way for adapting this technology to lunar conditions.

These fuel cells will be used in conjunction with Astrobotic’s Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT). This sun-tracking system currently generates 10 kilowatts of power, but the company is also working on a larger version that will reach 50 kilowatts of capacity. Honda’s technology will make the energy stored during the day available throughout the lunar night, ensuring a continuous flow of power.

The system’s most significant advantage will be the elimination of the need for external resupply. This will ensure energy security for long-duration missions, enabling bases to operate not just for days, but for months, or even years. Bobby Rolley, Astrobotic’s Lunar Power Systems Architect, described the partnership as a “revolutionary step that will enable sustainability in the harsh lunar environment.”

The partnership will first involve a comprehensive feasibility analysis, focusing on three main areas: simulating one-year sunlight profiles at potential deployment sites on the Moon’s South Pole; assessing how the fuel cell can be scaled for different mission sizes; and testing the integration of Honda’s cells with Astrobotic’s hardware and software infrastructure.

If the system works as expected, it will be able to power life support units, scientific instruments, communication infrastructure, and robotic systems without experiencing power cuts throughout the Moon’s long nights. Since Honda’s Space Development Division, established in 2024, is already working with NASA, Honda’s fuel cell technology will also be used in NASA’s projects if it proves successful.