Mikhail Kovalchuk: Russia will be the first to deploy a power unit on the Moon

Russia will become the first country to deploy a power unit on the Moon. A direct energy conversion power plant has already been designed for this purpose — essentially a nuclear battery capable of operating autonomously for 40 years. The announcement was made by the President of the National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Mikhail Kovalchuk, during the Znanie.Science educational marathon at the National Centre RUSSIA. His lecture focused on the development of nuclear energy, including its use in space.

Mikhail Kovalchuk highlighted the large-scale task set for Russia’s energy sector as part of the national project "Space" — including plans to install a Russian power plant on the Moon.

"For this purpose, a direct energy conversion power plant has been developed. Based on it, the low-power station ‘Yelena-AM’ was created — essentially a nuclear battery capable of working autonomously for 40 years. Its use is of particular importance for the development of the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic regions located in the permafrost zone. Such stations make it possible to deliver energy to the most remote and inaccessible areas," said Mikhail Kovalchuk, outlining the prospects.

According to the scientist, the next step will be the creation of energy-independent bio-eco settlements, which could serve as a foundation for developing Russia’s remote territories.

"As for the lunar power plant — we will certainly do it, and we will be the first ones at that, because the necessary groundwork already exists. Back in 1964, the Kurchatov Institute was the first in the world to create a prototype space power unit that converted the thermal energy of a nuclear reactor directly into electricity. The device, called the Romashka reactor-converter, operated for 15,000 hours and generated 6,000 kWh of electricity. Later, our country — the only one in the world — developed and launched the flight models of the Buk and Topaz nuclear power systems, which also worked successfully in space," said the head of the Kurchatov Institute.

Mikhail Kovalchuk recalled that Russian scientists were pioneers not only in astronautics but also in key areas such as global precision navigation and space power engineering. A pivotal moment for many of these fields was the 1958 meeting of three great scientists — Igor Kurchatov, Mstislav Keldysh, and Sergei Korolev. Around the same time, the Kurchatov Institute published a report on the feasibility of creating a long-range supersonic missile aircraft with a nuclear ramjet engine — the starting point for the development of intercontinental missiles.

"Our current achievements, including the Burevestnik missile system mentioned by the President, rest on the solid foundation laid 70 years ago. And if you want future generations to remember you with the same gratitude with which we honour our predecessors, you must actively pursue fundamental research today," said Mikhail Kovalchuk.

The Znanie.Science marathon takes place in Moscow on 30–31 October 2025 at the National Centre RUSSIA. The event brings together over 5,000 schoolchildren, students and young scientists from 82 regions of Russia and Abkhazia. The marathon is organised by the Russian society Znanie and the Moscow Polytechnic University with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. The event is held as part of the Decade of Science and Technology.