Space-Based Geothermal: Lunar and Martian Thermal Energy Systems By: Robert Buluma Space-based geothermal is one of the most compelling ideas in the future of space exploration. It does not mean building a traditional Earth-style geothermal plant on the Moon or Mars. Instead, it refers to using subsurface materials, thermal storage, and planetary heat-management systems to keep off-world bases alive, warm, and operational in extreme environments . On the Moon, the problem is surviving the long lunar night. On Mars, the problem is keeping habitats and equipment warm enough to function in a constant deep-cold environment . The topic sounds futuristic, but the engineering logic is real. NASA and other researchers have already studied lunar regolith as a thermal storage medium, and recent research continues to frame thermal energy architecture as a major part of sustainable lunar habitation [5][2]. For Mars, habitat studies emphasize thermal management as a core requirement, not a side det...
PGE’s Lumut Balai Unit 2: The 55 MW Geothermal Breakthrough Powering Indonesia’s Clean Energy Future
PGE’s Lumut Balai Unit 2: A 55 MW Geothermal Triumph Rewriting Indonesia’s Clean Energy Future By: Robert Buluma Indonesia has once again staked its claim as a global geothermal heavyweight. With the successful operationalization of the Lumut Balai Unit 2 Geothermal Power Plant, PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk (PGE) has delivered a strategic blow in the global race toward clean baseload energy. More than just a 55 MW addition to the country’s energy mix, this project marks a bold step in Indonesia’s ambition to expand its geothermal capacity to 1 gigawatt within the next few years. In a world grappling with climate volatility, unstable energy prices, and growing demand for reliable renewable power, this achievement resonates far beyond Indonesia’s borders. It signals a shift — a declaration that geothermal energy is rapidly maturing, scaling, and proving itself as the backbone of modern clean-energy systems. A Milestone Project in a Region Rich With Geothermal Potential Lumut ...