In a technological breakthrough that could threaten US national security, a Chinese company has begun mass producing tiny nuclear batteries that can last for decades.
The BV100 battery, created by BetaVolt, is smaller than a coin, but is capable of powering a device for up to 50 years, the company claims.
That’s because it gets its power from a radioactive isotope called Nickel-63, which releases energy as it slowly decays.
Nuclear batteries have been around since the 1950s, and are used to power pacemakers, space technologies, sensors and monitoring equipment, and more.
But this is the first time one has ever been mass produced. In its current state, it only delivers 100 microwatts of power — suitable for running low-power technologies like medical devices and sensors.
BetaVolt plans to roll out a one-watt version sometime this year, which could power future weapons of mass destruction like war drones that never need to land and recharge.
But this is the first time one has ever been mass produced. In its current state, it only delivers 100 microwatts of power — suitable for running low-power technologies like medical devices and sensors.
BetaVolt plans to roll out a one-watt version sometime this year, which could power future weapons of mass destruction like war drones that never need to land and recharge.
For example, the Chinese military could use these extremely long-lasting batteries to power surveillance or combat drones that can fly ceaselessly, provide continuous power to military satellites or run cyber-warfare tools.
Any one of these advancements would significantly enhance the country’s military capabilities.
What’s more, China’s leadership in nuclear battery technology could give it a leg up in the new space race, potentially helping it gain control of the moon before the US.
NASA is currently racing against China, Russia and several other nations to land astronauts on the moon and establish a lunar base for research, resource extraction and future military strategic operations.
The US is the current front runner, with NASA making strides towards its goal to put Americans back on the lunar surface by 2027.
But China isn’t far behind, and if it gets there first, it wouldn’t just be a blow to NASA’s reputation as the world’s leading space agency.
It could also pose a threat to US national security, as cislunar space (the region between Earth and the moon) is now viewed as ‘the ultimate high ground.’
Lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have argued that ceding control of cislunar space to China could shift the balance of geopolitical power.
For one thing, lunar dominance would allow China to track and interfere with US satellites (and therefore our communication and GPS systems) more easily — a major advantage over the US if conflict broke out.
Some believe China could go as far as to militarize the moon, establishing bases on the surface for surveillance and potential weaponry.
Last April, then-NASA Administrator Bill Nelson told US legislators: ‘We believe that a lot of [China’s] so-called civilian space program is a military program.’
This issue came up repeatedly during NASA Administrator nominee Jared Isaacman’s Senate confirmation hearing earlier this month, during which he warned that the US ‘can’t be second’ in getting to the moon.
The BV100 battery’s energy-generating capacity will have to be scaled up before it can be used to power lunar base infrastructure or high-power spaceflight technologies.
But China could eventually harness its longevity to continuously power technology on the moon and in space, make landers and rovers more autonomous, simplify lunar base design and more.
As the battery’s power source (Nickel-63) decays over time, it continuously releases energy in the form of beta particles (a type of radiation).
It takes 100 years for half of the Nickel-63 atoms to be depleted, which is why this battery can last for roughly 50 years before the power source becomes insufficient to power a device.
The energy density of nuclear batteries is 10 times greater than that of conventional lithium batteries, according to BetaVolt. But due to the volatility of its radioactive power source, it can be difficult to harness the their full energy potential.
This means that scaling the BV100 battery up from its current 100-microwatt configuration could prove challenging.
But with its site set on bringing a one-watt BV100 to market sometime this year, it’s clear that China is currently leading the charge towards a future where nuclear batteries power everything from smartphones to electric vehicles and more.
That wasn’t always the case. The US actually created the world’s first nuclear battery in the 1950s, and paved the way for this technology over the past 70 years.
In the 21st century, however, China’s progress on this front has surpassed the US, and that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.