The 350‐h‐long lunar night and the Moon's extreme surface environment pose critical challenges for energy systems at lunar bases, demanding highly reliable power supplies capable of continuous operation. This review systematically examines in situ resource utilization of lunar resources (ISRU) energy systems that employ lunar regolith as the primary thermal storage medium and clarifies their unique advantages and limitations. Using experimental and modeling data, we identify the thermophysical constraints of raw regolith and summarize performance enhancements achievable through compaction, sintering, and dopant modification. We then establish a comparative framework for assessing power‐generation and storage technologies using metrics such as power‐to‐weight ratio, efficiency, and environmental adaptability. Four hybrid configurations‐photovoltaic/thermal‐lunar soil, closed‐cycle Brayton system‐organic Rankine cycle, closed‐cycle Brayton system‐thermoelectric generator, and in situ resource utilization‐thermoelectric generator‐ are discussed in terms of integration with regolith‐based thermal storage and suitability for different development stages of lunar bases. The review provides a concise roadmap for multisystem integration and supports the design of future gigawatt‐level energy systems on the Moon.
Liu et al. (2026) studied this question.