Getting to Know Helium-3: The Moon's Rare Gas for Future Energy

Helium-3 has become one of the most valuable commodities in the world, with a price reaching around US$2,000 or approximately Rp32.8 million per litre. This rare isotope is highly sought after due to its crucial role in the development of quantum computers and its potential for generating clean energy through nuclear fusion. Technically, Helium-3 is an isotope of helium defined by the number of neutrons in its atomic nucleus. Unlike Helium-4, which is commonly used for party balloons, Helium-3 possesses the unique ability to create extremely low temperatures down to the millikelvin range (-273 degrees Celsius). This condition is essential for cooling circuits in quantum computers so they can operate stably. Until now, the primary supply of Helium-3 on Earth has been very limited and tightly controlled because it is a by-product of tritium decay in nuclear weapons. However, data from lunar dust samples (regolith) collected during the Apollo missions indicate a much higher concentration of Helium-3 on the surface of Earth’s natural satellite. Several start-up companies are now racing to realise mining operations on the Moon. Experts estimate that processing hundreds of thousands of tonnes of regolith is required just to obtain one kilogram of Helium-3. This is due to its extremely low concentration, which is only around a few parts per billion (ppb). Although the Moon offers vast reserves, the search on Earth continues. The company Pulsar Helium is currently investigating the presence of Helium-3 in Minnesota, United States. With a concentration of about 12 ppb, drilling on Earth’s surface is considered far more economical and accessible compared to space missions. Demand for this gas is predicted to soar sharply. A quantum computing company in Helsinki has even signed a contract worth US$300 million with Interlune for the supply of 10,000 litres of Helium-3 per year starting from 2028 to 2037. The competition for this ‘fuel of the future’ is certain to intensify over the next decade.