Power production

2016-10-03T15:33:27Z

Malokai: /* Solar Panels/Accumulators */

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Electricity and [[Liquids]] have many interactions and can be incredibly difficult to learn- this page documents several important components of electricity production. It is divided up into different topics that are important to keep in mind.

== Steam power optimal ratios ==

Each [[Steam engine]] needs roughly 1.31 [[Boiler]]s when running at full capacity.

One [[Pump|offshore pump]] can satisfy 14 [[Boiler]]s and 10 [[Steam engine|steam engines]]. 13 boilers will work, but this tends to have issues recovering after coal shortages or other accidents.

=== See also ===
* [http://www.factorioforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5950 Research topic about energy]
* [[Liquids/Hot|Hot Liquids]]
* [[Liquids/Pipe physics]].

== Hot liquids in tanks ==

To equalize the needed throughput (different needs of energy between day and night for example), hot water from boilers can also be stored in [[Storage Tank|storage tanks]] and used by extra steam engines during peak times or during night (if solar is in place). This energy storage technique can be used instead of or in addition to [[Basic accumulator|accumulators]]. Hot liquids stored in tanks will never cool down.

See [[Liquids/Hot#Storing_hot_liquids_as_energy_storage|about storing of hot liquids]] for examples on how to use this feature.

== Solar Panels/Accumulators ==

=== Optimal ratio ===

The optimal ratio is 0.84 (21:25) accumulators per solar panel, and 23.8 solar panels per megawatt required by your factory (this ratio accounts for solar panels needed to charge the accumulators).

A "close enough" ratio is 20:24:1 accumulators to solar panels to megawatts required (for example, a factory requiring 10 MW can be approximately entirely powered, day and night, by 200 accumulators and 240 solar panels - this approximation differs from optimal only in that it calls for 2 extra solar panels, which is negligible).

This is taken from [http://www.factorioforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5594 Accumulator / Solar Panel Ratio] (which calculates this in an impressive mathematical way!) and [https://forums.factorio.com/viewtopic.php?p=143317#p143317 another post in that thread] (which calculates the solar panel to megawatt ratio in a different way).

{| style="float:right; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;">
| style="padding-right:1em" | [[File:9x9_accumulator_solar_panel_example.jpg|300px|thumb|top|A small 9x9 blueprint demonstrating the 20:24 "close enough" ratio above.]]
| style="padding-right:1em" | [[File:28x28_accumulator_solar_panel_example.jpg|300px|thumb|top|A medium 28x28 blueprint with a nearly optimal ratio.]]
| style="padding-right:1em" | [[File:48x48_accumulator_solar_panel_example.jpg|300px|thumb|top|A large 48x48 blueprint with a nearly optimal ratio. It also contains a roboport in the center to repair itself and automatically construct adjacent blueprint copies.]]
|}
=== See also ===

* http://www.factorioforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5168
* http://www.factorioforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=5394
* http://www.factorioforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7619
* http://www.factorioforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1865

== Ensuring enough energy is produced ==

Try this checklist before you completely revamp your power source. You may also use this to rectify negative feedback loops.

* Did you connect the steam engine to the [[Electric network]]? If not, a small yellow triangle will flash. To fix, Add some [[Small electric pole|power poles]] near the steam engines that go to machines needing that power. Any size will work.
* Is hot water able to reach all steam engines?
* Do your pipes have water? Look at the glass windows in the pipes, hover over the pipes! Place some pipes or a tank at the end to see if there is really water coming through. If not, ensure all [[pipe]]s or [https://wiki.factorio.com/index.php?title=Pipe-to-Ground underground pipes] are connected together.
* Do you have enough [[Boiler]]s? The water temperature should reach 100 degrees. One of your burners should be reserve (not much used, no lights in the burner) when you need to restart the energy system.

== Energy Storage ==

See [[Basic accumulator]].

Energy is available (or storable) from/to:
* [[Fuel]].
* Capacity in the [[Basic accumulator]]s.
* [[Liquids/Hot|Hot liquids]]. They can be created in the [[Boiler]] and stored in the [[Storage Tank]]. See below.

See [[Units#Power]] for info on energy units.

=== Storing hot water in tanks ===

A completely filled tank with water at 100 degrees stores 212 Megajoules! This is the equivalent to 42 [[Basic accumulator]]s, but the tank needs only 3x3 tiles of space. This way you can store much more energy in a much smaller place: 23.5 MJ / [[Tile]] vs. 1.2 MJ / [[Tile]]

The details are explained in [[Liquids/Pipe physics]]. Read more about this: [http://www.factorioforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=6617&start=10#p52712 Yet another "Steam engine backup" solution (simple&low tech)].

There are several advantages to storing energy in storage tanks vs. storing it in an [[Electricity/Storage|accumulator]]:
* You don't need to produce electrical energy first.
* The energy density per tile is much higher than it is with batteries.
* You won't get sudden blackouts when you're out of power. Instead, power goes out gradually as pressure drops.

==== See also ====
* [http://www.factorioforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9738 Hot water capacitor]
* [http://www.factorioforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=6665 Using steam as a backup]
* [http://www.factorioforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3724 Handling Gigantic Energy Peaks]
* [[Liquids/Hot]].

== Types of energy ==

In factorio, there are two types of energy, Burner, and Electric.

=== Burner ===

Burner energy is energy obtained from burning [[Fuel]] in a machine, such as a [[Burner Mining Drill]], or [[Car]].

=== Electric ===

Electricity is produced by generators, or energy storages when draining. It is an intangible energy that flows through power poles.

Electricity is the only way to transport energy over long distances quickly. Electricity itself doesn't pollute, pollution comes either from burning fuel or consuming electricity. Different amounts of energy consumption yield differing amounts of pollution.

Common sources of electric power are [[steam engine]]s, [[Basic accumulator]]s, or [[solar panel]]s.

=== The electric priority ===

Electricity is provided on a priority basis. When a draw for power is created, power will come from these machines, in order:
This means,

* [[Solar panel]]- These will provide power first, if they do not satisfy the draw:
* [[Steam engine]]- Steam engines will start functioning, if the draw is still not satisfied:
* [[Basic accumulator]]- Lastly, the energy in accumulators will be consumed.

This works in the opposite way as well: The accumulators are only filled if the demand of all other consumers are fulfilled.

== Transmitting energy ==

=== Poles ===

Power poles are used to transmit energy. See [[Small electric pole]], [[Medium electric pole]], and [[Big electric pole]] for more info.

==== Autoplacing poles ====

It is possible to automatically place poles at maximum distance apart. To do this, left click and hold, then move the mouse or walk. The poles will automatically be placed the optimal distance apart.

This works from a car or train as well, which enables placing the electric poles very quickly over long distances.

=== Cables (and Wires) ===

When you place an electric pole it will automatically cable itself to other poles in range. These cables are "free" and do not consume any copper cable. If you remove these cables, you can regenerate them by removing and rebuilding the pole.

You generally don't need to manually add copper wires, because any pole in range will be connected automatically by the free wires. Placing copper wire is only useful when precise control is needed, such as hooking up a [[power switch]] between two networks.

==== Removing cables ====
Remove all cables from an electric pole by shift-left-clicking it. The pole will become an independent electric network. You can reconnect it to other poles by placing cables manually.

==== Add cables or wires ====
A cable or wire can be added by holding [[Copper cable]] in your hand, left-clicking the base of one pole, then left-clicking the base of another. Use [[copper cable]] for the electric network, or [[red wire|red]]/[[green wire|green]] wires for the [[circuit network]]s. Note that the wire item is consumed when you make the connection; you will not get it back if you remove the pole's wires, or if you remove the pole itself.

File:9x9 accumulator solar panel example.jpg

2016-10-03T14:51:48Z

Malokai:

9x9 layout demonstrating nearly optimal ratio of accumulators to solar panels. From https://forums.factorio.com/viewtopic.php?p=124780#p124780

File:9x9 accumulator solar panel example.jpg

2016-10-03T14:45:26Z

Malokai: Malokai moved page File:9x9 .jpg to File:9x9 accumulator solar panel example.jpg: improve name

9x9 layout demonstrating nearly optimal ratio of accumulators to solar panels

File:9x9 accumulator solar panel example.jpg

2016-10-03T14:43:41Z

Malokai: 9x9 layout demonstrating nearly optimal ratio of accumulators to solar panels

9x9 layout demonstrating nearly optimal ratio of accumulators to solar panels

Official Factorio Wiki - User contributions [en]

Power production

File:9x9 accumulator solar panel example.jpg

File:9x9 accumulator solar panel example.jpg

File:9x9 accumulator solar panel example.jpg