Effective power management is a key component of Astroneer’s gameplay. As you progress through the game, you’ll transition from relying on basic power sources to building and using advanced power devices. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for creating a reliable and powerful energy system for your base.
Stage 1: Starter Power
In the early game, Small Generators will be your go-to power source. They are easy to craft and only require Organic resources, which are plentiful on every planet.
- Small Generators: To create a Small Generator, you will need a Compound, which is commonly found on the surface of the planets.
- Immediate Improvements: As you research more, Small Solar Panels and Small Wind Turbines become available. They offer renewable power sources — solar panels draw energy during daylight, and wind turbines operate when the wind is blowing.
Stage 2: Expanding Power Resources
As you move forward, you’ll start exploiting other planets’ resources and expanding your base. Medium power sources become available for research and crafting.
- Medium Solar Panels and Wind Turbines: They offer a significantly higher power output compared to their small counterparts. Solar panels require Copper, while wind turbines require Glass and Ceramic. Copper can be obtained from Malachite, found in cave systems or mountains of Sylva or in the Calidor desert. Glass can be smelted from Quartz, found commonly in Sylva’s caves, and Ceramic is crafted from Clay.
- Medium Generators: They use Carbon as fuel and provide a steady 3 Units/second. Carbon can be obtained by smelting Organic in a Smelting Furnace.
Stage 3: Advanced Power Management
In this stage, you’ll begin to implement more advanced power management systems, including the use of batteries and power cells.
- Batteries: They store power and help manage power outages or peak demand times. Small Batteries can be crafted from Lithium, found on Vesania, while Medium Batteries require Zinc and Lithium. Zinc is extracted from Sphalerite, found in Sylva’s caves.
- Power Cells: They are single-use batteries that discharge fully once used. They’re great for emergencies or exploring. They require Zinc for crafting.
Stage 4: Top-Tier Power Generation
At this stage, you’re aiming for the best power generation sources available — Large Solar Arrays and Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs).
- Large Solar Arrays: A Large Solar Array provides a massive 8 Units/second but requires Copper, Glass, Plastic, and Graphene. Plastic can be crafted using Carbon and Compounds, while Graphene requires Hydrazine and Graphite in a Chemistry Lab. Hydrazine is made from Ammonium and Hydrogen.
- RTGs: RTGs provide a constant 4 Units/second and work regardless of environmental factors. However, they are costly and require Nanocarbon Alloy and Lithium to craft. Nanocarbon Alloy in turn requires multiple materials including Helium, a resource only found on Atrox.
In conclusion, building an efficient power system in Astroneer involves embracing each progression stage by fully exploiting available resources and continually updating your power infrastructure. With a well-designed power system that incorporates multiple energy sources and storage options, you can ensure your base stays powered up for all its needs. Remember to plan your power generation and storage system to match your base’s expansion and energy requirements.
