Learn how to generate power for your base in No Man's Sky. Discover blueprints for Biofuel Reactors, Solar Panels, Batteries, and Electromagnetic Generators.
The process of generating power for your base in No Man’s Sky isn’t immediately obvious, especially since you don’t have access to all the relevant methods by default. If you don’t get the blueprints for the below items by waiting on the Base Computer to provide them to you, you’ll be able to purchase them from the Construction Research Station on board the Space Anomlay with Salvaged Data. You can also purchase electrical switches from the same place, allowing you to control when you want power to be generated, and when you want it to be stopped or redirected. These can be connected to power generators or devices which require power via electrical wiring.
You’ll find the different kinds of power generators from the Power and Industry build menu once you’ve acquired the blueprints.
Biofuel Reactor
| Crafting Materials | Fuel Required |
|---|---|
| 1x Metal Plating, 25x Oxygen | Carbon, Condensed Carbon, Oxygen |
The Biofuel Reactor is introduced fairly early on and is simple to use but tedious to keep running. It requires Carbon, Condensed Carbon, or Oxygen to fuel its Furnace Tank. The more fuel added, the longer it generates power. While reliable for early game power needs like lights or Base Teleport Modules, acquiring enough fuel can be time-consuming, and these materials have other uses.
Solar Panel
| Crafting Materials | Fuel Required |
|---|---|
| 1x Metal Plating, 30x Gold, 50x Chromatic Metal | None, but required access to sunlight |
Solar Panels become more appealing as your base grows. They are more efficient than Biofuel Reactors as they require no fuel, only sunlight. Place them in a suitable location, and they will generate power based on sunlight intensity. They can even generate significant power indoors if sufficient windows and glass roofs allow sunlight in.
Battery
| Crafting Materials | Fuel Required |
|---|---|
| 50x Magnetised Ferrite, 100x Condensed Carbon | None, stores power from other generators when connected via Electrical Wiring |
The Battery pairs well with Solar Panels, storing power from 0% to 100% when connected to the power grid. Connect a Solar Panel to a Battery using Electrical Wiring. Once fully charged, the Battery can power base items like lights, Hydroponic Trays, extractors, or teleport modules. For large bases, consider using multiple Batteries.
Electromagnetic Generator
| Crafting Materials | Fuel Required |
|---|---|
| 2x Metal Plating, 60x Magnetised Ferrite, 75x Chromatic Metal | None, generates power when placed at a suitable site identified by the Surveying Mode upgrade on the Analysis Visor |
Electromagnetic Generators produce power without needing fuel. Use the Analysis Visor with the Surveying Mode upgrade (blueprint from Iteration: Eos on the Space Anomaly) to find suitable sites. The blueprint for the generator itself can be purchased from the Construction Research Station on the Space Anomaly. Power output varies by site, but these generators almost always produce significantly more power than Solar Panels or Biofuel Reactors, making them the most efficient power source.
The Biofuel Reactor is currently the only method which requires actively feeding it with specific materials.
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