Editing Power generation

'''[[Power]] generation''' is vital to a healthy ship as most equipment in the game requires power to operate. The [[Getting_Started#Power|starting power system]] consists only of a [[reactor]] and a [[loader]], with a steady supply of [[fuel]] [[container]]s. However, this system's shortcomings become apparent as a ship's power requirements grow, and keeping a constant flow of power becomes more important.

==Sources==
There are a few sources of energy available with varying size-efficiency, fuel-cost efficiency and reliability.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Name
!Output
! Fuel
!Notes 
!Size
|-
|[[Reactor]]
|100 MW
|[[Fuel]]
|
| 3x3
|-
|[[Fusion Reactor]]
| 500 MW
|[[Deuterium]]
|Draws significant power during activation
|5x5
|-
|[[Solar Panel]]
| 10 MW
|
|50% power in [[Sector Map#Gas Clouds|gas clouds]]
0% power during [[Hyperspace]] jumps
|4x8 
|}

==Reactor output scaling ==
Reactors don't always run at full capacity (because that would unnecessarily consume fuel), instead reactors attempt to supply only the amount of power that the connected system demands. Reactors take time to scale power production up or down, so when demand increases the supply will temporarily be insufficient until the reactors scale up sufficiently.

==Constant power flow==
One of the first shortcomings players are likely to notice is a loss of power when a fuel container runs dry, until a crew member loads a new container. This delay will depend on the availability of crew members to retrieve a new fuel container and the distance between the fuel storage and the loader. This kind of delay can cause significant problems during a time-sensitive mission.

One solution is to introduce a [[tank]] into the system. Excess fuel will be stored in the tank and provided to the system as needed. Fuel containers will be quickly drained into the tank, and the tank will supply fuel to the system while the crew retrieves a new container.

Another solution is to introduce a [[battery]] into the system. A battery stores excess power much like the tank stores excess fuel, and it likewise provides this power to the system as needed. An additional use for batteries is to supply power during sudden increases in demand, to avoid temporary power outages while the reactor scales up.

==Emergency backup==
If a ship with a reactor-based power system runs out of fuel, the ship is effectively dead in space, unable to produce power to run the [[FTL Drive|FTL drive]]. [[Solar Panel|solar panel]]s, or a single solar panel that charges a [[battery]], can provide backup power in this situation.

[[Category:Getting started]]
[[Category:Game mechanics]]