Power

Power (also commonly referred to as Energy) is, along with oxygen, one of an Astroneer's vital resources. A steady supply of power is necessary to drive vehicles, operate various base modules, and perhaps most importantly, utilize the Deform Tool.

Throughout the game, power is represented by a bright yellow color.



Measuring Power
Power can be stored in a battery, the capacities of which are measured in bright yellow cylinders called bars. Each of these bars is in turn divided into 4 stacked segments called units. The exception to this rule is the Astroneer's own built-in backpack battery, which is instead a single bar of 10 units.

The speed at which a battery's power is drained or replenished is measured in units per second, bars per second, or seconds per bar, depending on the application.

Acquiring Power
An Astroneer's backpack automatically generates a small but steady stream of power directly into its built-in battery. As this power cannot be transferred out of the backpack (It is used by the Deform Tool), however, other means of power collection must be employed in order to utilize heavy equipment such as vehicles and base modules.

Generating
The most common and consistent method of acquiring power is by generating it. Power can be generated by solar panels exposed to natural light, wind turbines exposed to windy weather, or generators fueled with organic material or coal. Attaching one of these power sources to an object capable of storing power will automatically charge the object's internal battery for as long as the proper conditions are met. If the object's internal battery is full, excess power will flow to any networked batteries in need of charging.

Solar panels represent the cheapest and most readily-available power generation method, but Astroneers who rely on solar power exclusively will find their operations somewhat limited after dark. Wind turbines can supply power day or night, but of course require a breeze to turn them. A generator can provide true on-demand power, but only for as long as it is supplied with the appropriate fuel.

Gathering
Much like oxygen, power can be found both on and below the surface of planets in patches or spires of yellow crystals. Initially, collecting power crystals (or power beans on underground cave floors) with the deform tool will replenish the backpack's internal battery. Once it is full, however, they will stack in the backpack in the same manner as other resources. The stack will slowly deplete as you use up power in the backpack.

Crafting
Once an Astroneer has researched Power Cells, they can be created using the backpack's 3D printer. Power cells are created with a full charge and can be an efficient form of supplementary power for those with excess resources.

List of Power Sources
The following table lists all available power sources and the rate at which they charge batteries.

Storing Power
In order for power to be used, it must first be stored. Power is primarily stored in batteries, but can also be gathered into power stacks or created as power cells.

Batteries
There are two kinds of batteries: Internal batteries that are built into objects such as the backpack, vehicles, or base modules; and external batteries printed out of lithium.

Internal Batteries
Internal batteries generally reserve their charge for the primary function of whatever it is they're built into—the deform tool for the backpack, driving for vehicles, or production & research for base modules. A backpack or vehicle's internal battery will deplete over time as it is used or driven, and can be partially recharged if necessary. A base module's internal battery, however, will be fully depleted on activation and need to be fully recharged before it can be used again.

The internal batteries of the backpack and base modules are "greedy," and will never transfer away their stored power to another battery. The internal batteries of vehicles, meanwhile, are more open to sharing: Not only will vehicles connected in a "train" configuration operate as a single, high-capacity battery, but any vehicle's battery will power an Astroneer's deform tool via tether if their backpack battery is empty.

In a power network, internal batteries are given the highest priority: Any active power sources and charged external batteries will send their power to the nearest internal battery in need of it.

External Batteries
External batteries come in large and small sizes and can be fitted to any appropriately-sized attachment point. If attached to an object with a full internal battery, an external battery will collect and store any excess power being generated for later use. If attached to an object whose internal battery is depleted, the external battery will utilize its stored power to extend the functionality of its host.

When in a network of multiple vehicles or modules, external batteries are given the lowest priority—they will not be charged until all internal batteries in the network are filled.

Power Cells
Main Article: Power Cells

Power Cells act similarly to external batteries, but do not need to be charged. Rather, they are printed using a 3D printer and contain a full charge when made. Attaching them to an object with a depleted internal battery will transfer the charge to the object, destroying the power cell.

Power Stacks
Main Article: Power (resource)

When harvested from the environment by an Astroneer whose backpack battery is full, energy crystals will stack in the backpack like any other resource. These "power stacks" can then be left in the backpack—where they will be consumed as needed—or attached to any object to automatically recharge its internal battery.

List of Power Stores
The following table lists all items with the ability to store power and their capacities. † Note that these are internal batteries, and therefore cannot transfer their charges to other power stores.

Power Networks
As an Astroneer adds base modules to their intial habitat, the thick cabling that connects them creates a network, across which power can flow. Vehicles can be added to a network using the large ports on the front or rear bumper.

Inside of a network, depleted internal batteries will attempt to recharge themselves using the nearest active power source or charged external battery. Once all internal batteries on the network are full, external batteries will attempt to charge using the nearest active power source.

Tethers are technically part of a network, but only in a limited way: They are only capable of carrying power to an Astroneer's backpack (regardless of distance), and will only do so when all other internal batteries on the network are full. Because of this restriction, tethers cannot "connect" the networks of two distant bases—though this can be accomplished on an ad-hoc basis using vehicle cabling.