Power

Power is the resource that runs nearly every machine, vehicle, and structure in Astroneer. It is stored in batteries and other sources as a measurable quantity, and it is also the flow that moves through cables and networks to keep modules active. Power can be generated, stored, transferred, and consumed, and most of the game’s automation revolves around balancing those four functions.

Stored power is measured in Units, abbreviated as U, while power flow is measured in U/s. Battery capacity is shown visually by bright yellow cylinders called columns, which are divided into stacked bars. A Small Battery holds 32 Units, a Medium Battery holds 512 Units, and a Power Cell holds 48 Units. At a rate of 1U/s, one Unit is depleted in exactly one second. In general, machines have fixed input and output values, and if they receive less power than they request, they run more slowly instead of stopping immediately. Platforms, cables, and extenders do not appear to have a meaningful throughput limit.

The most reliable way to obtain power is by generating it. Common sources include solar panels in sunlight, wind turbines in windy weather, generators fueled by resources, RTGs, shelters, and shuttles. Attaching a power source to something that can use power will automatically feed it, and any excess beyond current consumption is routed into connected batteries that need charging.

• Shelter produces 1.0U/s indefinitely, and the habitat has a maximum throughput of 32U/s.
• Field Shelter produces 0.5U/s indefinitely.
• Small Solar produces 1.0U/s in full medium sunlight, scaling with planet sunlight level.
• Medium Solar Panel produces 4.0U/s in medium sunlight.
• Large Solar Panel produces 9.0U/s in medium sunlight.
• Solar Array produces 14.0U/s in medium sunlight.
• Small Wind Turbine produces 1.5U/s while windy.
• Medium Wind Turbine produces 5.0U/s while windy.
• Large Wind Turbine produces 10.0U/s while windy.
• XL Wind Turbine produces 17.0U/s while windy.
• Small Generator produces 2.0U/s for 120 seconds.
• Medium Generator produces 9.0U/s for 120 seconds.
• QT-RTG produces 1.0U/s indefinitely.
• RTG produces 4.0U/s indefinitely.
• Power Cells produce 1.0U/s until depleted and are destroyed when empty.
• Shuttles produce 0.1U/s indefinitely, but this is not reliable for long-term use.

Power is also stored in batteries and vehicle power reserves. The Backpack stores 10 Units, Small Batteries store 32 Units, Medium Batteries store 512 Units, and Large Batteries store 8192 Units. Vehicle storage includes 16 Units on a Large Rover, 8 Units on a Medium Rover, 4 Units on a Buggy, and 4 Units on a Tractor. The Backpack only charges; it cannot transfer power outward, and small batteries in the player’s inventory also cannot output power.

Power is consumed by crafting, base modules, vehicle driving, Terrain Tool augments, Gateway Chambers, and EXO Dynamics Research Aids. Modules only draw power while running, but they must still be connected to a power source before they can be activated. If available power is below the module’s demand, the module runs at reduced speed; if no power is available, it stops completely until supply is restored. Some devices, such as the Backpack Battery and auto-crafting systems, have priority over other consumers when power is scarce.

Power networks are formed by connecting platforms to each other or to the Shelter. All devices on the same network share generated, stored, or transmitted power, and that power is divided among all active consumers on the network. Standard network cables carry both power and oxygen. Directional cables, including those formed through extenders, splitters, or vehicles, only allow power to flow one way and can be used to separate networks. If a downstream network cannot satisfy its demand, the directional cable temporarily shuts off.

Power meters on cables and platforms show current supply and demand. The lower half indicates network demand, while the upper half shows excess production. A dark meter means nothing is being produced or requested; red indicates demand with no supply; and yellow indicates surplus power.