Solar Panel

Solar Panel is a compact power-building that generates electricity without requiring any workers. It occupies a 3×3 footprint, making it smaller than Wind Turbines, but it has a strict placement requirement: to operate at maximum efficiency, it needs 10 tiles of clear space above it.

Its power output is also limited by the time of day. Solar Panels only generate electricity during the day, so they are best used alongside a large number of Storage Batteries if you want stable power through the night. Among all power-generation facilities, it has the lowest daily output, so it is usually treated as a space-saving supplement rather than a primary source of energy.

A useful layout trick is to combine it with Wind Turbines. Because overlapping empty space does not reduce efficiency, Wind Turbines can be placed with 3 tiles between them, and Solar Panels can then be set 3 blocks lower in the gap. This lets you save land while keeping both generators fully efficient.

• Solar Panels require no assigned workforce.
• They need 10 tiles of open space above them for full efficiency.
• They generate power only in daylight hours.
• Their daily output is the smallest among power facilities.
• Storage Batteries are essential for storing daytime surplus and covering nighttime demand.
• One Storage Battery can store 18,960 Wh, and if half of a Solar Panel’s production is to be shifted to nighttime use, about 1.2 Storage Batteries are needed per Solar Panel.

Because of this, Solar Panels are most effective when you already have storage capacity and want a compact generator that can fit into tight builds without relying on labor.