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Overview
The energy system powers the camper van and all installed workstations. The game uses four energy sources, each with different strengths depending on biome, weather, and time of day. There are no fossil fuels in the game's utopian setting. The progression arc moves from the manual Bio Burner in the early game toward fully automated renewable systems.
Bio Burner
The Bio Burner is the van's starting power source. It burns biodegradable resources to generate electricity. Feeding it Fibre or Lumber produces 1 unit of energy (roughly 10% of the battery). Light Lumber produces 2 units (20%). The Bio Burner works anywhere regardless of weather or time, but it requires manual refueling. Most players supplement or replace it as soon as other options unlock.
Solar panels
Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity and are among the first renewable upgrades available. They perform best during clear daytime conditions in open areas. Output drops during rain, overcast weather, and stops entirely at night. Mounting them on the van's roof provides good exposure.
Wind turbines
Wind turbines generate power from wind regardless of time of day, providing overnight baseline energy that solar cannot. They produce more in open areas and at elevation. Storms increase their output. Combined with solar panels, they can keep the van powered around the clock in favorable conditions.
Water generators
Water generators produce electricity from flowing water: rivers, streams, and tidal areas. They require the van to be parked near a water source, which limits parking choices but provides steady, reliable output. The Coast biome has plentiful water sources, making water generators especially useful there.
Energy strategy
As players install more workstations and automated systems, energy demand grows. A single source rarely covers everything. The weather and day-night cycle forces players to diversify: solar fails at night, wind depends on terrain, water needs rivers, and the Bio Burner consumes physical resources. Relocating the van to a spot with better conditions for a needed energy type is itself a tactical decision.
Excess energy is stored in the van's battery. Upgrading battery capacity through the blueprint system extends how long the van can run without active generation.