Electricity

From Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic Official Wiki

Electricity is an optional feature and is only available when energy management is enabled in game settings.

Background

The electrical grid is the intricate system designed to provide electricity all the way from its generation to the customers that use it for their daily needs. These systems have grown from small local designs, to stretching thousands of kilometers and connecting millions of homes and businesses today.

The grid consists of countless complex interconnections, however there are three main sections—electricity generation, transmission and distribution.

Electricity is generated through power plants. Fossil fuel power plants consume natural resources (Oil, Coal, or Nuclear Fuel/Uranium) to generate power and pollution. Solar and wind generate power without pollution but generate much less power than fossil fuel power plants. Solar and wind can be useful as cheap power sources when first starting off.

Electrical transmission is the process of delivering generated electricity - usually over long distances - to substations which connect to the distribution grid located in populated areas. A high-voltage cable (HV cable) is a cable used for electric power transmission at high voltage. A typical high-voltage transmission cable consists of a steel core for support/reinforcement wrapped in multiple layers of conductive aluminum strands. Transmission lines are protected from lightning by overhead ground wires (OHGW) which are unenergized steel cables intended to act similar to a lightning rod. These lines are capable of transmitting multiple circuits of 3-phase AC many kilometers while operating at temperatures of over 150 C (300 F).

In the power distribution section of an electrical power system, there are two main subsections: primary distribution and secondary distribution. In the primary distribution are medium-voltage (MV) cables used. Medium voltage cables range between 6 kV and 33kV. They are mostly produced to be a part of generation and distribution networks for many applications like utilities, petrochemical, transportation, wastewater treatment, food processing, commercial and industrial markets.

The secondary distribution or urban distribution is mainly underground, sometimes in common utility ducts. Rural distribution is mostly above ground with utility poles, and suburban distribution is a mix. The power comes to the customer via a service drop and an electricity meter. The final circuit in an urban system may be less than 15 metres, but may be over 90 metres for a rural customer.

Gameplay

When Energy management is enabled in the game settings, the players republic must be provided with electricity to buildings, electrified railway, street lights, etc. The player has to take care of the power grid by providing electricity and deliver the electricity to buildings. Electricity can be imported from the border at a Foreign power connection or generated at power plants. For long distance transmission of electricity high voltage wires are available, for the primary distribution are medium voltage wires available. The player has to take care of these lines by placing power lines in the world, supplemented with switches. The player places transformers for the secondary distribution. The players doesn't need to connect every individual building, because the transformer provides electricity to all buildings in range.

Generation

Electricity is generated through power plants. Power plants are buildings that generate electricity to power the republic. There are 3 types of power plants in the game fossil fuel, nuclear, and renewable. Gas, coal, and nuclear power plants require resources to operate, while wind and solar generates power depending on the wind speed and sun intensity in the world. Electricity can also be imported through foreign power connections. All power plants, except for wind, require workers to operate. This makes wind power a cheap but intermittent source of power for the early game.

Power plants produce electricity variably and based on the republics demand. If the republics power grid only requires 3.4 megawatts, the power plant will only produce 3.4 megawatts, even if the power plants capacity is higher.

Transmission

From left to right: 4, 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, and 18 Megawatt wires.
High Voltage Wires

Electricity needs to be distributed throughout the republic for buildings to function. This can be done through medium or high voltage wires. High voltage wires can carry more power over longer distances. Medium voltage wires can carry less power over shorter distances. The player can branch off of power lines using Power switches. But keep in mind that switches reduce the voltage, meaning the powerlines can't transfer power as far. Contrary to the name, power switches cannot switch on or off electricity, and are only an interconnection between lines.

Primary distribution

From left to right: 0.65, 1.2, 1.5, and 2.35 Megawatt wires.
Medium Voltage Wires

High voltage wires can be reduced to medium wires using electric transformers. Electric transformers can take one high voltage connection and split it into 6 medium voltage connections.

Secondary distribution

Electric Substation

The player can distribute electricity to buildings using a electric substation, or some buildings, like the steel mill and aluminium plant have a direct high voltage connection. Substations have one medium voltage connection, and each substation can supply up to 2.5 Megawatts (limited to 2.35 MW due to that being the highest wattage for a medium voltage wire) to buildings up to 325 meters away from the substation.

Trolleybus lines and electrified train lines also must be powered. These are done through trolleybus electric connections and railroad electric connections respectively, both found in the conversion section of the electricity tab.

Notes

  • Power plant connections/switch yards can only output power from the power plant, and cannot transfer power from one line to another like a switch.
  • The player cannot connect different types of wires.
  • A foreign power connection at the border of the world can either import or export electricity, but not at the same time.
  • When importing electricity the player only pays for the electricity that is needed in the republic.
  • The maximum range from a substation to a building is 325m.
  • The player can only provide electricity to the maximum wattage that a substation can deliver, lights will start flickering when the power grid is overloaded.

Buildings related to electricity

Power plants

Name Cost Workers Production Consumption Pollution Energy Wattage Storage Structure Notes
Coal Power Plant.jpg
Coal power plant
See below Workers.png 20 Power 1400MWh Power Coal 24t Coal
Water 0.40m3/day Water
39.5 tons/year 0.60 MWh 23 MWh Coal 100t Coal Access 2x footpath access
1x road access
2x high voltage wires
4x medium voltage wires
3x Conveyor connection
The coal power plant is a fossil fuel power Plant. By using coal, the coal power plant produces electricity for consumption or export. It requires workers to function, which can result in periods of low power when workers aren't at the plant.
L/U 2
Gas Power Plant.jpg
Gas power plant
See below Workers.png 15 Power 1050MWh Power Oil 8.8t Oil
Water 0.30m3/day Water
35.8 tons/year 3.4 MWh 17 MWh Coal 200t Coal Access 5x footpath access
1x road access
2x high voltage wires
4x medium voltage wires
6x pipe connections
The gas power plant is a fossil Fuel power plant. By using oil, the gas power plant produces electricity for consumption or export. It requires workers to function, which can result in periods of low power when workers aren't at the plant.
L/U 2
Solar Power Plant.jpg
Solar power plant
See below Workers.png 8 Power 560MWh Power Water 0.16m3/day Water None 0.24 MWh 9.3 MWh Coal 200t Coal Access 2x footpath access
1x road access
1x high voltage wires
10x medium voltage wires
The solar power plant is a renewable type power plant. By using sunlight, the solar power plant produces electricity for consumption or export. It, unlike wind, requires workers to function, which can result in periods of low power when workers aren't at the plant. Solar power plants obviously do not function at night, and their output is dependent on the sun intensity and the number of workers at the power plant.
L/U None
Small Wind Power Plant.jpg
Small wind power plant
See below None Power 15MWh Power None None 0 MWh 0 MWh None Access 1x road access
1x medium voltage wires
The wind power plant is one of two renewable types of power plants, the other being solar. By using wind, the wind power plant produces electricity for consumption or export. It, unlike solar, does not require workers to function. Wind power plants generate less power at lower wind speeds. Wind power plants are the quickest and cheapest power plants to build but generate the least amount of power of all types of power plants in game.
L/U None
Big Wind Power Plant.jpg
Big wind power plant
See below None Power 35MWh Power None None 0 MWh 0 MWh None Access 1x road access
1x medium voltage wires
See Small wind power plant.
L/U None
Tool incinerator powerplant.png
Incinerator - power plant[1]
See below Workers.png 20 Power 660MWh Power Mixed waste 60t Mixed waste
Water 0.40m3/day Water
48.00 tons/year 0.60 MWh 11 MWh Mixed waste 30t Mixed waste (Import)
Mixed waste 58t Mixed waste (Export)
Access 3x footpath access
1x road access
2x factory connection
1x high voltage wires
3x medium voltage wires
By burning Mixed waste[1], the Incinerator power plant produces electricity for consumption or export. Only available when Waste management[1] is selected in game settings.
L/U 2

Nuclear power plant

Main page: Nuclear power plant

Name Cost Workers Production Consumption Pollution Energy Wattage Storage Structure Notes
Single Reactor Unit Nuclear Power Plant.jpg
Single reactor nuclear power plant
See below Workers.png 40
Workers workers hiedu.png 20
Power 4680MWh Power
Nuclear waste 0.02t Nuclear waste
Wastewater 6.80m3/day Wastewater
Nuclear fuel 0.04t Nuclear fuel
Water 1.20m3/day Water
Water Quality 60% Water
9.0 tons/year 7.8 MWh 78 MWh Nuclear fuel 3t Nuclear fuel (import)
Nuclear waste 3t Nuclear waste (export)
91m2 for containers
Access 2x footpath access
1x road access
7x high voltage wires
6x medium voltage wires
2x cooling pipe
3x sewage pipes
2x Water pipes
2x factory connections
L/U 3
Twin Reactor Unit Nuclear Power Plant.jpg
Twin reactor nuclear power plant
See below Workers.png 80
Workers workers hiedu.png 40
Power 9360MWh Power
Nuclear waste 0.04t Nuclear waste
Wastewater 13m3/day Wastewater
Nuclear fuel 0.08t Nuclear fuel
Water 2.40m3/day Water
Water Quality 60% Water
14.2 tons/year 9.6 MWh 156 MWh Nuclear fuel 3t Nuclear fuel (import)
Nuclear waste 3t Nuclear waste (export)
88m2 for containers
Access 3x footpath access
1x road access
9x high voltage wires
6x medium voltage wires
4x cooling pipe
2x sewage pipes
2x Water pipes
3x factory connections
L/U 3
Zaporozie reactor.png
Zaporozie reactor
See below Workers.png 45
Workers workers hiedu.png 23
Power 5850MWh Power
Nuclear waste 0.023t Nuclear waste
Wastewater 7.7m3/day Wastewater
Nuclear fuel 0.045t Nuclear fuel
Water 1.36m3/day Water
Water Quality 60% Water
14.2 tons/year 8.0 MWh 97 MWh Nuclear fuel 3t Nuclear fuel (import)
Nuclear waste 3t Nuclear waste (export)
209m2 for containers
Access 7x footpath access
1x road access
5x high voltage wires
6x medium voltage wires
2x cooling pipe
2x sewage pipes
2x Water pipes
1x factory connections
Download content pack 1
L/U 4
Cooling tower
Name Cost Workers Production Consumption Pollution Energy Wattage Storage Structure Notes
Tool cooling tower.png
Cooling tower
Workdays 5322 Workdays, Concrete 506t Concrete,

Gravel 253t Gravel, Asphalt 203t Asphalt,
Steel 65t Steel,
Mechanical components 5.2t Mechanical components

None None 3.0 MWh 50 kW Access 1x road access
4x cooling pipe
L/U 1
Zaporozie veza.png
Zaporozie Veza
Workdays 4566 Workdays, Concrete 436t Concrete,

Gravel 217t Gravel, Asphalt 173t Asphalt,
Steel 56t Steel,
Mechanical components 4.4t Mechanical components

None None 3.0 MWh 50 kW Access 1x road access
4x cooling pipe
Download content pack 1
L/U 1
Cooling pipe connection
Name Cost Notes
Tool pipe steam.png
Cooling pipe
Workdays Workdays, Steel Steel,

Mechanical components Mechanical components
Usage depends on length.

Power switch

Power can be branched off with Power switches. Contrary to the name, power switches cannot switch on or off electricity, and are only an interconnection between lines. Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic provide two types of switches, regular ones and ones with priorities[1].

The switches with priorities[1] work like this: The power primarily draws always from the higher priority source and only the rest of the required power will be drawn from lower priority power. The advantage for the players is that they can connect a Solar power plant or Wind farm with a higher priority on the switch. On another source branch a fuel burning power plant can be connected, with a lower priority. So when there is enough sunlight or wind, the power from these sources are used in the republic over the power produced by burning fuel, so saving Rubles/Dollars and keeping the pollution low. Read more about this in community post #67[2]

Name Cost Voltage Structure Notes
Tool eletric switch high.png
High voltage switch
Workdays 102 Workdays, Concrete 4.3t Concrete,

Gravel 3.3t Gravel, Asphalt 2.6t Asphalt,
Steel 1.8t Steel,
Electro components 0.38t Electro components

High voltage Access 1x road access
3x high voltage wires
L/U None
Tool eletric switch high big.png
High voltage switch 6x[1]
Workdays 146 Workdays, Concrete 6.3t Concrete,

Gravel 4.9t Gravel, Asphalt 3.9t Asphalt,
Steel 2.5t Steel,
Electro components 0.53t Electro components

High voltage Access 1x road access
5x high voltage wires
L/U None
Tool eletric switch high priority.png
High voltage switch (Priority)[1]
Workdays 200 Workdays, Concrete 6.3t Concrete,

Gravel 4.9t Gravel, Asphalt 3.9t Asphalt,
Steel 4.4t Steel,
Electro components 0.92t Electro components

High voltage Access 1x road access
4x high voltage wires
This switch has inputs and has outputs which can have different priorities.[2]
L/U None
Tool eletric switch low.png
Medium voltage switch
Workdays 45 Workdays, Concrete 1.7t Concrete,

Gravel 1.3t Gravel, Asphalt 1.0t Asphalt,
Steel 0.85t Steel,
Electro components 0.18t Electro components

Medium voltage Access 1x road access
5x medium voltage wires
L/U None
Tool eletric switch low big.png
Medium voltage switch 5x[1]
Workdays 83 Workdays, Concrete 3.1t Concrete,

Gravel 2.4t Gravel, Asphalt 1.9t Asphalt,
Steel 1.6t Steel,
Electro components 0.34t Electro components

Medium voltage Access 1x road access
3x medium voltage wires
L/U None
Tool eletric switch low priority.png
Medium voltage switch (Priority)[1]
Workdays 117 Workdays, Concrete 3.1t Concrete,

Gravel 2.4t Gravel, Asphalt 1.9t Asphalt,
Steel 2.8t Steel,
Electro components 0.59t Electro components

Medium voltage Access 1x road access
4x medium voltage wires
This switch has inputs and has outputs which can have different priorities.[2]
L/U None
Tool foreign eletric player.png
Foreign power connection[1]
Workdays 900 Workdays, Concrete 22t Concrete,

Gravel 17t Gravel, Asphalt 13t Asphalt,
Steel 22t Steel,
Mechanical components 2.8t Mechanical components Electro components 1.9t Electro components

Medium voltage Access 1x road access
1x high voltage wires
3x medium voltage wires
Building must be placed at the border.
L/U None

Transformers

Name Cost Voltage Consumption Structure Notes
Tool eletric transformator.png
Power transformer
Workdays 154 Workdays, Concrete 6.7t Concrete,

Gravel 5.1t Gravel, Asphalt 4.1t Asphalt,
Steel 2.7t Steel,
Electro components 0.55t Electro components

High voltage 18 MW Access 2x road access
1x high voltage wires
6x medium voltage wires
L/U None
Tool eletric substation.png
Electric substation
Workdays 51 Workdays, Concrete 0.77t Concrete,

Gravel 0.59t Gravel, Asphalt 0.47t Asphalt,
Bricks 2.7t Bricks, Boards 0.89t Boards,
Steel 0.66t Steel,
Electro components 0.068t Electro components

Medium voltage 2.5 MW Access 1x road access
1x medium voltage wires
L/U None
ElectricSubstationFootpath.png
Electric substation[3]
Workdays 51 Workdays, Concrete 0.77t Concrete,

Gravel 0.59t Gravel, Asphalt 0.47t Asphalt,
Bricks 2.7t Bricks, Boards 0.89t Boards,
Steel 0.66t Steel,
Electro components 0.068t Electro components

Medium voltage 2.5 MW Access 1x footpath
1x medium voltage wires
L/U None

Voltage wires

Name Cost Voltage Throughput Placement Notes
Tool eletric high1.png
High voltage wires type "1"
Workdays Workdays, Concrete Concrete,

Gravel 181t Gravel, Steel Steel,
Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length.

High voltage 4 MW Above ground
Tool eletric high2.png
High voltage wires type "2"
Workdays Workdays, Concrete Concrete,

Gravel 181t Gravel, Steel Steel,
Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length.

High voltage 6 MW Above ground
Tool eletric high3.png
High voltage wires type "3"
Workdays Workdays, Concrete Concrete,

Gravel 181t Gravel, Steel Steel,
Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length.

High voltage 8 MW Above ground
Tool eletric high4.png
High voltage wires type "4"
Workdays Workdays, Concrete Concrete,

Gravel 181t Gravel, Steel Steel,
Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length.

High voltage 10 MW Above ground
Tool eletric high5.png
High voltage wires type "5"
Workdays Workdays, Concrete Concrete,

Gravel 181t Gravel, Steel Steel,
Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length.

High voltage 13 MW Above ground
Tool eletric high6.png
High voltage wires type "6"
Workdays Workdays, Concrete Concrete,

Gravel 181t Gravel, Steel Steel,
Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length.

High voltage 14 MW Above ground
Tool eletric high.png
High voltage wires type "7"
Workdays Workdays, Concrete Concrete,

Gravel 181t Gravel, Steel Steel,
Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length.

High voltage 15 MW Above ground
Tool eletric high7.png
High voltage wires type "8"
Workdays Workdays, Concrete Concrete,

Gravel 181t Gravel, Steel Steel,
Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length.

High voltage 18 MW Above ground
Tool eletric uhigh0.png
Underground high voltage wires type "1"
Workdays Workdays, Gravel 181t Gravel

Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length and depth.

High voltage 5 MW Underground
Tool eletric uhigh1.png
Underground high voltage wires type "2"
Workdays Workdays, Gravel 181t Gravel

Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length and depth.

High voltage 7 MW Underground
Tool eletric uhigh2.png
Underground high voltage wires type "3"
Workdays Workdays, Gravel 181t Gravel

Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length and depth.

High voltage 12 MW Underground
Tool eletric low0.png
Medium voltage wires type "1"
Workdays Workdays, Steel Steel,

Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length.

Medium voltage 0.65 MW Above ground
Tool eletric low1.png
Medium voltage wires type "2"
Workdays Workdays, Steel Steel,

Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length.

Medium voltage 1.2 MW Above ground
Tool eletric low3.png
Medium voltage wires type "3"
Workdays Workdays, Steel Steel,

Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length.

Medium voltage 1.5 MW Above ground
Tool eletric low2.png
Medium voltage wires type "4"
Workdays Workdays, Steel Steel,

Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length.

Medium voltage 2.35 MW Above ground
Tool eletric ulow0.png
Underground medium voltage wires type "1"
Workdays Workdays, Gravel 181t Gravel

Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length and depth.

Medium voltage 0.5 MW Underground
Tool eletric ulow1.png
Underground medium voltage wires type "2"
Workdays Workdays, Gravel 181t Gravel

Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length and depth.

Medium voltage 0.95 MW Underground
Tool eletric ulow2.png
Underground medium voltage wires type "3"
Workdays Workdays, Gravel 181t Gravel

Electro components Electro components
Usage depends on length and depth.

Medium voltage 1.45 MW Underground

Construction

Coal power plant
Requirements
Workdays 7635 Workdays
Asphalt 113t Asphalt
Concrete 871t Concrete
Gravel 142t Gravel
Steel 287t Steel
Gas power plant
Requirements
Workdays 6332 Workdays
Asphalt 11t Asphalt
Concrete 865t Concrete
Gravel 125t Gravel
Steel 203t Steel
Solar power plant
Requirements
Workdays 8417 Workdays
Concrete 153t Concrete
Gravel 34t Gravel
Steel 5t Steel
Big wind power plant
Requirements
Concrete 3.2t Concrete
Gravel 2.5t Gravel
Steel 17t Steel
Small wind power plant
Requirements
Asphalt 0.8t Asphalt
Concrete 1.3t Concrete
Gravel 0.99t Gravel
Steel 8.9t Steel
Incinerator power plant
Requirements
Workdays 2935 Workdays
Asphalt 31t Asphalt
Gravel 39t Gravel
Steel 152t Steel
Single reactor nuclear power plant
Requirements
Workdays 12564 Workdays
Asphalt 11t Asphalt
Bricks 129t Bricks
Boards 43t Boards
Concrete 235t Concrete
Gravel 181t Gravel
Steel 439t Steel
Twin reactor nuclear power plant
Requirements
Workdays 20421 Workdays
Asphalt 262t Asphalt
Bricks 162t Bricks
Boards 54t Boards
Concrete 367t Concrete
Gravel 282t Gravel
Steel 769t Steel
Zaporozie reactor
Requirements
Workdays 13502 Workdays
Asphalt 196t Asphalt
Bricks 212t Bricks
Boards 70t Boards
Concrete 318t Concrete
Gravel 245t Gravel
Steel 280t Steel

Gallery

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Available from Workers & resources: Soviet Republic patch 0.8.9
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic's Report for the Community #67.
  3. Available from Workers & resources: Soviet Republic patch 0.9.0