Electricity
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
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
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
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.
Power plants
Name | Cost | Workers | Production | Consumption | Pollution | Energy | Wattage | Storage | Structure | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coal power plant |
See below | 20 | Power | 1400MWhCoal 0.40m3/day Water |
24t 39.5 tons/year | 0.60 MWh | 23 MWh | Coal | 100tAccess | 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 |
See below | 15 | Power | 1050MWhOil 0.30m3/day Water |
8.8t 35.8 tons/year | 3.4 MWh | 17 MWh | Coal | 200tAccess | 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 |
See below | 8 | Power | 560MWhWater | 0.16m3/dayNone | 0.24 MWh | 9.3 MWh | Coal | 200tAccess | 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 |
See below | None | Power | 15MWhNone | 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 |
See below | None | Power | 35MWhNone | None | 0 MWh | 0 MWh | None | Access | 1x road access 1x medium voltage wires |
See Small wind power plant. |
L/U | None | ||||||||||
Incinerator - power plant[1] |
See below | 20 | Power | 660MWhMixed waste 0.40m3/day Water |
60t 48.00 tons/year | 0.60 MWh | 11 MWh | Mixed waste (Import) 58t Mixed waste (Export) |
30t 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 nuclear power plant |
See below | 40 20 |
Power 0.02t Nuclear waste 6.80m3/day Wastewater |
4680MWh Nuclear fuel 1.20m3/day Water Quality 60% Water |
0.04t 9.0 tons/year | 7.8 MWh | 78 MWh | Nuclear fuel (import) 3t Nuclear waste (export) 91m2 for containers |
3t 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 nuclear power plant |
See below | 80 40 |
Power 0.04t Nuclear waste 13m3/day Wastewater |
9360MWh Nuclear fuel 2.40m3/day Water Quality 60% Water |
0.08t 14.2 tons/year | 9.6 MWh | 156 MWh | Nuclear fuel (import) 3t Nuclear waste (export) 88m2 for containers |
3t 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 |
See below | 45 23 |
Power 0.023t Nuclear waste 7.7m3/day Wastewater |
5850MWh Nuclear fuel 1.36m3/day Water Quality 60% Water |
0.045t 14.2 tons/year | 8.0 MWh | 97 MWh | Nuclear fuel (import) 3t Nuclear waste (export) 209m2 for containers |
3t 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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cooling tower |
Workdays, 506t Concrete, Gravel, 203t Asphalt, |
5322 None | None | 3.0 MWh | 50 kW | Access | 1x road access 4x cooling pipe |
||||
L/U | 1 | ||||||||||
Zaporozie Veza |
Workdays, 436t Concrete, Gravel, 173t Asphalt, |
4566 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 |
---|---|---|
Cooling pipe |
Workdays, Steel, Mechanical components |
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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
High voltage switch |
Workdays, 4.3t Concrete, Gravel, 2.6t Asphalt, |
102 High voltage | Access | 1x road access 3x high voltage wires |
|
L/U | None | ||||
High voltage switch 6x[1] |
Workdays, 6.3t Concrete, Gravel, 3.9t Asphalt, |
146 High voltage | Access | 1x road access 5x high voltage wires |
|
L/U | None | ||||
High voltage switch (Priority)[1] |
Workdays, 6.3t Concrete, Gravel, 3.9t Asphalt, |
200 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 | ||||
Medium voltage switch |
Workdays, 1.7t Concrete, Gravel, 1.0t Asphalt, |
45 Medium voltage | Access | 1x road access 5x medium voltage wires |
|
L/U | None | ||||
Medium voltage switch 5x[1] |
Workdays, 3.1t Concrete, Gravel, 1.9t Asphalt, |
83 Medium voltage | Access | 1x road access 3x medium voltage wires |
|
L/U | None | ||||
Medium voltage switch (Priority)[1] |
Workdays, 3.1t Concrete, Gravel, 1.9t Asphalt, |
117 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 | ||||
Foreign power connection[1] |
Workdays, 22t Concrete, Gravel, 13t Asphalt, |
900 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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power transformer |
Workdays, 6.7t Concrete, Gravel, 4.1t Asphalt, |
154 High voltage | 18 MW | Access | 2x road access 1x high voltage wires 6x medium voltage wires |
|
L/U | None | |||||
Electric substation |
Workdays, 0.77t Concrete, Gravel, 0.47t Asphalt, |
51 Medium voltage | 2.5 MW | Access | 1x road access 1x medium voltage wires |
|
L/U | None | |||||
Electric substation[3] |
Workdays, 0.77t Concrete, Gravel, 0.47t Asphalt, |
51 Medium voltage | 2.5 MW | Access | 1x footpath 1x medium voltage wires |
|
L/U | None |
Voltage wires
Name | Cost | Voltage | Throughput | Placement | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
High voltage wires type "1" |
Workdays, Concrete, Gravel, Steel, |
High voltage | 4 MW | Above ground | |
High voltage wires type "2" |
Workdays, Concrete, Gravel, Steel, |
High voltage | 6 MW | Above ground | |
High voltage wires type "3" |
Workdays, Concrete, Gravel, Steel, |
High voltage | 8 MW | Above ground | |
High voltage wires type "4" |
Workdays, Concrete, Gravel, Steel, |
High voltage | 10 MW | Above ground | |
High voltage wires type "5" |
Workdays, Concrete, Gravel, Steel, |
High voltage | 13 MW | Above ground | |
High voltage wires type "6" |
Workdays, Concrete, Gravel, Steel, |
High voltage | 14 MW | Above ground | |
High voltage wires type "7" |
Workdays, Concrete, Gravel, Steel, |
High voltage | 15 MW | Above ground | |
High voltage wires type "8" |
Workdays, Concrete, Gravel, Steel, |
High voltage | 18 MW | Above ground | |
Underground high voltage wires type "1" |
Workdays, 181t Gravel
Electro components |
High voltage | 5 MW | Underground | |
Underground high voltage wires type "2" |
Workdays, 181t Gravel
Electro components |
High voltage | 7 MW | Underground | |
Underground high voltage wires type "3" |
Workdays, 181t Gravel
Electro components |
High voltage | 12 MW | Underground | |
Medium voltage wires type "1" |
Workdays, Steel, Electro components |
Medium voltage | 0.65 MW | Above ground | |
Medium voltage wires type "2" |
Workdays, Steel, Electro components |
Medium voltage | 1.2 MW | Above ground | |
Medium voltage wires type "3" |
Workdays, Steel, Electro components |
Medium voltage | 1.5 MW | Above ground | |
Medium voltage wires type "4" |
Workdays, Steel, Electro components |
Medium voltage | 2.35 MW | Above ground | |
Underground medium voltage wires type "1" |
Workdays, 181t Gravel
Electro components |
Medium voltage | 0.5 MW | Underground | |
Underground medium voltage wires type "2" |
Workdays, 181t Gravel
Electro components |
Medium voltage | 0.95 MW | Underground | |
Underground medium voltage wires type "3" |
Workdays, 181t Gravel
Electro components |
Medium voltage | 1.45 MW | Underground |
Construction
- Coal power plant
Requirements | |||
---|---|---|---|
7635 113t 871t 142t 7.3t 3.7t 287t |
- Gas power plant
Requirements | |||
---|---|---|---|
6332 11t 865t 125t 6.3t 2.9t 203t |
- Solar power plant
Requirements | |||
---|---|---|---|
8417 153t 34t 9.8t 4t 5t |
- Big wind power plant
Requirements | |||
---|---|---|---|
691 2t 3.2t 2.5t 2.9t 1.9t 17t |
- Small wind power plant
Requirements | |||
---|---|---|---|
241 0.8t 1.3t 0.99t 1t 0.65t 8.9t |
- Incinerator power plant
Requirements | |||
---|---|---|---|
2935 31t 51t 39t 5.9t 1.7t 152t |
- Single reactor nuclear power plant
Requirements | |||
---|---|---|---|
12564 11t 129t 43t 235t 181t 25t 18t 439t |
- Twin reactor nuclear power plant
Requirements | |||
---|---|---|---|
20421 262t 162t 54t 367t 282t 47t 23t 769t |
- Zaporozie reactor
Requirements | |||
---|---|---|---|
13502 196t 212t 70t 318t 245t 47t 768t 280t |