Talk:Nuclear Power Plant
is there any significant advantage to the nuclear plant at lower levels?
- It's cheaper to build a low-level nuclear plant than it is to build an additional level of Solar Array. You can adjust the power output (and therefore the hydrogen consumption) to provide that extra few power you need until you can get another Solar Satellite built, or expand your solar arrays. --Rob 13:48, 19 October 2009 (UTC)
Production formula
In the formula for energy production the author uses the "x" symbol and the "*" symbol in the equation. I am presuming that "x" is used to indicate multiplication, but that leaves it unclear as to whether "*" is being used as an alternate symbol for the same function or to indicate something else, perhaps "raised to the power of".
The "*" symbol is used consistently in the consumption equation, where it seems to represent multiplication (if it's exponentiation, then the consumption would be prohibitive, lol). Could someone please clarify the output equation? Thanks.
- I fixed it. It's all plain multiplication. Exponentials are signified with superscripts or ^. --Rob 16:53, 21 October 2009 (UTC)
Very nice. thank you
How exactly does efficiency factor in to Hydrogen production? I've not had a chance to look at this in depth yet, but I'm thinking it will change the production by multiplying it by the efficiency? --Chimera 14:43, 22 December 2009 (UTC)
- The game doesn't calculate efficiency at all. The efficiency table only shows you how much hydrogen is used per energy point created. You won't care about the efficiency of the plant, really. You will be researching energy to build better ships. Then energy tech gets so expensive that if you want more output from your nuke plant you won't research energy, you'll make the plant itself bigger. --Rob 21:16, 22 December 2009 (UTC)
- After taking a much better look at this it seems that you're right on the money. Thanks for the answer through. this one had me thinking a bit longer than it should have =) --Chimera 13:21, 24 March 2010 (UTC)
Nuclear Power Plant vs Solar Array
So my planets are starting to reach their max size in fields. would it save me more room on the planet (field-wise) to have all my mines run just on the solar array, or the nuclear power plant?
See the discussion on solar array - almost certainly the nuclear plant is more space efficient. Switching to it right now is going to save me 7 spaces.
- It depends on what you already have, and your energy tech. Silver Gate Squadron 03:53, 15 June 2010 (UTC)
Made a spreadsheet that calculates the fields of solar you need to equal x number of nuclear, and vice versa. Found that at energy tech 4 or greater, up to a level 30 nuclear plant, you're going to need more fields for the solar to equal the power output. At higher levels, it's quite dramatic- for instance, at 12 energy tech, you need 25 fields worth of solar to equal the power output of a level 15 nuclear plant, and at 14 energy tech, you need a level 26 solar array. Also, as you get up towards 13+ energy tech and a level 20+ nuclear plant, the cumulative cost of building the nuclear plants is less than the solar.
- Keep in mind that the field savings is not quite as much as you think, since you also need to factor in the extra hydro synth levels necessary to power the nuclear. It's still an advantage, just not as large. - Silver Gate Squadron 04:10, 5 August 2010 (UTC)
Description in game
According to the game: "Produces additional electricity to power your mines and buildings, at a cost of hydrogen. The Nuclear Power Plant consumes more hydrogen and produces more energy for each level of energy tech." This sounds like it uses more hydro for each level of energy tech, but the formula doesn't seem to agree with this. I'm assuming the game description is wrong? Perhaps the wiki page should reflect this.
- I looked at the math. You're right, the game's description is wrong. The hydrogen usage only changes if you upgrade the NPP itself. The energy output, however, does change with Energy Tech OR plant upgrade. Silver Gate Squadron 01:11, 15 June 2010 (UTC)
