Best methods to generate power in Satisfactory

Power and energy are the building blocks of Satisfactory. You can’t progress to bigger and better tools and resources if you don’t have enough power to run your factory. But what are the best sources of power in the game? Let’s find out.

The full release of Satisfactory has been greeted with tons of positive reactions from existing players as well as new ones, with developer Coffee Stain Studios adding several new features and improving older ones. While there’s still more to be added to the game, like the use of SAM ore, Satisfactory 1.0 should keep players busy for a fair bit.

With the huge intake of new “pioneers” who’ve pushed the game’s player count to all-time highs comes the opportunity to learn its basic functions and one of these is learning the best ways to efficiently power a factory. 

Satisfactory power generators, ranked from worst to best

Satisfactory has five options available to players as far as power generation is concerned, and all of them are important at one stage or another. So, to help you out, we’ve ranked all of them below.

5) Biomass Burner

The Biomass Burner is the first power generator you’ll build in Satisfactory. It’s also the easiest to operate, as the 1.0 update added a Conveyer Belt input port to it, allowing you to automate your factory from the get-go. These generators are fueled by the following:

• Alien Remains
• Alien Organs
• Solid Biofuel
• Packaged Liquid Biofuel
• Alien Carapace
• Biomass
• Wood
• Fabric
• Mycelia
• Leaves

Biomass Burners are unlocked at Tier Zero as a part of HUB Upgrade Six. They produce up to 30MW of power.

4) Coal Generator

Coal generators are unlocked at Tier Three, giving players access to their first fully automated power source in Satisfactory and paving the way toward faster production and growth. As the name suggests, these generators burn coal to produce power for your factory.

To ensure your Coal Generator is fueled and keeps powering your factory, you’ll need one of the following materials:

• Coal
• Compacted Coal
• Petroleum Coke

You’ll also need to pair these ingredients with water, which you can transport to your generator using Water Extractors. Coal Generators have a maximum power production value of 75 MW.

3) Fuel Generator

The Fuel Generator can be unlocked at Tier Six, once you’ve completed Tier Five’s Oil Processing and Fluid Transportation milestone, among others. It can generate power by burning three fuel types:

• Fuel
• Turbofuel
• Liquid Biofuel

Fuel Generators can produce up to 250 MW, and can be boosted or “overclocked” using Power Shards.

2) Geothermal Generator

The Geothermal Generator is slightly different than its counterparts, as it isn’t unlocked by completing the many Tier milestones in the game. You need to unlock it using Caterium Research, which is only accessible on the MAM, or Molecular Analysis Machine.

Once you’ve researched it, you’ll need to find Geysers to place it on, as they’re its only fuel source. No other materials are needed to facilitate the Geothermal Generator as it generates power. Speaking of power generation, you’ll need to pick your Geysers carefully, since the amount of power generated depends on how pure a Geyser is. Therefore, it can produce anywhere from 50 MW to a whopping 600 MW.

1) Nuclear Power Plant

The king of Satisfactory power generation, the Nuclear Power Plant, can be unlocked at Tier Eight. It surpasses every other power source in the game by hundreds of megawatts, generating a gargantuan 2500 MW at maximum capacity. Understandably, players will most likely use Nuclear Power Plants towards the endgame.

Nuclear Power Plants can be fueled by two types of fuel rods in Satisfactory:

• Uranium Fuel Rods
• Plutonium Fuel Rods

You’ll also need to combine water with the fuel rods, so make sure you factor in your Water Extractors when building and placing your Nuclear Power Plants. In addition, be mindful of the byproducts they produce, which are Uranium Waste and Plutonium Waste. The latter has no uses, while Uranium Waste is used in some Tier Eight crafting recipes.

Satisfactory gives you the tools to manage your factory better with every Tier, enabling you to cater to its needs. While the more advanced power sources in the game can take some time to get to, they can help expand your power grid and increase efficiency at every point.