Hydrogen Fuel Rod

Hydrogen Fuel Rod is a mid-game fuel item made from hydrogen and titanium ingots. It is one of the earliest fuel rods that can be crafted, and it serves both as a power plant fuel and as an excellent mech fuel. Compared with early-game fuels such as Energetic Graphite, it stores more energy, restores power faster, and is much more convenient for long-range travel once hydrogen and titanium production are established.

The standard recipe converts 10 hydrogen into 2 Hydrogen Fuel Rods, so the item provides a net energy gain even after accounting for the crafting cost. This makes it useful not only as a direct upgrade over basic combustion fuels, but also as a stepping stone toward later fuel rod production. Hydrogen Fuel Rods can be burned in a Thermal Power Plant and used in Icarus' core reactor.

Its strongest role is mech propulsion. Hydrogen Fuel Rods have a +200% combustion chamber power bonus, letting the Mecha recharge much faster than it does on Coal or Energetic graphite. They are especially valuable for repeated interplanetary travel during the stage when Structure matrix production forces frequent trips to other planets for Titanium Ore. If Energetic graphite or Combustible Unit no longer feels strong enough for Mecha charging, switching to Hydrogen Fuel Rods greatly improves flight endurance and turnaround time.

For stationary power generation, Hydrogen Fuel Rods burn for 20 seconds in a Thermal Power Plant. One Assembling Machine Mk.I producing Hydrogen Fuel Rods can supply 5 Thermal Power Plants. Their higher energy per item also makes them attractive on other planets where thermal power is still important, since transporting fewer fuel items reduces the logistics burden compared with carrying hydrogen itself. On the starting planet, however, their advantage for thermal power is less pronounced, because the combustion chamber bonus does not affect Thermal Power Plant output.

Hydrogen Fuel Rods do not serve as an ingredient for other buildings or components, so once Deuteron Fuel Rod production is available, they are generally phased out as a direct fuel product.

• Crafted from hydrogen and titanium ingots.
• Used in Thermal Power Plant and Icarus' core reactor.
• Much better for Mecha charging than Coal or Energetic graphite.
• Burns for 20 seconds in a Thermal Power Plant.
• A single Mk.I assembler can support 5 Thermal Power Plants.
• Prior to Patch 0.6.17.5972, each rod had an energy value of 40 MJ.