Steam Engine

Steam Engine is a power-producing building used to convert fuel and water into electrical output for connected power grids. It requires logs as fuel and water as a resource. Power connections attach through the central block on each side of the building and do not require an entrance. The building belongs to the Power category.

The Steam Engine must be supplied with logs and water by Hauling Posts. A full resource buffer allows a Steam Engine to operate for just over two days if fuel and water are stocked. Steam Engines operate at their full fuel consumption rate when running, even if the current power demand of the connected grid is lower than the engine's maximum output. If there is no demand in the connected power grid, a Steam Engine stops operating to conserve fuel; while stopped, any partially spent fuel remains at its current level.

Steam Engine design and requirements changed during development. In the original release the building was called Engine; it was renamed Steam Engine and gained a water requirement. The building cost was changed from 20 Logs, 25 Gears, 20 Metal block to 20 Logs, 25 Gears, 40 Metal part. Log storage and log consumption were halved (storage reduced from 10 to 5, consumption reduced from 0.2/hr to 0.1/hr). The Steam Engine was introduced in Update 2.

• Ensure you have sufficient haulers assigned so logs and water reach the Hauling Posts that feed the Steam Engine.
• Place Hauling Posts and storage so paths are short and unobstructed to maintain steady fuel and water supply.
• Provision roughly 10 Oak (logs) worth of production to sustain continuous Steam Engine operation, allowing a safety margin for logging and transport inefficiencies.
• Remember Steam Engines stop when there is no grid demand, preserving partial fuel rather than consuming it unnecessarily.