Energy Sources

Dyson Sphere Program's main focus is power generation; as such, there are a plethora of different ways of generating power in the game, ranging from the humble wind turbine you start with, to fusion generators, artificial stars, and, of course, the Dyson Sphere itself. Some of these generators and your mech, Icarus, run on one or more different fuels. This page lists all fuels in the game and Their stats.

Fuel stats

All fuels have two stats: Energy, and Fuel chamber gen.

Energy is the total energy each item contains. When used in Icarus, the Mini Fusion Power Station and the Artificial Star, this is the total energy it generates. Thermal Power Stations incur a 20% energy loss for all fuels they use.

Fuel chamber gen. marks how quickly Icarus' reactor core converts the fuel. This only changes how fast energy is recharged, not how much total energy is produced. Note that Coal with 0% is the only fuel that matches your Energy Circuit upgrade level. Both positive and negative percentages are relative to this. For instance, both a Hydrogen Fuel Rod and the 5 Hydrogen it requires to produce contain a total of 54MJ, but the fuel rod has a Fuel chamber gen. of +200% instead of the +100% of regular hydrogen, meaning you will use the fuel rod 50% faster (300% total charge rate compared to 200%) than the regular hydrogen and therefore recharge energy 50% faster. The time fuel lasts, and your recovery speed, both depend on your Energy Circuit upgrade level.

The "fuel chamber gen." stat only affects Icarus; it has no effect on Thermal Power Plants.

Burn Time

Burn Time is calculated with the following formula:

(Energy * Efficiency) / Rate == burn time (in seconds)

Energy is the amount of energy stored in the fuel, in Joules.
Efficiency is the conversion efficiency of the generator burning the fuel. For a Thermal Power Station, this is 0.8 (80%).
Rate is the rate at which the generator is supplying power (in Watts) to the grid.

Example: To calculate the burn time of 1 Energetic Graphite in 1 thermal power generator at 100% load:

Energy * Efficiency / Rate == burn time (in seconds)
(6.3 MJ * 0.8) / 2.16MW  == 2.333 seconds

The table below has been calculated at 100% load for all fuels/generators. Fuel typically takes longer than this to burn in practice, because it is abnormal to keep a power grid at 100% load at all times.

List of Fuels

Fuel	Stack Size	Type	Energy	Energy per stack	Fuel chamber gen.	Generator	Generator Burn Time	Units per minute in generator	Generators per belt
	500	Natural Resource, Chemical	500 kJ	250 MJ	-30%		0.185 s	324.32	1.11	2.22	5.55
	100	Natural Resource, Chemical	1.50 MJ	150 MJ	-10%		0.556 s	107.91	3.34	6.67	16.68
	100	Rare Resource, Material, Chemical	1.80 MJ	180 MJ	-20%		0.667 s	89.96	4	8	20.01
	100	Natural Resource, Chemical	2.70 MJ	270 MJ	0%		1 s	60	6	12	30
	100	Material, Chemical	6.75 MJ	675 MJ	+50%		2.5 s	24	15	30	75
	100	Material, Chemical	9.72 MJ	972 MJ	+50%		3.6 s	16.67	21.6	43.2	108
	100	Material, Chemical	21.6 MJ	2.16 GJ	+ 120%		8 s	7.5	48	96	240
	100	Material, Chemical	54.0 MJ	5.4 GJ	+200%		20 s	3	120	240	600
	20	Natural Resource, Chemical	4.05 MJ	81 MJ	+20%		1.5 s	40	9	18	45
	20	Material, Chemical	4.50 MJ	90 MJ	+30%		1.67 s	36	10	20	50
	20	Rare Resource, Material, Chemical	9.00 MJ	180 MJ	+100%		3.33 s	18	20	40	100
	20	Rare Resource, Material, Chemical	9.00 MJ	180 MJ	+100%		3.33 s	18	20	40	100
	100	Material, Chemical	900 kJ	90 MJ	-50%		0.333 s	180.18	2	4	9.99
	100	Material, Chemical	96.0 kJ	9.6 MJ	-70%		0.036 s	1666.67	0.22	0.43	1.08
	100	Material, Chemical	84.0 kJ	8.4 MJ	-80%		0.031 s	1935.48	0.19	0.37	0.93
	50	Rare Resource, Chemical	4.80 MJ	240 MJ	+40%		1.778 s	33.75	10.67	21.33	53.33
	30	End Product, Chemical	54.0 MJ	1.62 GJ	+200%		20 s	3	120	240	600
	30	End Product, Nuclear Energy	600 MJ	18 GJ	+300%		40 s	1.5	240	480	1200
	30	End Product, Mass Energy	7.20 GJ	216 GJ	+500%		100 s	0.6	600	1200	3000
	50	End Product, Mass Energy	72.0 GJ	3.6 TJ	+1100%		500 s	0.12	3000	6000	15000
	50	Power storage	270.0 MJ	13.5 GJ	+100%		6 s	10	12	24	60

Efficient Power Production

The following chapters describe by example the best ways to utilize the different basic fuel resources Coal, Crude Oil, and Fire Ice, taking the power consumption of required buildings like smelters, refineries, sorters etc. into account.

Coal vs. Energetic Graphite

Assumptions

• Four Mining Machines, each covering 6 Coal Veins.
• No Veins Utilization upgrade.

Burning Coal

• Coal production: 24 Veins * 0.5 Coal/s = 12 Coal/s.
• Power Stations needed to burn 12 Coal/s: 12 * 2.7 MJ * 0.8 / 2.16 MW = 12 Stations.
• Power production: 12 Stations * 2.16 MW = 25.92 MW.
• Power consumption:

1. Mining Machines: 4 * 420 kW = 1.68 MW.
2. Sorters (1 per Station): 12 * 18 kW = 0.216 MW.

• Net power production: 25.92 MW - 1.68 MW - 0.216 MW = 24.024 MW.

Burning Energetic Graphite

• Smelting 12 Coal/s needs 12 Smelters, and results in 6 Graphite/s.
• Power Stations needed to burn 6 Graphite/s: 6 * 6.75 MJ * 0.8 / 2.16 MW = 15 Stations.
• Power production: 15 Stations * 2.16 MW = 32.4 MW.
• Power consumption:

1. Mining Machines: 4 * 420 kW = 1.68 MW.
2. Smelters: 12 * 360 kW = 4.32 MW.
3. Sorters (2 per Smelter, 1 per Station): 39 * 18 kW = 0.702 MW.

• Net power production: 32.4 MW - 1.68 MW - 4.32 MW - 0.702 MW = 25.698 MW.

Conclusion

The increased effort of smelting Energetic Graphite from Coal results in ~1.7 MW more net power production.

• Coal: 24.024 MW
• Energetic Graphite: 25.698 MW.

Crude Oil vs. Refined Oil vs. X-Ray Cracking vs. Hydrogen Fuel Rods

Crude Oil can be converted to Refined Oil and Hydrogen. Using the X-Ray Cracking recipe, this can be converted into Energetic Graphite and Hydrogen. Finally, Hydrogen and Titanium Ingots can be crafted into Hydrogen Fuel Rods.

Energy change from conversion

As for Coal-to-Energetic-Graphite above, we can do some quick math of the energy difference from converting the different stages of fuel to their next possible outcome. Note that for each case, if your system is not perfectly balanced to maximize factory usage, each second spent idle is extra energy lost and the results given are only an upper bound of the best you could get, but you most likely will get less.

• Crude Oil to Refined Oil and Hydrogen for 1 Oil Refinery and extra sorters over 4 seconds: (8MJ + 2 * 4.4MJ) * 0.8 - (2 * 4MJ) * 0.8 - (960kW + 4.1 * 18kW) * 4s = +2.9048MJ or +726.2kW.
• Refined Oil to Hydrogen and Graphite for 1 Oil Refinery and extra sorters over 4 seconds: (8MJ + 6.3MJ) * 0.8 - (4.4MJ) * 0.8 - (960kW + 6.25 * 18 kW) * 4s = +3.63MJ or +907.5kW.
• Hydrogen and Titanium Ore to Hydrogen Fuel Rods for 1 Smelter and 2 Assembling Machines Mk.I and extra sorters over 4 seconds: (50MJ) * 0.8 - (5 * 8MJ) * 0.8 - (2 * 270kW + 360kW + 6.25 * 18kW) * 4s = +3.95MJ or +987.5kW.

Assumptions

• One Crude Oil Seep producing 1.5 Oil/s.
• No Veins Utilization upgrade.

Burning Crude Oil

• Power Stations needed to burn 1.5 Oil/s: 1.5 * 4 MJ * 0.8 / 2.16 MW = 2 Stations.
• Power production: 2 Stations * 2.16 MW = 4.32 MW.
• Power consumption:

1. Oil Extractor: 1 * 840 kW = 0.84 MW.
2. Sorters (1 per Station): 2 * 18 kW = 0.036 MW.

• Net power production: 4.32 MW - 0.84 MW - 0.036 MW = 3.444 MW.

Burning Refined Oil and Hydrogen

• Refining 1.5 Crude Oil/s needs 3 Oil Refineries, and results in 1.5 Refined Oil/s and 0.75 Hydrogen/s.
• Power Stations needed to burn 1.5 Refined Oil/s: 1.5 * 4.4 MJ * 0.8 / 2.16 MW = 2 Stations.
• Power Stations needed to burn 0.75 Hydrogen/s: 0.75 * 8 MJ * 0.8 / 2.16 MW = 2 Stations.
• Power production: 4 Stations * 2.16 MW = 8.64 MW.
• Power consumption:

1. Oil Extractor: 1 * 840 kW = 0.84 MW.
2. Oil Refineries: 3 * 960 kW = 2.88 MW.
3. Sorters (3 per Refinery, 1 per Station): 13 * 18 kW = 0.234 MW.

• Net power production: 8.64 MW - 0.84 MW - 2.88 MW - 0.234 MW = 4.686 MW.

Burning Energetic Graphite and Hydrogen (X-Ray Cracking)

• Cracking 1.5 Refined Oil/s needs 6 Oil Refineries, and results in 1.5 Graphite/s and 1.5 extra Hydrogen/s (2.25 Hydrogen/s in total).
• Power Stations needed to burn 1.5 Graphite/s: 1.5 * 6.3 MJ * 0.8 / 2.16 MW = 3 Stations.
• Power Stations needed to burn 2.25 Hydrogen/s: 2.25 * 8 MJ * 0.8 / 2.16 MW = 6 Stations.
• Power production: 9 Stations * 2.16 MW = 19.44 MW.
• Power consumption:

1. Oil Extractor: 1 * 840 kW = 0.84 MW.
2. Oil Refineries: 9 * 960 kW = 8.64 MW.
3. Sorters (3 per Refined Oil, 4 per X-Ray, 1 per Station): 42 * 18 kW = 0.756 MW.

• Net power production: 19.44 MW - 0.84 MW - 8.64 MW - 0.756 MW = 9.204 MW.

Burning Energetic Graphite and Hydrogen Fuel Rods (With X-Ray Cracking)

• Crafting Hydrogen Fuel Rods from 2.25 Hydrogen/s needs 2 Assemblers, and results in 0.45 Fuel Rods/s (5 Hydrogen per Fuel Rod).
• Smelting the required 0.45 Titanium Ingots/s for the Fuel Rods needs 1 Smelter (max. output 0.5 ingots/s). It consumes 0.9 Titanium Ore/s which can be mined by 1 Mining Machine covering 2 Titanium Ore Veins.
• Power Stations needed to burn 1.5 Graphite/s: 1.5 * 6.3 MJ * 0.8 / 2.16 MW = 3 Stations.
• Power Stations needed to burn 0.45 Fuel Rods/s: 0.45 * 50 MJ * 0.8 / 2.16 MW = 8 Stations.
• Power production: 11 Stations * 2.16 MW = 23.76 MW.
• Power consumption:

1. Oil Extractor: 1 * 840 kW = 0.84 MW.
2. Oil Refineries: 9 * 960 kW = 8.64 MW.
3. Mining Machines: 1 * 420 kW = 0.42 MW.
4. Smelters: 1 * 360 kW = 0.36 MW.
5. Assemblers: 2 * 270 kW = 0.54 MW.
6. Sorters (3 per Refined Oil, 4 per X-Ray, 2 per Smelter, 3 per Assembler, 1 per Station): 52 * 18 kW = 0.936 MW.

• Net power production: 23.76 MW - 0.84 MW - 8.64 MW - 0.42 MW - 0.36 MW - 0.54 MW - 0.936 MW = 12.024 MW.

Conclusion

Each step in the production chain increases the net power production.

• Crude Oil: 3.444 MW.
• Refined Oil: 4.686 MW.
• X-Ray Cracking: 9.204 MW.
• Hydrogen Fuel Rods: 12.024 MW.

Fire Ice vs. Hydrogen vs. Hydrogen Fuel Rods

Fire Ice could be converted to Hydrogen or Hydrogen Fuel Rods.

Energy change from conversion

• Fire Ice to Hydrogen and Graphene for 1 Chemical Plant and extra sorters without burning the graphene over 2 seconds: (8MJ) * 0.8 - (2 * 4.8MJ) * 0.8 - (720kW + 2.42 * 18kW) * 2s = -2.807MJ or -1.404MW.

• Fire Ice to Hydrogen and Graphene for 1 Chemical Plant and extra sorters when burning the graphene over 2 seconds: (8MJ + 2 * 96kW) * 0.8 - (2 * 4.8MJ) * 0.8 - (720kW + 2.42 * 18kW) * 2s = -2.730MJ or -1.365MW.
• Hydrogen and Titanium Ore to Hydrogen Fuel Rods: check the line above made for the crude oil section.

Assumptions

• Four Mining Machines, each covering 6 Fire Ice Veins.
• No Veins Utilization upgrade.

Burning Fire Ice

• Fire Ice production: 24 Veins * 0.5 Fire Ice/s = 12 Fire Ice/s.
• Power Stations needed to burn 12 Fire Ice/s: 12 * 4.8 MJ * 0.8 / 2.16 MW = 21 Stations.
• Power production: 21 Stations * 2.16 MW = 45.36 MW.
• Power consumption:

1. Mining Machines: 4 * 420 kW = 1.68 MW.
2. Sorters (1 per Station): 21 * 18 kW = 0.378 MW.

• Net power production: 45.36 MW - 1.68 MW - 0.378 MW = 43.302 MW.

Burning Hydrogen

2 Fire Ice (9.6 MJ) can be converted to 1 Hydrogen (8 MJ) and 2 Graphene (0.192 MJ) which is already a loss of energy without taking any buildings into account.

Burning Hydrogen Fuel Rods

• Crafting Hydrogen from 12 Fire Ice/s needs 12 Chemical Plants, and results in 6 Hydrogen/s and 12 Graphene/s.
• Crafting Hydrogen Fuel Rods from 6 Hydrogen/s results in 1.2 Fuel Rods/s and 12 Graphene/s.
• Power Stations needed to burn 1.2 Fuel Rods/s: 1.2 * 50 MJ * 0.8 / 2.16 MW = 22 Stations (one more than needed for burning Fire Ice).
• The produced Graphene cannot satisfy a single Power Station: 12 * 0.096 MJ * 0.8 / 2.16 MW = (exactly) 0.43 Stations.
• The 1.43 extra Power Stations produce 3.08 MW more power, compared to burning Fire Ice directly.
• The 12 Chemical Plants needed to produce Hydrogen already consume 12 * 720 kW = 8.64 MW.

Conclusion

Burning Fire Ice directly in the Thermal Power Station is more efficient than converting it to Hydrogen or Hydrogen Fuel Rods. Unless you need extra graphene from Fire Ice, this is highly discouraged.

Production overview

Source	Explanation	Build cost	Upkeep cost
	Mining Coal on decent sized Coal Vein may give you around 18 coal/second, requiring 18 Power Stations to burn and producing 36MW net power. Since low power in grid will slow down the miners, it may be better to use separate power network for miners	3000 ores / 100 MW	Uses 50 Coal from Coal Vein per 100MW Each 500k Coal Vein will last for 8 hours at 18 coal/s
	Solar is decent early/mid-game power source, easily scalable to ~500MW on a planet. Most obvious layouts are building circles on both poles or 4-wide strip on the equator. By standing on the pole and with using god-build-mode(Settings/Gameplay) you may place Solar Panels at 5/second (~3sec per 15-long row). To build Solar Panels on poles without overlaying errors while building a long row, place first panel 2 tiles from pole.	Producing Silicon from Stone: 55000 ores / 100MW A big 600k Stone vein will give you a full 1 GW, which is more then enough for a single planet Producing from Silicon: 7500 ores / 100MW	Free
	A way to send fuel to other stars.	Production, Oil Hydrogen/Fractionator: 1500 ores / 100MW Production, Gas Giant Hydrogen, Particle Collider: 12000 ores / 100MW Production, Gas Giant Deuterium : 80000 ores / 100MW (10 Orbital collectors) Consumption (MF Power Plants): 7000 ores / 100MW	Production, Oil Hydrogen/Fractionator: 1.5 oil, 6 ores, 20MJ / 100MW Production, Gas Giant Hydrogen, Particle Collider: 6 ores, 27MJ / 100MJ Production, Gas Giant Deuterium : 6 ores, 9MJ / 100MW
	Dyson Swarm One Sail costs 4.5 ores, 1 oil, 12MJ With no research one Sail gives total of 52MJ (32kw*5400s*(100%-70%)) Dyson Swarm power. With only Yellow Cube researches, each Sail produces a total of 127MJ (32kw*(5400s+3*900s)*(100%-70%*0.9^3))		~ one Sail / 100MJ
		Shell structure, using rare ores: 350000 ores and 5000MJ per additional 100MW (on 1L sun) Shell panel, using rare ores: 8500 ores and 170MW per additional 100MW (in 1L sun)
		42000 ores and 56000MJ per 100MW transferred	Used only for energy transfer, so 100MJ / 100MJ
			0.6 ores and 2MW / 100MW