Solar Panel Blocks

 are blocks used as an alternate source of power. It must be paired with the Capacitor (Solar) to store the energy absorbed by the blocks. If there are Generators present, the base will draw power from the Capacitor(s) before using the Generator(s). Having a backup generator is probably a good idea.

Solar panels have both sloped and horizontal varieties to enable more efficient placement relative to the sun. While you can't change the angle of the slope, you can choose to orient them facing North, East, South or West. The panels have two sets of indicators on them. The green indicators indicate the efficiency (maximum output) of the panel, with 4 green indicators being the best. The yellow indicators indicate the current output of the panel, again with 4 being the highest. Solar panels are supposed to be more effective near the equator of a planet than at the poles.

The statistics page of your base control panel, in the Power / Fuel column, in the "Solar" section, will show the current output of all your solar panels. Unfortunately it is not possible to see the output of individual panels at this time. In order for the Capacitor(s) to charge, you must be producing more power from the solar panels than your power consumption. If you want to run your base mainly off solar power, so as to operate during the night by draining the power from the battery (control panel, "Main" page, "Info" column), a good rule of thumb is to have a maximum current output of at least 3.5 times the consumption. Solar panels' maximum current output is equal to yours Solar's current output, at your current location, at noon.

The output of the solar panels is obviously affected by the time of day (on a planet base). Overcast weather, fog and rain will also reduce power output. For space bases the distance from the sun will effect the maximum power of the solar panels as well.

A single solar panel, in perfect conditions (temperate planet, clear sky, equator), will generate between 80 and 100 PUs of maximum current output. A small solar panel will generate half this, between 40 and 80 in the same conditions. At the poles, the current output can drop up to a third of that obtained at the equator.

Note that you can currently only have a maximum of 15 solar panels total on a base.