A Bigger Battery for Large Grids
Small grid batteries now come in two sizes, large and small, but for large grids we still only have the small size. Why not add a larger battery variant for large girds also?
Why do we need a larger battery? PCU for one thing. Those of us who prefer to use solar panels and turbines over reactors have to use batteries for energy storage, LOTS of batteries, and our usable PCU takes a real hit because of it.
A single large grid large reactor (300 MW output) takes 25 PCU, and a battery (12MW output) takes 15 PCU. To output the same power as that reactor you need 25 batteries with a total PCU of 375 PCU. This adds up quite a bit the more ships and stations you own.
And then there's energy storage. At max output, batteries will only last 15 min. This means you need even more batteries to extend the power time. For a ship with the equivalent power output of 4 large reactors, you'd need 400 batteries just to run it at max output for 1 hour, never mind the station that would be needed to charge such ships.
So why not add a larger battery variant for large grids? Say 3x3x1 in size. Higher volume to surface area means this battery could house more power cells than 9 small batteries and thus have more storage and higher output. Perhaps this block could also require some expensive components to build, such as superconductor conduits?
This battery would thus be perfect for larger ships and stations where higher output and storage are necessary, reduce the cost in PCU for players that prefer renewable energy, and I would assume also reduce CPU processing load for a world/server with many hundreds of small batteries in use.
Anywho, keep up the good work Keen, I'm looking forward to future updates of Space Engineers!
I like this feedback
I can really get behind this! It bothers me too, that I have to build so much Batteries just to keep my ships and stations powered. (Also, we still have the thing that you lose a lot of components if you grind down a battery, so moving them is pretty costly.)
I'm not an expert, but as far as I know, Solid State Batteries are a working technology right now, so it would make sense from a technological view that at one point giant Batteries that would have the power outputs of a Reactor could be a thing.
I can really get behind this! It bothers me too, that I have to build so much Batteries just to keep my ships and stations powered. (Also, we still have the thing that you lose a lot of components if you grind down a battery, so moving them is pretty costly.)
I'm not an expert, but as far as I know, Solid State Batteries are a working technology right now, so it would make sense from a technological view that at one point giant Batteries that would have the power outputs of a Reactor could be a thing.
I usually user 8 or mores batteries on my large grid ships when I have no uranium/reactors, mostly because of Thrusting power needs. the 9 block size is a great idea and I support the idea.
other form factor that would great as well:
3x3x2 (18 times), like the size of a jump drive and equivalent ratio of batteries for small ship.
2x2x2 (8 times)
2x2x3 (12 times)
I usually user 8 or mores batteries on my large grid ships when I have no uranium/reactors, mostly because of Thrusting power needs. the 9 block size is a great idea and I support the idea.
other form factor that would great as well:
3x3x2 (18 times), like the size of a jump drive and equivalent ratio of batteries for small ship.
2x2x2 (8 times)
2x2x3 (12 times)
Dunno as that size is what I would go with, but I like the idea nonetheless.
Dunno as that size is what I would go with, but I like the idea nonetheless.
Good Idea. In fact, some servers I know have already using mods adding bigger batteries (in capacity or both in shape and capacity).
Good Idea. In fact, some servers I know have already using mods adding bigger batteries (in capacity or both in shape and capacity).
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