Solar

Solar is a research-gated generation source. Units are Solar Panel slots on a fixed field behind a shared charge controller. Output lands on the DC Bus after the controller, then weather and storm multipliers.

Units

Like other non-Human-Power sources, Solar is a field of independent unit slots. See Sources for the shared purchase / upgrade / site-variance / condition model.

• Purchased at tier 1 only; upgrades one tier at a time.
• Solar Generator research level N unlocks tier N+1 as an upgrade target.
• Unlocking Solar also unlocks its starter DIY Resistor controller so new units contribute immediately.
• Each unit degrades and can be repaired individually.

A unit’s output is tier output × condition × site variance, then the source-wide charge controller, weather, and storm multipliers apply.

Weather and site

• Site variance is nearly uniform compared with later sources. The design document illustrates Solar as a large field (50 unit slots).
• Routine weather: clouds and rain reduce solar. Wind’s hourly gust factor does not apply.
• Severe storms can cut output and apply an instant effectiveness hit when the storm lists this source.
• The simulation uses a realistic Midwest day/night cycle.

Entertainment achievement Sun Worshipper is a single-day solar generation target. See Achievements.