Which Energy at the beginning?

[Zusuper]

Which Energy source should I use at the beginning? I want to use the renewable energy but their is not Wind on any map!

[mackster]

there is wind on all maps, trick is to find enough to run at max power (5MW). Use the air pollution thematic map and look for long arrows.

Alternatively, hook onto the external power and buy it for now until you find enough cash for a power plant

[t.jacobs]

In fact I would recommend wind power because it is relatively cheap and easily scalable. Look for high spots to place them. A place with 5MW is optimal. Try to stay above 4.5MW.

If you build a transformer station at an external connection in addition, you can sell surpluses and import, if you have a temporal lack of energy.

[girlaroundthecorner]

Couldn't find any strong winds on my maps. Maybe I chose 'easy' maps? Dunno. I Just saved furiously for the geothermal plant. Took some time.

[john.glossop]

Originally posted by girlaroundthecorner:

Couldn't find any strong winds on my maps. Maybe I chose 'easy' maps? Dunno. I Just saved furiously for the geothermal plant. Took some time.

What was the best generation rate that you could find on the map you are using?

[john.glossop]

Originally posted by t.jacobs:

In fact I would recommend wind power because it is relatively cheap and easily scalable. Look for high spots to place them. A place with 5MW is optimal. Try to stay above 4.5MW.

If you build a transformer station at an external connection in addition, you can sell surpluses and import, if you have a temporal lack of energy.

You can boost that turbine output up to about 8kW using the solar panel and solar panel addons. And yes, even in the early stages it's worth while to put in a transformer . Especially if you are generating more from wind power than you are using.

[martinolund]

Don't forget that you can put turbines in the water as well, they usually are pretty windy areas.

[Hekteur]

There is wind on every map. It's just that the first wind turbines really are weak for power generation. Also note that using wind, even with the best turbines, will require you to sacrifice a LOT of space for power. This is ideal on maps with a smaller "buildable area", as you can use space on water or in mountain and not sacrifice any usable space. As far as I'm concerned, it's way too easy to have your city grow fast enough to reach nuclear power or other good alternatives and simply avoid using wind

[mikelleh63]

Just import from outside until you are rolling in cash. Then go geothermal.

[john.glossop]

Originally posted by Hekteur:

There is wind on every map. It's just that the first wind turbines really are weak for power generation. Also note that using wind, even with the best turbines, will require you to sacrifice a LOT of space for power. This is ideal on maps with a smaller "buildable area", as you can use space on water or in mountain and not sacrifice any usable space. As far as I'm concerned, it's way too easy to have your city grow fast enough to reach nuclear power or other good alternatives and simply avoid using wind

Wind really is only a solution for the early stages of the game, or if you establish a second settlement remote from the first that you don't want to connect with power lines until later in the game (a second settlement on the same highway, or railway, for instance). I've used them when I've identified a good resource area that is remote from my main settlement, where I really only need a single turbine to supply the necessary power for a single mine, or farm, and the only connection to the main city is, again, a highway that doesn't carry electricity.

[girlaroundthecorner]

Originally posted by john.glossop:

Originally posted by girlaroundthecorner:

Couldn't find any strong winds on my maps. Maybe I chose 'easy' maps? Dunno. I Just saved furiously for the geothermal plant. Took some time.

What was the best generation rate that you could find on the map you are using?

Don't remember exactly, but just know it was 'slow'. I read comments about putting turbines in the water; I'll try that next time I start a map. I seem to manage by just buying electricity at the beginning, building industry ie oil, farms etc, and then plonking a geothermal plant later.

[john.glossop]

Go into the map, go to the information pull down, and o the bottom row, look at the air pollution view. Look for the longest arrows. They show you where you'll get the best generating power from wind turbines. Use it, even if you have to run a very narrow road to the spot which shows the best wind.

[Polatch]

People who can't think alone.

[girlaroundthecorner]

Originally posted by john.glossop:

Go into the map, go to the information pull down, and o the bottom row, look at the air pollution view. Look for the longest arrows. They show you where you'll get the best generating power from wind turbines. Use it, even if you have to run a very narrow road to the spot which shows the best wind.

Thanks. I generally get "Low". For me it's not worth it.

[john.glossop]

Originally posted by girlaroundthecorner:

Originally posted by john.glossop:

Go into the map, go to the information pull down, and o the bottom row, look at the air pollution view. Look for the longest arrows. They show you where you'll get the best generating power from wind turbines. Use it, even if you have to run a very narrow road to the spot which shows the best wind.

Thanks. I generally get "Low". For me it's not worth it.

You may find that the best place to spot your turbines is on top of a hill, or even out so sea (although I didn't know that was possible until someone mentioned it today). Anyway, I haven't seen a standard map yet that has no places where it's windy enough to generate the full 5 MW without addons, or 8 MW with better turbine and solar assistance.

[Winter's Crescendo]

If you're not starting with all the tiles unlocked, there's at least a few maps where wind turbines will only get you ~1.5MW in the starting area. Mountain Valley is one example. There are good spots up the mountains or further along the valley, but they're not accessible without unlocking tiles first.

The same map has a high power line running across the 'top' of the starting tiles, so you just have to use a transformer and buy power until you hit a few milestones.