Energy Networks

⚡ Energy Networks

Slimefun's energy system powers electric machines, advanced processing, automation and much of the late-game technology tree.

A reliable power network is one of the biggest milestones in Slimefun progression.

The four basic jobs

Think of an energy network as four roles:

1. Generation — produces energy.
2. Storage — buffers energy so machines do not starve when generation fluctuates.
3. Distribution — connects generators, storage and consumers.
4. Consumption — machines use the available energy to operate.

Generators

Slimefun includes multiple generator types with different fuels, operating conditions and output patterns. Classic examples include solar, coal, lava, magnesium-based and reactor-based generation.

Do not choose a generator only because it has a large number in the Guide. Consider:

• fuel availability
• whether generation is continuous or conditional
• how many machines will run simultaneously
• how much storage exists between generation and consumers
• whether the generator introduces special risks

Capacitors

Capacitors store energy and help smooth out uneven generation and machine demand.

A factory with enough theoretical generation can still behave poorly if it has almost no storage and several machines start at the same time.

A healthy network usually has enough capacitor capacity to absorb temporary spikes and keep important machines operating while generation changes.

Regulators and connectors

Energy Regulators and Energy Connectors form the classic Slimefun energy-network structure.

Keep networks understandable. When diagnosing a large installation, being able to visually identify the regulator, major generators and storage is far more useful than hiding everything inside a giant wall of blocks.

Machine power problems

If a machine reports insufficient power even though a generator exists nearby, check the whole network rather than only the generator:

• Is the machine actually connected to the intended network?
• Is the regulator/network loaded?
• Is generation currently active?
• Is another machine consuming the available energy first?
• Is capacitor storage empty?
• Is the machine's per-tick demand larger than the network can provide?
• Is an addon using a different or extended energy implementation?

For addon machines, run /sf versions and /sf doctor compatibility <plugin> when the problem looks version-specific.

Reactors are not ordinary generators

Nuclear and other reactor systems can have additional fuel, cooling, byproduct or safety requirements. Treat them as a separate progression step rather than dropping them into a starter network without planning.

See Radiation & Reactors.

Folia note

Slimefun Legacy's Folia support is experimental. Energy and Cargo behavior follows region-ownership safety boundaries rather than pretending cross-region transactions are always safe. Every addon participating in a network must also be Folia-safe.

Server-owner advice

Large energy networks can contribute to tick cost because the server must discover and process connected components.

For busy servers:

• keep network size reasonable
• avoid pointless connector chains
• separate unrelated factories
• profile rather than guessing
• investigate addon machines individually when one network becomes expensive

See Server Performance.

Related pages

• Cargo Networks
• Energy, Cargo & Automation
• Radiation & Reactors
• Troubleshooting