IN SolarpunkSolar panels are one of the very first sources of energy and power players can obtain, and are critical to automating the farming process in the early game.
However, after players unlock the solar panel recipe, they may find themselves a little lost. The game doesn't explain how solar panels work, what they're used for, or how to get the most out of them, leading to some confusion. Here's the breakdown.
How to get more cotton in Solarpunk
Cotton is a material used to craft cloth in Solarpunk, making it essential for players at all stages of the game. Here's how to get it.
How to unlock solar panels in Solarpunk
Solar panels can be unlocked on Energy workbench (level 2)which can be found in the tradebot's shop on the island directly north of the starting island, accessible via level 1 Airship. After building your airship, go to the tradebot's island, enter his shop and “repair” the console on the table opposite the bot. This is the Energy Workbench.
Interact with the Energy Workbench and unlock the recipe for the Energy Craft Table using a Blueprint (Blueprints are rewards for trading with the tradebot). Doing this unlocks the Tier 1 recipes on the Energy Workbench, one of which is the Solar Panel. Use another Blueprint to unlock the solar panel recipe.
How to create solar panels in Solarpunk
IN Solarpunkwill you be able to manufacture solar panels on one Energy craft table. This is not the same as the Energy Workbench in the tradebot's store. It's a table you can make at a Crafting Table.
|
Point |
Station |
Recipe |
|---|---|---|
|
Energy craft table |
Craft table |
Glass can be made by melting sand in a furnace. Sand can be obtained by mining sand blocks (brown colored deposits) or as a by-product of mining ores such as iron, copper, cobalt and others.
After you build an energy crafting table, you will be able to craft a solar panel using it with the following recipe:
|
Point |
Station |
Recipe |
|---|---|---|
|
Solar panel |
Energy craft table |
|
How to use solar panels in Solarpunk
To use a solar panel to generate power, you need three things:
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Solar panel
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Cables x2
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Powered device (eg sprinkler, drill)
Let's say you want to give power to one Sprinkler on your farm using a solar panel. To do this, place the solar panel near the yard and the sprinkler next to an area of agricultural land. Place two wires, one in the outlet on the solar panel and the other connected to the sprinkler.
As soon as the power lines are connected, the sprinkler will start working on the power generated by the solar panel. However, due to the way the solar panel works, the power it generates is variable and varies depending on the time of day and weather conditions. From our tests, there are four “power settings” for the solar panel:
- Strong sunlight: 100 power
- Early dawn/late evening: 70 Power
- Rain: 10 Power
- Night: 0 Effect
This means that you get a maximum of 100 power from a solar panel. A sprinkler requires 40 current to operate, meaning you can connect two of them to a solar panel and they will operate at certain times of the day. However, if you connect a third sprinkler to this system, the solar panel will completely stop working, not even providing power to the first two sprinklers. Also, in the evening, when the solar panel has 70 current, it will also stop working if it is connected to two sprinklers.
If you connect a network monitor to your solar panel, it will show how much power is being generated as well as how much is being used.
Infinite Power Solar Panel System
The battery is an energy storage device that can be unlocked using a Blueprint on the Tier 2 Energy Workbench. If you connect a battery to a solar panel, it will store any excess energy it generates and use it to make up for the deficit when the solar panel is not generating power. This can be used to create perpetual solar panel systems that never run out, even at night.
- Released
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June 8, 2026
- Developer
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Cyber wave
- Publisher
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rokaplay, Metaroot
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op
- Number of players
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Single player
