Otis Singleton
In Cities: Skylines 2, selling electricity to neighbouring towns and cities is a great way to earn money, especially in the early stages of the game. To start selling electricity, players must first build structures that produce electricity, such as wind turbines, coal power plants, or geothermal plants. Once these structures are in place, players need to connect their power grid to a Transformer Station and then link the Transformer Station to the Power Lines running out of their city. It is recommended to place the Transformer Station next to a road so that there is a natural underground connection with the Power Lines. With these connections established, players will begin receiving funds for any excess electricity exported to neighbouring areas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to sell electricity | Connect electricity source to a Transformer Station, then connect the Transformer Station to Power Lines that run into your city limits from neighboring connections |
| Power sources | Coal power plant, Geothermal, Solar, Hydro, Nuclear, Wind turbine |
| Power sources upkeep | $70k (coal power plant), $300k (geothermal and solar), $100k (hydro), $1M (nuclear), $15k (wind turbine) |
| Power sources MW to break even | 28 MW (coal power plant), 120 MW (geothermal), 0-200 MW (solar), 40 MW (hydro), 400 MW (nuclear), 6 MW (wind turbine) |
| Power sources in-game MW | 20 MW (coal power plant), 0-150 MW (geothermal), 0-20 GW (hydro), 750 MW (nuclear), 5 MW (wind turbine) |
| Excess power selling rate | $2500 per megawatt |
| Electricity export cap | 400 MW or $1M in-game dollars |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The importance of exporting electricity to make money
In the early stages of Cities: Skylines 2, it is challenging to expand beyond city limits due to a lack of diverse profit sources to match ambitious budgets. Therefore, exporting electricity can be one of the best ways to earn money, especially during the initial stages of the game.
To export electricity, you must first connect your electricity source to a Transformer Station. Then, connect the Transformer Station to the Power Lines that run into your city limits from neighbouring connections. It is important to ensure that your Power Lines leading out of your city are also connected to the Transformer Station to make a profit.
Generating more power than your city needs is a good rule of thumb when it comes to electricity. This allows you to spread electricity into new sections of the city and create a good source of income through your power system.
In the game, selling electricity can net a profit, but only on high-end plants. For example, a coal power plant MK2 has an upkeep cost of 600k and needs 240 MW to break even, but it generates 300 MW in-game, resulting in a net gain.
In the real world, exporting renewable electricity that you have generated can also be a way to make money. For instance, the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) allows those with solar PV panels or other eligible renewable electricity generation systems to feed unused electricity back into the grid and earn money.
Electric Prius Prime: How Far Can You Go?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
How to connect your power grid to a Transformer Station
To connect your power grid to a Transformer Station in Cities: Skylines 2, follow these steps:
Firstly, ensure you have a power source, such as a power plant or wind turbines, to generate electricity. Once you have a source of electricity, you can connect it to the power grid. This can be done by accessing the electricity construction menu and connecting the electricity grid through aerial or underground cables, depending on the city's layout and design.
Next, you need to connect the power source to the Transformer Station. The Transformer Station is a unique building that does not generate power but facilitates the connection between high-voltage and low-voltage power lines. High-voltage power lines are used to connect power plants, while low-voltage power lines supply electricity to buildings in your city.
To connect the Transformer Station, you can use high-voltage power lines, which can be built above or below ground. These lines will connect the high-voltage output from your power plant to the Transformer Station. Ensure that you have enough map tiles to reach the edge of the playable area and build a power line to the edge. An arrow should appear above the power line if the connection is valid.
Once the Transformer Station is connected to the power source, you can then use low-voltage power lines to connect the Transformer Station to the power grid. These low-voltage lines will supply electricity to the buildings in your city. Remember that roads automatically have power lines underneath them, so you can connect to the roads to supply power to buildings.
By following these steps, you can effectively connect your power grid to a Transformer Station, ensuring a stable supply of electricity to your city in Cities: Skylines 2.
How Point Openings Affect Electrical Flow
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The best power plants for selling electricity
When it comes to the best power plants for selling electricity in Cities: Skylines 2, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, it's important to understand that generating a surplus of electricity is crucial for making a profit. This means that your power plants should ideally produce more electricity than your city requires.
To sell electricity in the game, you must first connect your electricity source to a Transformer Station. From there, you can connect the Transformer Station to Power Lines that run towards your city limits and neighbouring connections. This allows you to export any excess electricity, generating revenue for your city.
Now, let's discuss the best power plants for selling electricity:
Gas Power Plant
The Gas Power Plant is an excellent option for generating a significant amount of electricity. According to sources, it can produce up to 250 MW of power. While it has a high upkeep cost of 625k, it only needs 250 MW to break even, making it a profitable choice. However, it is a polluting source of energy, so consider the environmental impact.
Coal Power Plant MK2
The Coal Power Plant MK2 is a more affordable option with a lower upkeep cost of 600k. It requires 240 MW to break even and can generate up to 300 MW of electricity, resulting in a net gain. This power plant can be an excellent choice for those seeking a balance between cost and output.
Nuclear Power Plant
The Nuclear Power Plant is a costly option with an upkeep of 1M. However, it has a high output, requiring 400 MW to break even and generating up to 750 MW. This makes it a very profitable choice if you can manage the initial investment.
Hydro Power Plant
The Hydro Power Plant offers a good balance between cost and output. With an upkeep of 100k, it needs 40 MW to break even and can generate up to 20 GW, depending on various factors. It is usually easy to reach the break-even point with this power plant.
Wind Turbine
While Wind Turbines have lower output compared to other options, they are a great way to start your city. With an upkeep of 15k and a maximum output of 6 MW, they can be upgraded with the Advanced Rotor System to boost efficiency and production. They are also more environmentally friendly than coal or oil-burning power plants.
In summary, the best power plants for selling electricity in Cities: Skylines 2 include the Gas Power Plant, Coal Power Plant MK2, Nuclear Power Plant, Hydro Power Plant, and Wind Turbine, each offering different advantages in terms of output, cost, and environmental impact.
Calculating Electrical Load: Understanding Kilowatts
You may want to see also
Explore related products
How to check if your electricity exports are profitable
To check if your electricity exports are profitable in Cities: Skylines 2, you must first ensure that your setup is functioning properly. To do this, go to the Electricity Trade section of the Electricity menu. If your system is working, the process of exporting electricity will occur automatically.
Next, you can check the Electricity Trade Menu to see the exact numbers tied to each structure. To see how much money your city is making after exporting electricity, go to the City Economy menu, then the Budget tab. From there, navigate to Service Trade and look at the section in the bottom right.
You can also see the export price for electricity in the City Statistics view (bar graph icon on the main bar). Here, you can view the Trade Value of various commodities. Additionally, in the Police and Administration progression tree, unlocking City Hall and the Central Bank may provide more detailed financial information.
It's important to note that the profitability of electricity exports depends on the cost of production. While some sources suggest that exporting electricity is a good way to earn money, others argue that the cost of producing electricity can outweigh the profit, especially if you don't have enough well-educated citizens working in your power plants. Therefore, it's crucial to consider the balance between production costs and export revenue to determine the overall profitability of your electricity exports.
Scooters on the Road: Safe or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The drawbacks of selling electricity from incinerators
Despite the benefits of incineration, there are several drawbacks to selling electricity generated from incinerators. Firstly, incinerators release harmful emissions into the atmosphere. While modern incinerators are designed to reduce air pollutants, they still produce significant amounts of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds, which are considered serious health hazards. The burning of waste can also result in groundwater contamination, posing risks to surrounding communities and the environment.
Another drawback is the potential disincentivization of more sustainable practices, such as recycling and the circular economy. With a focus on incineration for energy generation, efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste may be hindered. This could lead to a reliance on incineration and divert attention and resources away from developing more sustainable solutions.
The upfront costs of constructing and operating incinerators are also significant. Building a new incineration plant can cost upwards of $100 million, and larger plants may require double or triple that amount. Additionally, incinerators may face challenges in securing sufficient waste volumes to maintain operations. As recycling rates increase, the amount of waste available for incineration may decrease, impacting the economic viability of these facilities.
Furthermore, the social perception of incinerators may present challenges. Public opposition to waste incineration has been a factor in reducing emissions and improving regulations. Concerns about the environmental and health impacts of incinerators have led to stricter governmental regulations, which may increase operational costs and complexities for incinerator facilities.
Lastly, the potential for overcapacity in incineration infrastructure exists. As recycling rates increase and waste volumes decrease, incineration facilities may struggle to maintain utilization rates. This could result in underutilized or obsolete infrastructure, impacting the economic viability and long-term sustainability of the industry.
Electric Heaters: Do They All Have the Same Efficiency?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
To sell electricity, you must first connect your electricity source to a Transformer Station. Then, connect the Transformer Station to the Power Lines that run into your city limits from neighbouring connections.
According to one source, 1 MW export equals approximately $2500-2700 of in-game money. Another source states that excess power sells at a rate of $2500 per megawatt.
A good rule of thumb is to always generate more power than your city needs, rather than just the bare minimum. This will allow you to spread electricity out into new sections of the city.
