Yes, I did mostly mean electricity, but people use energy in other final forms too! Like natural gas as a heating and cooking fuel, and gasoline (refined from petroleum) as a transportation fuel. Since the world is so tiny, I suppose there is no need for transportation fuels - residents can simply walk anywhere. In any case, it is possible to design a highly efficient 100% electric lifestyle with electric transportation, ground-source heat pumps, and electric induction stoves. I just didn't want to assume that electricity was the only form of final, delivered energy in your game. For example, a nuclear reactor block could be used to produce hydrogen instead of electricity. But again, I realize this is a highly stylized representation of reality; thus only so much detail can be added without overwhelming the user (and the developer)!
What are the different options for energy generation? I see solar panels and wind turbines, and I read something about "oil harvesting" (i.e. drilling wells and pumping it out of the ground). Are there any others energy sources?
Energy variability: do solar panels not function at night (or if placed in the shadow of a building)? Do wind turbines stop turning when the wind isn't blowing? Do wind turbines need to face an optimal direction depending on the weather conditions in each world? Obviously you can add only so much realism while keeping gameplay manageable, but it certainly would serve the educational component of the game. If you added this feature, you would need a battery block to allow players to manage the variability.
It looks like space is at a premium in this game. It would be a nice option to have an energy technology that doesn't take up so much space as solar and wind farms. Might I suggest adding a nuclear reactor block?! If the player manages it well, then it could provide lots and lots of energy with little environmental impact (depending on how you want to represent nuclear waste in the game, and the options for either recycling or disposal). If the player managers it poorly, then it could have a meltdown and cause massive dystopia (which appears to be one the options players are invited to explore).
Just some thoughts. Good luck!
a-g-benson
Atoms joined
A blog to rally supporters of nuclear power in California