Reducing Pollution In Factorio: Strategies For Cleaner Gameplay

In the game Factorio, pollution is represented as a blocky red cloud that spreads outwards from the player's machinery at a steady rate. While it is impossible to avoid creating pollution entirely, there are several strategies to reduce it. One way is to use efficiency modules in buildings, such as miners, assemblers, and furnaces, which can significantly reduce their power consumption and, consequently, their pollution output. Another strategy is to switch to cleaner power sources, such as solar panels or nuclear power, instead of relying on polluting burner boilers. Additionally, managing the environment around the factory can help, as trees absorb pollution, although they will eventually die if exposed to high pollution levels. Players can also use productivity modules to generate extra products without additional resources, offsetting the pollution cost of producing those items elsewhere. Finally, players can try to clear nearby biter nests, as the pollution cloud triggers biter attacks, with larger clouds leading to bigger attacks.

Switch to electric drills early on as burners pollute 2.4x more per ore

Electric drills are a much better alternative to burner drills, especially if you want to reduce pollution. Burner drills burn fuel to mine the ore underneath the 2x2 area it is placed on. It produces about 7 items per unit of coal used to fuel it, giving 0.25 items/s for copper ore, coal, iron ore or stone. This means burner drills create a lot of pollution per item.

Electric drills, on the other hand, are about three times as efficient as burner drills in terms of power and pollution. They only cost a bit more than two burner drills with support burner inserters and use the best logistics system. Electric drills also have a larger mining area than burner drills (5x5 compared to 2x2).

It takes 3.5 seconds to get a burner drill to produce one unit of copper/iron/coal, with 10 pollution per second while active, which means burner drills produce 35 pollution per ore. Comparatively, it takes about 1.9 seconds for an electric drill to produce an ore. Electric drills are also roughly twice the speed of burner drills.

Therefore, it is recommended to switch to electric drills early on as burners pollute 2.4x more per ore.

Rush to get assembly 2, steel furnaces and an assembler for solar panels

To reduce pollution in Factorio, it is recommended to rush to get Assembly 2, steel furnaces, and an assembler for solar panels. This strategy can help you reduce pollution and improve your gameplay experience. Here are some detailed instructions and tips to achieve this:

Early Game Strategy:

• Switch to electric drills as soon as possible, as burner drills produce 2.4 times more pollution per ore. Electric drills are more efficient and will help you reduce pollution from the very beginning.
• Focus on getting Assembly 2, which will allow you to build more advanced items and improve your production efficiency.
• Obtain steel furnaces, which are more efficient than stone furnaces and produce less pollution. Steel furnaces are a crucial step in reducing pollution and increasing your production capacity.
• Get an assembler that can make solar panels. Solar panels are an unlimited source of free energy that produces no pollution. During the day, each panel provides a maximum power level of 60kW, and you can use accumulators to store energy for nighttime use.

Mid-Game Strategy:

• Get to oil quickly and use it efficiently. Place efficiency modules in the following order: refineries, miners, chemical plants, Assembly 2, and electric furnaces. This will reduce pollution and increase your resource processing capabilities.
• Obtain mining productivity research to get 10% more ore from your miners. This will help you extract more resources with less pollution.
• Start working towards nuclear power. Nuclear power provides clean and affordable energy, allowing you to place efficiency modules in beacons and combine them with speed or productivity modules for optimal output with minimal pollution.
• Experiment with different module combinations: try productivity and efficiency modules on circuits, and speed and efficiency modules on mining drills. Finding the right balance will help you reduce pollution and increase productivity.

General Tips:

• Avoid building large buffers or chests full of items you don't immediately need. Each item created contributes to pollution, so only produce what you require to avoid wasting resources and polluting the environment.
• Use electric miners with Eff1 modules. These modules are relatively cheap and significantly reduce pollution by lowering power consumption.
• Be cautious with electric furnaces. They require twice the power, so if you don't have access to free clean power (solar or nuclear), it's better to stick with steel furnaces or use Eff1 modules in electric furnaces to minimize pollution.
• Focus on clean power sources like solar panels for early and mid-game, and nuclear power for later stages.
• Automate the production of solar panels and accumulators. Set up an assembler to make solar panels and store them in a limited number of chests. Occasionally, take the panels out and build them somewhere on your base.
• Continue expanding your solar farm as needed to meet your power requirements.

Get to oil quickly and use it for efficiency modules

Oil Processing

Oil processing is a large part of Factorio. It can refer to the researched technology, the recipe used in the oil refinery, or the overall workings of oil.

To set up oil processing, pumpjacks need to be placed on top of an oil well, which will produce a certain amount of crude oil per second. The crude oil must then be refined in an oil refinery, which needs to have a recipe set. The refinery will stop production of all products if one product output is full, so it's important to ensure that the products are transported out of the refinery.

Efficiency Modules

Efficiency modules reduce the required electricity to run a machine and are, therefore, a good way to reduce pollution. The lowest amount of energy that efficiency modules can help achieve is 20% of the machine's base energy usage.

Efficiency modules are particularly useful for electric furnaces as these use a lot of power. For example, one basic efficiency module can reduce an electric furnace's power consumption by 30% – almost the same amount of power generated by a solar panel.

Electric mining drills normally create 10 units of pollution per minute. Using three basic efficiency modules on them can reduce their pollution production by 80%, down to just two units per minute.

Getting to Oil Quickly

To reduce pollution, it's important to get to oil quickly and use it for efficiency modules. Place them in the following order: refineries, miners, chemical plants, assembly machines, and electric furnaces.

Other Tips to Reduce Pollution

• Use electric drills instead of burners as they pollute 2.4x as much per ore.
• Rush assembly 2, steel furnaces, and an assembler for solar panels.
• Get nuclear power for clean, affordable energy.
• Avoid large buffers in boxes or machines and don't build too big or too small.
• Don't buffer a ton of stuff – only create what you need.
• Don't use electric furnaces until you have free, clean power or don't care about pollution.
• Use clean power sources like solar panels.

Get nuclear power for clean and affordable energy

Nuclear power is a great way to reduce pollution in Factorio. Here are some reasons why you should consider getting nuclear power for clean and affordable energy:

Clean Energy Source

Nuclear power is one of the cleanest energy sources available. In Factorio, nuclear power does not contribute to pollution, which is a significant advantage over other power sources like coal and steam. The pollution caused by nuclear power in Factorio comes primarily from the mining and processing of uranium ore, which is minimal compared to the pollution generated by burning coal.

High Power Output

Nuclear power offers a very high power output, making it an excellent solution for mid to end-game power generation. A single nuclear reactor can produce 40MW of heat energy, and when combined with the neighbour bonus, the power output can be significantly increased. This makes nuclear power a great option for players who need a lot of energy to support their factories and other structures.

Space Efficiency

Nuclear power setups are also space-efficient compared to other power sources. A single nuclear reactor can provide the same amount of power as a much larger solar panel or coal power setup. This is especially beneficial for players who have limited space to build their power generation facilities.

Affordable and Reliable

Nuclear power is also affordable and reliable. The raw material costs for running a nuclear reactor are lower than those for equivalent amounts of solar or coal power. Additionally, nuclear reactors do not scale down power usage, so you can be sure that your power needs will always be met. Uranium fuel cells last a long time, and with the Kovarex enrichment process, you can further extend their lifespan and reduce the amount of uranium mining required.

Safety

While there are some risks associated with nuclear power, such as the potential for reactors to explode if they get destroyed while heated, Factorio has implemented safety measures to prevent this from happening. Nuclear reactors in the game have internal emergency cooling systems that prevent them from heating up beyond 1000°C, ensuring they operate safely.

In conclusion, nuclear power in Factorio is a clean, affordable, and reliable energy source that can help players reduce pollution and meet their power needs efficiently. It is a great option for those looking for a high-power output, space-efficient, and cost-effective solution for their mid to end-game power generation needs.

Avoid buffering a lot of items and only create what you need

To reduce pollution in Factorio, it is important to avoid buffering a large number of items and only create what is necessary. This is because each item created contributes to pollution, from the processes involved in mining, smelting, and crafting the item. Thus, creating and storing excessive items in chests, such as iron or copper, will result in higher pollution levels. While it is acceptable to have a chest with a moderate amount of belts, having an excessive quantity can lead to unnecessary pollution.

For example, instead of crafting and storing large quantities of iron or copper, only mine and produce what is required for your immediate needs. This approach will help reduce the pollution generated by the processes involved in creating and storing those items. It is more efficient and environmentally friendly to produce items as needed, rather than buffering a surplus that may contribute to pollution without providing any immediate benefit.

Additionally, it is worth noting that different items have varying pollution levels associated with them. Some items, such as solar panels, may be more environmentally friendly in the long run, but their production can require a significant amount of resources, such as greens, iron, and steel. Therefore, it is essential to consider the pollution generated by the production process when deciding whether to craft and store certain items.

Another strategy to reduce pollution is to utilize efficiency modules, especially in electric mining drills and oil rigs. By installing these modules, you can significantly reduce the pollution generated by these structures, making them more environmentally friendly. This approach not only reduces pollution but also lowers power consumption, resulting in further pollution reduction from power generation.

In conclusion, to minimize pollution in Factorio, avoid buffering excessive items and only create what is necessary. This approach will help reduce the pollution associated with mining, smelting, and crafting each item. Additionally, consider the pollution levels of different items and the impact of their production processes. By being mindful of your item creation and utilizing efficiency modules, you can make more environmentally friendly choices in your gameplay.

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