Surviving Mars

Surviving Mars

[ES] Geothermal Tap
37 Comments
ErrantSword  [author] 11 Jul, 2023 @ 3:08pm 
@Thundercraft - I'd like to do some updates, when I can get some time away from work. Like you say, I think the development cycle is complete, so hopefully this will be a legacy update
Thundercraft 10 Jul, 2023 @ 4:19pm 
Is there a ghost of a chance of this mod getting an update?

If the author does not feel like updating this, can you grant permission for others to update this in your stead?

The last game update was over a year ago. And it looks suspiciously like the devs have abandoned the game to it's current state, so I doubt you'd have to worry about future game updates breaking mods again.
mankol 19 Jun, 2022 @ 3:12pm 
this mod is not working with the current version of the game.
Stahlseele 13 May, 2022 @ 4:17pm 
So, can this be built underground?
I feel like this would be the obvious choice . .
Lucifer 22 Apr, 2019 @ 6:04am 
Mars has a mostly dead core and very limited geothermal heat.
ErrantSword  [author] 21 May, 2018 @ 8:12am 
@Haeffound - 1600+ people seem happy with it. Also, there is a limit on the amount of text we can add. Installing takes seconds, and mods can be reviewed in-game using the Mod Manager / Encyclopedia.
Haeffound 20 May, 2018 @ 7:39am 
You should had the number (maintenance, production...) in the description or in a picture. People don't want to have to install and see afterwards.
ErrantSword  [author] 13 May, 2018 @ 4:18am 
@Kevin - The 3D file isn't in the Mod, as it is a 'found' entity included in the game's original files. Doubtless it can be extracted somehow, but my expertise doesn't cover that!
HowMuhKevinNah 10 May, 2018 @ 4:57pm 
@ErrantSword - How does one access the 3D model files? Doesn't seem to be located in the mod's folder; all that's in there are some .tga and .lua files.
Vendran 23 Apr, 2018 @ 8:37pm 
Thanks ErrantSword, figured it might be some kind of a bug too. Its weird to me that the altitude doesn't determine the output boost. Why put it there in the first place if it doesn't Influence the gameplay in anyway^^
ErrantSword  [author] 23 Apr, 2018 @ 4:22pm 
@Vendran - It seems the % modifier is based on the 'local' map, not the altitude of your landing site. This may well be a bug the Devs need to fix! Persoanlly I;'d expect landing site altitude to be a major factor in this regard.
Vendran 20 Apr, 2018 @ 5:57pm 
This building is a nice addition to the mere choice of Power production in the early/mid game. Though I am very confused on how to detirmine wether the beginning spot is good for geothermal or wind energy.

I tried different landing sites. A landingsite with an average of -6700m gives me +37% on Wind energy, but a site with +2700m average altitude gives me +6%?!? My current map with -3700 gives me +13%^^

any tipps on how to find a decent spot where geothermal power plants are efficient?
thanks for help and thanks for your great mods. keep on doing the good job :)
ErrantSword  [author] 19 Apr, 2018 @ 3:47pm 
@HowMuh - I'd love to, but I don't know Blender or how to import/export models in general. So I'm working only with what is available in game as 'cut content'.
HowMuhKevinNah 17 Apr, 2018 @ 6:57pm 
@ErrantSword - do you have any future plans on fixing the textures? or can you use a different (unflawed!) texture during the meantime?
Mile 9 Apr, 2018 @ 11:44am 
@@BlackHint okay you want reality? Uninstall the game cause we arent at mars yet. DERP
Petrichor 8 Apr, 2018 @ 10:46pm 
Because the atmostphere is so thin, it's better to use the ground as a heat sink instead. You can pump the heat into the ground fairly easilly if you've got uninsulated (or variably insulated) water pipes that run through the ground and back to whatever you want to cool.
thundercactus 8 Apr, 2018 @ 3:51pm 
Wind power on Mars is also widely believed to be non-viable by those who don't know any better.
Curiosity has determined that Mars is geologically active. That means there IS heat down there.
The major hurdle in the context of early settlement would be drilling a hole deep enough.
That being said, I think it's more likely they would be used as heat pumps for settlements rather than power plants.
The problem with any power plant on Mars is going to be heat dissapation; the atmosphere is thick enough to support wind power, but so thin it's going to really suck at thermal regulation.
ErrantSword  [author] 6 Apr, 2018 @ 9:33am 
@Blackhint - Well, it's a Mod. People can decide to use it or not! The Drones don't really have the ability to construct spherical continuous-cast glass domes, but the game assumes they do. Realism in games can only go so far after all.

I did make the Geothermal Taps more pricy than the other energy sources, and take longer to build to partialll represent the difficulties you mention.
Blackhint 6 Apr, 2018 @ 6:15am 
You got a nice picking here. But Geothermal Energy wont work that ,,easy,, on Mars. Sure its a Game and most Folks dont give a ++++ about Realism, but i do. Besides that the current status of Drones couldnt manage to make such a drilling Operation to get deep enough to take well Use of the Geothermal Energy Mars has, i dont think it makes much Sense.
Still a nice Idea, and who knows, Science Fiction always comes before Science Facts, right?
ErrantSword  [author] 6 Apr, 2018 @ 12:14am 
@Polak / Qiwi - The science on this one seems in need of confirmation, but plenty of people think geothermsal on Mars is viable:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2016/09/30/why-geothermal-energy-will-be-key-to-mars-colonization/#765554734b25

The viabailty of Wind energy on Mars is also debated, but is included in the game.
ErrantSword  [author] 6 Apr, 2018 @ 12:13am 
@Degenerate Technically, yes - but it's a game, and some people probably won't know what an Aerothermal tap is. It sounds like it should relate to air, unless you know it mean Martian. Also, RoYaL makes a good point.
RoYaL_Salus3 5 Apr, 2018 @ 5:03pm 
Degenerate it works either way mars has soil or earth so....
Sergei 5 Apr, 2018 @ 3:44pm 
Pretty sure this doesn't make much sense. The core of Mars isn't active and there are very few macro-geological things happening there.
Anti-Personic Bullet 5 Apr, 2018 @ 1:01pm 
Shouldn't this be named "areothermal", not "geothermal" since geo = earth?
PolakWrocek 5 Apr, 2018 @ 1:31am 
Mars has cold core -.- ...
So you could store water there for above freezing point storage.
But no "heating" to generate power.
ErrantSword  [author] 4 Apr, 2018 @ 1:40pm 
@static - No Problem - I try to reply whenever I can. While you are here, you might check out my latest uploads to the buildings category - some cool new stuff just went up :)
static 4 Apr, 2018 @ 1:39pm 
Thanks for clarifying ES, I somehow missed your note there.
ErrantSword  [author] 4 Apr, 2018 @ 1:38pm 
@static - Known issue, already detaileld in the Mod description. The spare Entity in game has a graphical bug. Until I learn some 3D modelling and how to import/export Blender models there is nothing I can do about it. On balance, I felt people would rather have the Mod available (and functional) than my cancel it due to this issue.
TheKillerChicken 4 Apr, 2018 @ 1:11pm 
@Derek, yes it does.
static 4 Apr, 2018 @ 12:44pm 
The texture on the pipes seems to be bugged.
baddoggs 4 Apr, 2018 @ 10:15am 
Given your options, not much choice. That being said, you have done well
with what you had.
ErrantSword  [author] 4 Apr, 2018 @ 8:16am 
@Dog - It'll appear as a Fountain until built. I needed an Entity smaller than the final structure, so that it could have a footprint but still have its scale and palette adjusted. I picked the Fountain as I figured there'd be some sort of fluid cascade inside the housing.
Bulldog 4 Apr, 2018 @ 8:05am 
I wanted to use it in a game. Clicked on the icon image and when i went to plop it... Its a fountain. lol
ErrantSword  [author] 4 Apr, 2018 @ 4:06am 
@Dog - Generates 6 Power by default, reducing steadily the higher it gets. Requires Metal for maintenance.

@baddoggs - Thanks again! I've got more on the way :)

@Derek - Check out https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2016/09/30/why-geothermal-energy-will-be-key-to-mars-colonization/#765554734b25
Derek 3 Apr, 2018 @ 11:49pm 
Pretty sure Mars doesn't have a molten core. :)
baddoggs 3 Apr, 2018 @ 9:31pm 
once again, nice work and cheers for sharing it:steamhappy:
Bulldog 3 Apr, 2018 @ 4:50pm 
How much power does it generate and what is needed for maintenance? It looks like a bug with 4 legs.