How to Completing and Solving Every Power Source in Subnautica 2

Select Language:

After the prologue of Subnautica 2, just like the first game, you’ll start on an unknown planet with only your Lifepod. It will take you some time to get used to your surroundings. As you explore, you’ll realize your Lifepod can only store a limited amount of items, and you’ll start needing a better space for your equipment and structures.

This prompts you to build a base underwater, where you can craft new structures as you unlock them. Many of these structures require power to work. You will discover three different methods to generate power throughout the game. Let’s explore how each of these options functions.

How to Unlock and Use Solar Panels

Solar panels are the first power source available once you get the Habitat Builder. You can find the Habitat Builder in the exterior facilities section. They are the easiest power source because they attach directly to your base and automatically face the sun when installed.

To craft a solar panel, you’ll need one Titanium and two Quartz. During the day, each panel produces eight units of energy in the morning. However, once the sun sets, their output drops to just one. This makes them less suitable for late-game power needs. In the early stages of the game, placing multiple solar panels can help compensate for this low evening power.

How to Unlock and Use Hydroelectric Turbines

The hydroelectric turbine is the second power option you’ll unlock as you advance the story. It is more efficient than solar panels in many ways. You need to place these turbines in active water currents, which are identified by white air flow moving in specific directions through the water.

A convenient spot for this is a current that runs out of a nearby cave, right near your Lifepod, making it an ideal location for a starter base. The turbine produces 12 units of energy when placed in a current. You’ll need Power Transmitters to carry that power back to your base. Just one transmitter can connect to multiple turbines, as long as they are within 100 meters of each other.

Unlocking the Hydroelectric Turbine

You can find and scan the hydroelectric turbine during your early exploration in two main locations:

First Location: Look 358 meters toward 30 degrees on your compass, at a depth of about 30 meters. You’ll find the turbine beside a large crate on top of a rock structure near Camp One. It’s easy to spot once you arrive.
Second Location: Head 186 meters south of the Lifepod, at a depth of around 90 meters. You’ll discover this turbine near some wreckage. Moving south from your Lifepod and descending into deeper waters will lead you there.

To craft a turbine, gather three Silver, three Bronze, and three Titanium. The Power Transmitters are necessary to connect turbines to your base.

How to Unlock and Use Thermal Plants

The final power source is the thermal plant, which can generate up to 16 units of energy if placed in the right spot. These plants do not produce electricity in most biomes but work best when positioned near geothermal activity, such as geysers emitting lava.

To unlock them, you must explore an underground cave system in the desert biome east of your Lifepod or in the hot zones of the Axum biome. When placed near geysers with flowing lava, they offer the highest power output.

Locating Thermal Plants

First Location: Travel 540 meters towards 105 degrees at a depth of 143 meters. Here, you’ll find three holes that lead into an underground cave. Follow the path to the hot peak, then head east. In the blue area, find a hole that leads to an oxygen-producing plant; this is where you’ll find the first thermal plant scan.
Second Location: In the same cave, look for a pathway descending below the peak on the northeast side and swim down to find the second thermal plant scan. This area is rich with geothermal activity, making it an excellent spot for these plants.

To craft a thermal plant, you’ll need three Titanium, three Copper, and three Gold. Like the hydroelectric turbines, Power Transmitters are required to connect these plants to your base effectively.