Identify the shortage before building
A power shortage does not always mean you need another power plant. Open Electricity in Geoplanetical and compare domestic generation, imports and unmet demand. The next useful decision depends on what is preventing electricity from reaching demand.
Adding storage, allowing imports and building generation address different constraints. The developer's electricity-shortage instructions recommend checking fuel, grid behavior and actual trade before choosing another project.
Check fuel reserves and real deliveries
Open Fuel reserves and compare each fuel's stock, remaining operating time and latest delivery. A plant that needs fuel cannot be assessed by installed capacity alone.
The reserve Target is a desired stock level. Changing it does not instantly deliver fuel. After an adjustment, follow actual supplies instead of assuming the new target has already solved the problem.
Match storage and trade to the bottleneck
Under Grid, read Understand the benefit before selecting Build storage. The documented benefit is recovering wind and solar output that the grid currently loses. That is different from creating an unlimited source of electricity.
Open View electricity trade to compare actual purchases and sales with available capacity. Under Trade rules, choose whether to Allow purchases or Allow sales, then select Apply.
Allowing purchases is permission to import, not a guarantee of supply. Connections, neighboring suppliers and trade conditions still matter. Compare the resulting actual trade figures, not just the selected policy.
Expand the connection or generation that is needed
If connection capacity is the constraint, inspect Expand connections, including the price, construction time and any funding or technology restriction. Start construction begins the project; it does not provide finished capacity immediately.
For additional generation, Electricity → Manage my grid lets you choose a power source, unit count and site. Review the capacity, cost and construction duration before Build here. Existing plants can also be inspected for available expansion, restart or retirement choices.
Recheck unmet demand, fuel and actual trade after projects and deliveries progress. This prevents a second expensive project from hiding the original unresolved constraint.
FAQ
Will storage fix every shortage?
No. The documented storage benefit concerns wind and solar output currently lost by the grid; first identify the cause of your shortage.
Why do imports remain low after I allow purchases?
Permission alone does not create a connection or guarantee a neighboring supply. Check actual trade and capacity.
Does raising the fuel target refill reserves immediately?
No. It changes the desired reserve. Check actual deliveries and remaining operating time separately.