How to Use Steam Engine in Factorio

Steam engines in Factorio are a source of power that consume steam and are used to generate electricity for your factory.

Steam engines (Source: Wube Software)
Steam engines (Source: Wube Software)

Running a factory in Factorio demands careful planning and preparation, and you have to map out the structure for each individual element of your factory. Perhaps the most important of these elements is electricity, which is something that your factory cannot function without. The easiest (and cheapest way) of producing electricity in Factorio is through the use of steam engines. 

In this guide, we shall go over steam engines in Factorio and how you can assemble them. 

What Are Steam Engines? 

Steam engines are the most easily accessible source of electricity in Factorio. These engines, paired with boilers and pumps, consume water and boil it to produce steam, which in turn is consumed and used to generate electricity. You will need Iron gear wheels, pipes, iron plates, and iron bars to craft the engine. Once it has been crafted, we can go about placing and using it appropriately to get the desired power. 

Place the engines near a water source (Source: Wube Software)
Place the engines near a water source (Source: Wube Software)

How to Setup Steam Engines

Water and Steam 

Once you have crafted your steam engine, it will require a boiler and an offshore pump. The offshore pump pumps water, while the boiler boils it to generate steam. The engine then takes this steam and converts it into electricity. You will, therefore, require water. Place your offshore pump next to a water source and connect it to a boiler. 

The boiler requires fuel to generate steam. We recommend using coal as a fuel source for the boiler, as it is easily accessible. Use an automated device to supply the boiler with coal for constant steam generation. 

Power Up the Grid

Once we have established our source for water and steam, we will connect the boiler to the steam engine for steam transfer. Connect the output end of the boiler to the end of the steam engine with the steam icon. 

Next, we have to connect the steam engine to electrical lines so the power can be supplied across the factory grounds. Place electrical poles next to the steam engine and link the two. You can then use electrical lines to transfer power from these poles all over the grid. 

It is important to monitor your factory’s power consumption to avoid shortages of any sort. Keep track of the power used versus the power supplied, and setup more boilers and engines if necessary. A single boiler can be used to supply multiple steam engines, so we recommend using that to your advantage as well. 


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