Setting Up Power with Water Wheels and Windmills

Water Wheels

A Water Wheel is the cheapest early generator. Place it in flowing water so the wheel turns, then attach Copper Wire or Aluminium Wire to its output. Each Water Wheel produces a small amount of power; chain several together on the same wire network to run a Crusher or Metal Press. Use Wire Coils and Connectors to link machines — right-click a connector with wire to attach it.

Windmills

A Windmill produces more power than a Water Wheel but needs open sky and height. Build the Windmill multiblock with Steel Scaffolding and Windmill Blades, then wire its output to your grid. Windmills are ideal for running an Arc Furnace or Assembler, which draw much more power than early machines.

Storage and Distribution

Store surplus energy in an Accumulator (crafted from Steel Plate, Lead Plate, and Redstone). Connect the Accumulator to your wire network so machines draw from it during demand spikes. Use a Breaker Switch to cut power to a section without dismantling wires. For long distances, run Aluminium Wire or Steel Wire on Wooden Posts or Aluminium Posts to keep connections tidy. Always check that your total generation exceeds total machine draw, or machines will stall.