Fueling Change: Drilling For Resources In Empyrion

In Empyrion: Galactic Survival, the Drill is a tool used for drilling holes in the terrain and mining resources. The game offers two types of drills: the starter drill (T1) and the Drill T2. The T1 drill uses biofuel, which can be crafted from seaweed or spoiled food. To refuel the T1 drill, players need to have both biofuel and a drill charge in their inventory and press 'R' while holding the drill. The T2 drill uses a Drill Charge, which can be crafted from various resources and refills the magazine to 750 shots.

Refuelling a hand drill

Firstly, it's important to understand the type of fuel your hand drill requires. The starter drill, also known as the T1 drill, uses Bio Fuel, which can be crafted from seaweed or, in the Alpha 7 version of the game, from spoiled food. On the other hand, the T2 drill uses Drill Charge as fuel, which can be crafted from various resources and is also found in loot-able cargoboxes at POIs. Check which type of drill you have to ensure you're using the correct fuel.

Once you have the correct fuel, make sure you have both the fuel and the drill in your inventory. The fuel does not need to be in your quick bar, but the drill must be. While holding the drill, press the "R" key to refuel it. You will see the fuel added to your drill, and you can continue drilling. Remember that reloading the drill before it is completely depleted will result in a loss of fuel, as any remaining shots will not carry over.

It's worth noting that the drill has different modes for regular mining, precision mining, flattening surfaces, and filling holes. You can switch between these modes by pressing the Right Mouse Button. Additionally, the T1 drill will eventually become obsolete as you upgrade to the T2 laser drill, which is faster and more efficient.

By following these steps, you can efficiently refuel your hand drill in Empyrion: Galactic Survival and continue your resource-gathering adventures. Happy drilling!

Making biofuel from seaweed

Seaweed is a promising resource for biofuel production with immense social, economic, and environmental benefits. It is a third-generation biofuel feedstock with high growth rates, and unlike terrestrial biomass, it stores carbon mostly in the form of sugars rather than lignocelluloses. Seaweed biomass does not compete with conventional food production as it does not require freshwater or arable land.

The main challenge in using seaweed for biofuel production is the availability and sustainable production of seaweed biomass. Seaweed with 80-90% water content is suitable for anaerobic digestion and fermentation to produce biogas and bioethanol. However, raw and dried seaweed can also be converted into biofuels using chemical and thermochemical procedures such as pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction.

• Harvesting and Collection: Seaweed can be found in every ocean and sea around the world and can be cultivated both onshore and offshore. Several farming techniques are available, including pillar, semi-floating raft, tube net, and cage systems.
• Drying: Seaweed has a high water content (80-90%), which needs to be reduced for effective biofuel production. Drying can be done naturally by sun-drying or using mechanical dryers.
• Pretreatment: Pretreatment techniques such as alkaline, acid, and enzymatic pretreatments can be applied to break down the complex structure of seaweed biomass and improve the efficiency of the conversion process.
• Conversion: The pretreated seaweed biomass can then be converted into biofuels using biochemical or thermochemical methods. Biochemical methods include transesterification, fermentation, and anaerobic digestion, while thermochemical methods include pyrolysis, liquefaction, and gasification.
• Separation and Purification: The resulting biofuel product often needs to be separated from impurities and purified to meet the required standards. This can be done through distillation, filtration, or other separation techniques.
• Storage and Distribution: Finally, the biofuel can be stored and distributed for use in transportation, power generation, or other applications.

By following these steps, seaweed can be effectively converted into biofuel, contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy source.

Using biofuel and drill charge

In Empyrion: Galactic Survival, players can use biofuel and drill charges to power their equipment and progress in the game.

Using Biofuel

Biofuel is an early-game source of fuel that can be crafted from plant fibres or seaweed found underwater. It is used to refuel the Chainsaw and most forms of fuel tanks, including the T1 Drill and Hand Drill. To refuel the hand drill, players must hold the drill and press the 'R' key. While the tool must be in the quick bar, the biofuel can remain in the player's inventory.

Players can also obtain biofuel by looting Public POIs (Points of Interest), which are locations that don't shoot at players when they approach. Additionally, biofuel can be purchased from traders or crafted in a Constructor by feeding it with wood from chopped-down trees.

Using Drill Charges

Drill Charges are used in the T2 Drill but not the starter drill. One Drill Charge will allow for 750 "shots" from the drill. Players should note that reloading the Drill Charge before the 750 shots are depleted will result in the loss of remaining shots, as they do not carry over. Drill Charges can be obtained by looting them from the loot-able cargoboxes found in POIs.

By utilising biofuel and drill charges effectively, players can efficiently gather resources and progress in Empyrion: Galactic Survival.

Crafting biofuel from spoiled food

Once you have a sufficient amount of spoiled food, you can start the crafting process. In the survival constructor, the recipe for biofuel canisters typically requires 2 spoiled food items. However, it's worth noting that this recipe has changed over time, and some players have suggested bringing back the option to craft biofuel from spoiled food.

It's important to manage your fuel efficiently. Remember that reloading your drill before it's completely depleted will result in a loss of fuel, as none of the remaining shots will carry over. Additionally, you don't need to have the fuel in your quick bar; it can remain in your inventory while the tool is equipped in the quick bar.

While the game has evolved to include other fuel sources, such as promethium fuel packs, the ability to craft biofuel from spoiled food adds another layer of strategy and resource management to the early game experience.

Drill T1 vs Drill T2

The Drill is one of the tools in Empyrion: Galactic Survival. It is used for drilling holes into the terrain and mining resources. The Drill has four modes: regular mining, precision mining, flattening, and filling. Players can switch between these modes using the Right Mouse Button, with the currently active mode displayed slightly brighter.

When it comes to the Hand Drill T1 and Hand Drill T2, the main difference is in their performance. The T2 Hand Drill is an upgraded version of the T1, offering improved mining speed and efficiency. While both drills will yield the same amount of ore, the T2 will allow you to mine faster and cover more ground in a shorter amount of time.

The Drill Module T2 - Laser (HV) is a more advanced version of the hand drill and offers even greater performance. It requires a Drill Module T1 - Mechanical to craft this upgraded version. The T2 Laser (HV) consumes power when idle and is designed to be used with vehicles, drawing energy from the generator or the fuel powering it. This eliminates the need for Drill Charge ammo, which is required for the hand drills.

In summary, the choice between the T1 and T2 Hand Drills depends on your mining needs. If you require faster mining speeds and improved efficiency, the T2 Hand Drill is the better option. However, if you are satisfied with the mining speed and don't require the additional performance, the T1 Hand Drill will suffice. Keep in mind that upgrading to the Drill Module T2 - Laser (HV) offers even greater mining capabilities but requires additional resources and crafting.

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