The current state of the biogas production plant (BGP) is limited to the sale of residues for the production of digestate. Methanization is important for the gameplay and MasterBrain Bytes has decided to recreate it step by step.
In the long term, the BGP will include several stations: the bunker will transport the silage to the digester, which will supply the cogeneration station and its electricity generator supplied with methane via the secondary digester and thus contribute to energy production. It will also transport the slurry to the digestate storage container using an overflow system, which can be emptied into slurry drums using a hose.
In the long run, some elements may be controlled by the player. Keeping BGP efficient and productive can be a complex task, these controls will be included later in game development, as part of the difficulty system.
Methanization will be a full-time job depending on the difficulty
The first difficulty stage will focus on a simple fermentation and manure generation process and will be available in the next update. To keep it simple, you will need:
- unload in the silo,
- compact,
- cover the silo,
- let it ferment in the bunker.
The quantities of silage that you place in the bunker are paid for after treatment. As a player, you don't have to use BGP yourself, anaerobic digestion is directly functional and cannot be stopped, but if you no longer feed it. The remaining elements of the process (gas and digestate production) are automated.
Subsequently, via another update, BGP will be more complex. Certain parameters will help to improve (or worsen) the performance and efficiency of the installation. For example, the quality of the husk and the degree of fermentation will come into play. In addition, it will be possible to improve the supply of nutrients to the bacteria by using the mixing tank for the supply of sludge. A dedicated BGP window will provide information on the operation of the station.
Finally, a final update will allow the player to have almost total control over the production of the station, with a large number of parameters.
Players who prefer simple gameplay will therefore be able to have as much fun as someone who has always wanted to control a methanizer without having received training for it.