This is an interesting idea, but you have to consider the difference between solar power, which would only work well when the player is close to the sun, and reactors, which always work well. I think if such a thing were implemented, there would need to be a limit to reactors, as just the propensity to explode, in my opinion, is not enough. The first thing to come to mind is fuel, but fuel has its own disadvantages that many players may not want. We'd need to think of ways to give advantages to and limits to different types of power before creating multiple types.
So if you have a station close to the sun, like in the Tekt region (Aetherion doesn't have star damage), you wouldn't need reactors.
Tell that to ISS. Also tell that to the people who don't like new power. I am giving a way to avoid using that system.
is more pointless than a functional generator.
Last I recall we have no awfully-implemented reactors that can generate energy out of nothing.
The only way you could ever hope to approach reactors' output would be to place a huge wall of solar panels.
But i don't want to use reactors unless I have to. I want a power system for when I am close to stars, and I only want to have to use reactors with that purple pole when I absolutely have to. See the way to avoid that disaster. the purple pole ruins ships.
How hard could solar panels be? If the player is a certain distance from the sun and the panels are facing the sun, generate a certain amount of power.
Shouldn't be too difficult. Since the star of a system can be seen even from another system away I think it would be a good idea for the panels to generate energy depending on what system they're in, star distance, and maybe star type. For instance a panel can generate maximum energy in a system right next to but not close enough to fry things a giant yellow star. It'll generate less energy if on the outer edges of that system and even less if in perhaps a red star system even though the distances are the same. It could also generate some energy in void systems closest to the edge directly adjacent to a system with a star dependent on star type.
According to this no blocks with the name "solar" or "solar panel" (case sensitivity relevant?) exist in the block type properties file. I'm not sure about the existence of solar panel block mechanics in the game's source code but that probably doesn't exist now. However as mentioned before blocks that already exist combined with a reactor will have to be used for now.
