The Subnautica 2 Hydroelectric Turbine is one of the best power sources in the game. Unlike Solar Panels, it does not depend on the time of day. Place it inside a natural underwater current and it will generate a steady 12 units of energy per second, around the clock. This guide covers where to find the blueprint, what you need to craft it, how to place it correctly, and how to connect it back to your base using Power Transmitters.
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TL;DR
- Scan two Hydroelectric Turbine fragments to unlock the blueprint. Both are found around 300 to 400 metres from the Lifepod.
- Each Hydroelectric Turbine costs 3x Titanium, 3x Copper, and 3x Silver.
- Build it using the Habitat Builder. It appears under the Power category.
- It must be placed inside a natural underwater current to produce power. It generates 12 energy per second when placed correctly.
- It does not connect directly to your base. You need Power Transmitters to carry the electricity.
- Each Power Transmitter costs 1x Titanium and 1x Copper. Chain them from the turbine back to your base exterior.
- Multiple turbines can connect to a single Power Transmitter cable.
- You can place more than one turbine in the same current to stack output.
Why the Hydroelectric Turbine Is Worth Building
Solar Panels are usually the first power source players set up in Subnautica 2. They are easy to build and work well early on. But they have a big weakness: they drop output at night and in deep water where sunlight cannot reach. If your base is power-hungry, a handful of Solar Panels will not cut it for long.
The Hydroelectric Turbine solves this. It generates power constantly as long as it sits inside a moving water current. No day-night cycle. No depth limits on output. It is the most reliable mid-game power source available and is especially important once you start running equipment like the Metal Farm, Modification Station, and other power-hungry structures.
For a full picture of how to power your base from the start, see our guide on how to add power to your base in Subnautica 2.
How to Unlock the Hydroelectric Turbine Blueprint
You need to scan two Hydroelectric Turbine fragments to unlock the blueprint. Both fragments are found in the same general area, roughly 300 to 400 metres from the Lifepod in the direction of the Old Habitat and the Wu Wu Lianghai area to the north and northwest.
Fragment Location 1
Head roughly 280 metres east-northeast of the Lifepod. As you approach, you will notice a strong underwater current sweeping you toward the northeast. Be careful – let it push you off course and you will lose your bearings. The first fragment is next to a crate near this current. Scan it.
Fragment Location 2
From the first fragment, continue north-northeast to about 340 metres from the Lifepod. Look for a small underwater base or platform near an active current in this direction. The second fragment is close by. Scan it and the blueprint is yours.
Additional Hydroelectric Turbine fragments are scattered in other areas too if you miss these. You can find them on the northernmost cliff of the starting area, south of the Old Habitat at around 48 metres depth, near the Tadpole Pens, and on a small platform south of the Alien Ruins Research Outpost. You only need two scans total.
If you do not have a Scanner yet, see our guide on how to craft the Scanner in Subnautica 2.
What You Need to Craft the Hydroelectric Turbine
Once you have the blueprint, open the Habitat Builder and go to the Power category. Each Hydroelectric Turbine costs:
- 3x Titanium
- 3x Copper
- 3x Silver
Titanium and Copper are common early-game materials. Silver is the one that takes more effort to find. Use the Scanner Station to track it down if you are struggling. See our guides on how to get Titanium, where to find Copper, and where to find Silver in Subnautica 2 if you need help.
Important: you need the materials in your inventory when you build outside your base. You cannot draw from stored resources while placing structures in open water. Bring everything with you before you head out to the current location.
How to Place the Hydroelectric Turbine Correctly
This is where most players go wrong. You cannot just drop the Hydroelectric Turbine anywhere in the ocean and expect it to work. It must be placed inside a natural underwater current.
Underwater currents in Subnautica 2 look like wide streams of white or light-blue flowing water that visibly push you when you swim into them. They are not hard to spot once you know what you are looking for. There is a current very close to the Lifepod coming out of a nearby cave, which makes it an excellent starting location for your first turbine.
Here is how to confirm your placement is correct before committing:
- Open the Habitat Builder and position the Hydroelectric Turbine inside the current.
- Before placing, check the power output value shown on the preview. If it reads 12, you are in the right spot and the turbine will generate full power.
- If it reads 0, you are not in a strong enough current. Move the turbine further into the flow.
- Place it as deep inside the current as possible for the best results.
The turbine blades will physically rotate in the direction the current flows once placed. That is a good visual confirmation that it is working. You can place multiple turbines inside the same current to stack your power output.
How to Connect the Hydroelectric Turbine to Your Base
The Hydroelectric Turbine does not connect to your base automatically. You need Power Transmitters to carry the electricity from the turbine location back to your base.
Think of Power Transmitters as a power line. Each one relays energy from the previous transmitter to the next, bridging the distance between your turbine and your base. The final transmitter in the chain must be placed on the exterior wall of your base.
Power Transmitter Crafting Cost
Each Power Transmitter costs:
- 1x Titanium
- 1x Copper
They are cheap, so craft a handful before you head out. The number you need depends entirely on how far your current is from your base. For long distances you may need five or more in a chain.
How to Chain Power Transmitters
- Place the first Power Transmitter as close to the turbine as possible.
- You will see a blue line connecting the transmitter to the turbine. That blue line confirms the link is active.
- Place the next transmitter within range of the first. A blue line will appear connecting them.
- Keep chaining transmitters in this way until you reach your base.
- Place the final transmitter directly on the exterior wall of your base. Once that connection is made, your base will begin receiving power.
If the blue connection line between two transmitters is missing, they are too far apart. Move one closer until the line appears. If a link breaks later, reposition or add another transmitter between the two points.
One useful trick: all Hydroelectric Turbines in range will automatically attach to a single Power Transmitter cable. You do not need separate cables for each turbine. Build them all in the same current and run one transmitter chain back to your base.
Where to Find Good Current Locations
There are several reliable current locations near the starting area. Here are the most useful ones:
- Near the Lifepod cave exit – There is a current coming out of a cave very close to the Lifepod. This is the most convenient spot for an early turbine setup. Ideal if your base is nearby.
- The large pit south of the Lifepod – A current runs through here at around 93 metres depth. Good for a deeper base setup.
- East-northeast of the Lifepod (280 metres) – The strong northeast-sweeping current near the first fragment location. Be careful of it pulling you off course, but it is a powerful spot for turbine placement.
- Near the Tadpole Pens – Several turbine fragments are located outside the Tadpole Pens to the southwest. Currents in this area support turbine placement for late-game base power setups.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Turbines
- Build at least two or three turbines in the same current. Each one adds another 12 energy per second to your grid. Running three turbines gives you 36 energy per second – more than enough for most base setups.
- Do not build your whole base on top of the current. Power Transmitters let you place turbines wherever the current is and run the power back to a base location that suits you better. Pick your base spot for safety and convenience, not for proximity to a current.
- Add Power Storage to your base walls. These store excess energy during high-output periods and release it when demand spikes. Especially useful if you are also running Solar Panels that vary at night.
- Start the transmitter chain from the turbine side, not the base side. Build the first transmitter closest to the turbines, then extend toward your base. It is easier to confirm each link as you go.
- Bring a Portable Locker on your build run. If you run out of Power Transmitter materials mid-chain, you can stash what you have built and swim back to base without losing progress.
Hydroelectric Turbine vs Solar Panel vs Thermal Plant
There are three main power sources in Subnautica 2’s current Early Access build. Here is how they compare:
- Solar Panel – Easy to place on your base exterior. Works well at shallow depths in daylight. Weak at night and useless in deep water. Best as an early stopgap.
- Hydroelectric Turbine – Generates 12 energy per second from water currents. Day-night independent. Requires Power Transmitters to connect to your base. Best all-round mid-game power source.
- Thermal Plant – Generates up to 16 energy per second when placed in hot areas like the desert biome east of the Lifepod or the Axum biome. Higher output than the turbine but locked behind story progression. Requires Heat Tolerance Adaptation to access the best placement zones.
The Hydroelectric Turbine is the best power source for the middle portion of the game. Stack a few together in a good current and your base energy problems are largely solved until you unlock Thermal Plants late-game.
If you have not yet unlocked the ability to reach the hot biome for Thermal Plant placement, see our guide on how to get past the heat barrier in Subnautica 2.
What to Build After Your Turbines Are Running
With steady power flowing to your base, you can now run equipment that draws significant electricity. The most important next steps are:
- Build a Metal Farm to passively generate rare ores like Troilite and Atacamite. Each farm draws 20 energy, so stable power is essential. See our Metal Farm guide for full details.
- Upgrade your vehicle with the Modification Station to craft Depth Modules and other Tadpole improvements. See our guide on all vehicle upgrades and modifications.
- Make sure your base has enough oxygen production. For that, see our guide on how to increase oxygen in Subnautica 2.
- Check our guide on what to build in your base first if you are unsure what to prioritise next.
