Power is the first "oh no" moment in Arknights: Endfield, and it sneaks up on you. That starter 200 cap feels fine while you're placing a couple of machines, then you add one more line and everything coughs and stalls. You can't just level your way out of it, either, so you end up learning the grid the hard way. If you're already pushing progression and want fewer slowdowns, stuff like Arknights endfield boosting gets talked about for a reason, but your base still lives or dies by whether you can keep the lights on.
Unlocking the real fix
You don't get proper tools right away, which is kind of the point. Keep moving through the main story until you clear "Paving the Way." That's what unlocks the Power I node in the AIC Factory Plan, and that's when Thermal Banks finally enter the picture. They're your first stable source of output, but they're not "set and forget." They eat fuel nonstop, and if you treat them like a campfire you top up whenever you remember, you'll be staring at dead conveyors a lot.
Stop feeding ore, start feeding batteries
Most players do the same thing at first: shove raw Originium Ore in and call it a day. It works, but it's a trap. The return per unit is low, and the more you expand, the faster your "quick fix" turns into a chore. Batteries are the turning point. LC Valley Batteries already feel like cheating compared to ore, and SC Valley Batteries go even further, letting you run heavier production without spamming extra banks everywhere. The goal isn't just higher output; it's fewer emergency runs back to the hub because one generator went dry at the worst time.
Make it automatic, or it won't last
Manual restocking is where a lot of bases quietly fail. You'll think you're fine, then you go exploring, come back, and half the factory is frozen because you forgot fuel. Set up a Packaging Unit and commit to an automated battery line using your Originium Powder and Amethyst Parts. Then use depot loaders so the banks get fed on their own. Once that loop is running, you're not "maintaining power," you're just expanding. It also makes planning easier because you can measure consumption like a budget instead of guessing and hoping.
Power delivery matters as much as power supply
Even with plenty of fuel, remote sites can still brown out if your grid doesn't reach cleanly. Relay Towers and electric pylons are the unglamorous part, but they're what keeps distant miners online. You'll end up doing a bit of route-finding across terrain, and sometimes you'll rebuild a stretch just to avoid a weak link. When you're scaling fast, it can help to top up key materials quickly through marketplaces like U4GM, so you're not stuck waiting on one missing component while your expansion plan sits idle.