Lightning Generator
by Unfamily
Lightning Generator turns lightning strikes into Forge Energy for players who build around thunderstorms, using a lightning rod placed on top of the generator.
What it does
The mod adds a generator that produces energy from lightning. A standard lightning rod attracts strikes as it does in vanilla, and the generator stores the energy from each strike. Rain produces lightning on its own, roughly every 15 to 30 seconds, and thunderstorms produce it more often, about every 3 to 5 seconds, so the generator can gain energy without any natural strikes at all.
A High-Power Lightning Rod is also included. It is a stronger rod that draws lightning more effectively, and the generator placed beneath it receives extra energy per strike. Lightning Generator requires the compile dependency for building, and it works with Ice and Fire without needing it. Ice and Fire lightning dragons can be lured to the High-Power Lightning Rod, and their breath damages nearby blocks when the generator setup is protected by a rod and block, so the protection matters on servers that run both mods.
The mod is published for Forge and NeoForge, for 1.20.1 and 1.21.1. Installation covers the server and each player's game. It is released under the MIT License and is open source.
Key features
Lightning-powered generator
The generator converts each lightning strike into Forge Energy and stores it for use by connected machines.
High-Power Lightning Rod
A stronger rod draws lightning more effectively and gives the generator placed under it a larger energy gain.
Storm-independent generation
Rain produces lightning periodically, so the generator keeps receiving energy even when no natural strike hits the rod.
Ice and Fire interaction
Lightning dragons are drawn to the High-Power Lightning Rod, and their breath can damage blocks around the generator setup.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Optional 1
How it compares
Create: Simple Generator is open source under the MIT License, is published for Forge and NeoForge on 1.20.1 – 1.21.1, and runs on client and server, so it is the closest match in loader and version range. Quantum Generators is open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only and covers 1.12.2 – 1.21.1, a wider range that includes older versions. Generator Galore is not open source, released under All rights reserved, and its files cover 1.18.2 – 1.21.1.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning Generator | Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2026-07-06 |
| Create: Simple Generator | Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2025-07-24 |
| Quantum Generators | Forge and NeoForge | 1.12.2 – 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2025-11-30 |
| Generator Galore | Forge and NeoForge | 1.18.2 – 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2025-11-05 |
Questions
Does Lightning Generator need Ice and Fire?
Does the server need Lightning Generator?
Which game versions does Lightning Generator support?
In the catalog
Lightning Generator is one of 8,499 Technology mods on ModsFinder, and one of 4,122 Technology mods for Forge. 32,366 mods support Minecraft 1.21.1.
More from Unfamily
Similar mods
What the author says
Config file: config/lightning_generator-common.toml (created after first run).
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/lightning-generator
- Owner
- Unfamily
- Published
- 2026-03-06
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-07-06
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15