Screenshot 1 of 1. MinecraftHub-generated cover art for Thermal Expansion: a floating snowy block island with a workshop of crafting tables and furnaces and a chest, under a day sky
What Thermal Expansion works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Forge, NeoForge |
| Minecraft versions | 1.15.2, 1.16.5, 1.18.2, 1.19.2, 1.20.1 |
| Environment | Client, Server |
Thermal Expansion is a Forge and NeoForge mod for Java that supplies the industrial base of the Thermal Series: energy generation, storage and resource processing. It works on both client and server, so it suits singleplayer worlds and multiplayer modpacks alike.
Loaders and versions
- Forge: Minecraft 1.15.2 to 1.20.1. The newest build requires Thermal Foundation.
- NeoForge: Minecraft 1.20.1. The newest build requires Thermal Foundation.
What it adds
Thermal Expansion is the first module of a modular series. It handles power and machines, while the other modules cover farming, logistics, rails, gadgets and compatibility. Server owners and pack makers can take only the parts they want.
The series shaped much of modded play. Forge Energy grew out of Redstone Flux, and side reconfiguration, advanced redstone control and blue and orange input coloring all started here.
- Thermal Foundation covers basics and resources.
- Thermal Dynamics covers logistics and transport.
- Thermal Cultivation covers farming and foods.
- Thermal Innovation covers power tools and gadgets.
- Thermal Integration covers modded compatibility, and Thermal Locomotion covers rails and minecarts.
Installation
- 1.Install the matching loader first, following the guide on installing Forge and NeoForge.
- 2.Download Thermal Expansion and Thermal Foundation for the same game release.
- 3.Place both files in the mods folder, as described in how to install mods on Java Edition.
- 4.Launch with the loader profile. On a dedicated server, add the same files there too.
Configuration
Client settings live in thermal-client.toml inside the config folder. Server settings live in thermal-server.toml under saves/WORLD_NAME/serverconfigs, or in world/serverconfigs on a dedicated server. Copy that file into defaultconfigs to apply it to every new world.
The trade-off is documentation. The creator's feature section is still marked work in progress, and the last 1.20.1 file dates from May 2024, so expect to learn the machines in play or from video.
Thermal Expansion tutorial, getting started
Questions about Thermal Expansion.
4 questions
How do I install Thermal Expansion?
Install Forge or NeoForge for the matching game release, then put the Thermal Expansion file and Thermal Foundation into the mods folder in your game directory. Launch with the loader profile. Dedicated servers need the same files in their own mods folder.
Does Thermal Expansion need Thermal Foundation?
Yes for the newest builds on both Forge and NeoForge. The wider Thermal Series also requires CoFH Core. Older builds for much earlier releases listed different dependencies, so check the requirements shown on the specific file before installing it.
Does Thermal Expansion work on multiplayer servers?
Yes. Its files are tagged for both client and server, and the creator describes it as server-friendly. Server settings sit in thermal-server.toml in the world's serverconfigs folder, so owners can tune behavior without touching player settings.
Is Thermal Expansion the same as Thermal Foundation or Thermal Dynamics?
No. They are separate modules of the Thermal Series. Thermal Expansion provides energy generation, storage and resource processing. Thermal Foundation supplies basics and resources, and Thermal Dynamics handles logistics and transport. Each is a separate file to install.
