Like the idea, but I sense a scam in the wording (if a way to lose inventions other than dismantling is created, this is the sort of thing that could lead to an infinite loop). Just give it a power requirement of -3, and an effect that an invention containing it has a minimum power requirement of -3 rather than 0, which should prevent most potential shenanigans with this.

Or literally just have it award you 3 Coal after each Scavenging Action, in case there are future Parts that affect how much Coal you burn, but which shouldn’t thematically affect these little guys.

@Kevan - that wouldn’t solve what I was aiming for, which was some method of relieving the effects of diminishing incomes - which could prevent the presently profligate from meeting power requirements later on in the dynasty.

@Josh: gaining Coal after Scavenging has exactly the same effect as increasing Income, at present. A low Income doesn’t really matter if your Inventions offset it.