the major energy problems come from a single homeworld/no planets. I cant support as many starships as i can spam knowledge on.
I can spend two systems worth of energy easily enough
Beyond 3+ systems, its usually not an issue. The only reason losing one system's worth of energy is a problem is because many other completely undefended systems are also rapidly lost after that.
Well, from my last game I'm not sure.
9 planets controlled, 1 Energy Collector on each, no Metal Converters anywhere.
Fully constructing my fleet and all defences leaves me with an energy balance of 120,000, less then a single energy collector.
Now, I do have 5 Mk I forts on my defensive line and those are notorious energy hogs, but at 9 systems I
should have the energy free to support forts without issue I think.
This is single-HW.
D.