Running this with low laser tech currently to avoid the energy drain and it is fantastic!

I got some of those laser research upgrades and somehow my energy usage sky rocketed.

The game doesn't do a good job of explaining energy draw for shield charging but it seems significant. Firing all weapons and having shields charging at the same time draws all reserve energy in a couple of seconds.

Doesn't help that I have lasers set to auto. Perhaps it would be better to replace those fins with a couple of batteries, though I do love the speed while travelling in the void.