Capacitor
The capacitor of a ship is a power storage circuit that is used in order to activate fitted modules. Note that capacitor is distinct from a ship's powergrid. Also note that running out of capacitor does not render your ship immobile.
Overview
A ship's reactor provides basic power to essential ship systems, but many modules require a burst of power in excess of the reactor's ability in order to function. Capacitor circuits are therefore installed to meet this need. As a ship's capacitor is used, unused power produced by the reactor is directed back into the capacitor, recharging it.
In other games, capacitor could be called as mana.
Capacity
The size of the capacitors vary among ships, usually bigger ships having more capacity than smaller ones. Capacitor capacity can be increased directly by training the Energy Management skill. A huge variety of skills, and in particular those in the Engineering tree, reduce the capacitor consumed by activating modules.
There are modules and a combat boosters that future increase the ships capacitors capacity. A few modules are listed below:
Recharge time
The time to fully recharge ships capacitors also varies, usually those having minor capacitors recharging faster. Capacitor recharge rate can be increased directly by training the Energy Systems Operation skill.
There are modules that reduce the recharge time, a few are listed below:
Role in combat
Once the capacitor is drained, a ship is unable to fire its weapons, warp out from combat, use its repair modules or indeed any of its modules, being restricted to launching drones and moving around. Thus running out of capacitor middle of an combat can be fatal. There are modules that can be used to reduce a target's capacity, transfer your capacity to an ally or transfer opponents capacity to yourself, so capacitor management is a notable aspect in warfare.
Below are listed some items that can be used to transfer capacity from ship to ship or simply reduce it.