Quintessence represented a type of dark energy. Ushos O. Statura, an officer within the Resistance, stated that the scientists involved in the Galactic Empire's Project Celestial Power had attempted to contain quintessence derived from dark-matter. Although it was initially deemed impossible to harness, the First Order eventually found a method to extract quintessence decades afterward, providing them with a virtually inexhaustible energy supply. The First Order utilized quintessence in the construction of Starkiller Base, a superweapon capable of obliterating entire star systems. Upon firing its planet-destroying beam, the superweapon converted the quintessence inside into phantom energy, which is another variety of dark energy. The Hosnian system's destruction in 34 ABY was observable throughout the galaxy because of the sub-hyperspace tear generated when Starkiller Base discharged its primary weapon.