Today's Energy Pulse
Policy ambiguity stalls Germany's battery storage growth
German BESS developers say unclear regulations are hampering expansion even after the government granted grid‑fee exemptions through 2029. The absence of a legal definition forces operators to shoulder multiple taxes and levies, creating financing uncertainty for projects.
Also developing:
By the numbers: FuelCell Energy raises $156.6M in secondary share offering
EU: Energy Crisis From Iran War Could Last Years
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that the war in Iran could trigger an energy crisis lasting years for Europe. She told the European Parliament that the conflict’s ripple effects may strain consumers and industry well beyond the immediate fallout. The issue topped the agenda of the informal EUCO meeting, underscoring its urgency. Von der Leyen called for a swift end to hostilities to mitigate long‑term energy insecurity.
Coal: China's Data Center Boom to Double Power Demand
China is set to nearly double its data‑center capacity by 2030, adding 28 GW of new projects to the 32 GW already online. The expansion will push data‑center electricity use to about 289 TWh, roughly 2.3 % of the nation’s total demand. Annual growth...
A Blueprint for Successful Solar Canopy Projects
Solar canopies are emerging as a fast‑growing solution for deploying distributed renewable energy on underutilized parking lots. The article outlines five primary structural configurations, from low‑cost T‑structures to long‑span and inverted designs, and stresses the importance of early geotechnical studies,...
Portugal Launches $26.5B Resilience Plan After Storms, Blackout
Portugal announced a €22.6 billion (≈ $26.5 billion) nine‑year resilience programme after January‑February storms caused €5.3 billion (≈ $6.2 billion) in damage and a massive blackout a year earlier. The plan, called Portugal Transformation, Recovery and Resilience, targets climate‑related risks, energy security, seismic threats and cyber‑attacks....
Canada’s FortisBC Completes 10,000th LNG Bunkering
FortisBC Energy announced it has completed its 10,000th liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering for marine vessels since launching the service in 2016. The milestone follows a series of firsts at the Port of Vancouver, including Canada’s inaugural ship‑to‑ship LNG transfer...
Southern Co. Electricity Sales Soar on 42% Data Center Growth
Southern Company posted a 2.3% year‑over‑year rise in retail electricity sales for Q1 2026, driven largely by a 42% surge in data‑center power consumption. The utility now has 11 GW of large‑load contracts, up from 10 GW at the end of 2025,...
The Power Problem Behind AI—And a Path to Fix It
AI‑training data centers generate sudden, multi‑hundred‑megawatt load swings that can destabilize both onsite generation and the wider grid. Regulators such as Texas’ SB 6 now require buffering to curb these spikes, while many utilities are refusing direct interconnection. Operators are turning...
Permian Discounts Intensify While North American Natural Gas Forward Prices Slide
Physical natural gas markets weakened on April 30 as Texas and Midcontinent prices fell, while the Permian Basin saw its discount widen to roughly –$8 per MMBtu. May fixed‑price contracts slipped 16 cents, and forward prices across North America retreated...
Train Braking, A Source of Energy
Salicru is unveiling its CS‑MV bidirectional converter, which captures energy generated during train braking and redirects it to railway substations, electric‑vehicle chargers, or storage systems. The unit operates on both 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC lines, making it suitable for...
Wavelength Podcast: Tanker Market Insights as Gulf Conflict Continues and UAE Leaves Opec
The latest Wavelength podcast examines how the tentative Iran‑US/Israeli cease‑fire and ongoing blockades of the Strait of Hormuz are sustaining high tanker‑market rates. Angelica Kemene of Optima Shipping Services discusses the potential shift in crude flows if the United Arab...
Brent Prompt Price Shifts From June to July Contract
On the Brent futures contract roll: The "price" everyone typically talks about is the prompt Brent (or WTI) futures price (white on the chart), which is the nearest-dated monthly contract. In April that was set by the June contract (blue), now in...
Colombia Gathers Policy Makers to Plot Future Free of Fossil Fuels
Colombia brought together senior policymakers, energy officials and industry leaders to map a transition away from fossil fuels, aiming for a carbon‑neutral power mix by 2050. The gathering coincided with a wave of sustainable‑finance activity across Latin America, including green,...
Now, Even Exxon Is Interested in Venezuela
The Wall Street Journal reports that ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips have dispatched technical teams to Venezuela to evaluate reviving its oil fields. After years of expropriation, sanctions and political turmoil, U.S. majors are reconsidering the Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt and Lake...
SRP and NextEra Energy Resources Partner on Massive Solar and Storage Expansion
Salt River Project (SRP) and NextEra Energy Resources have signed a power purchase agreement to build 3 GW of solar capacity and 1 GW of battery storage in Arizona by 2027. The projects will supply enough electricity to power roughly 675,000 homes...
Oil Market Will Need 2.7 MMbpd Surplus Post‑Hormuz
We're actually really going to *need* a supply glut after this end to fill in the hole left by Hormuz. Minimum 1 billion barrels lost, requires an *annual* surplus of 2.7 MMbpd to recover. And that assumes Hormuz reopens today, which it...
DOE Continues ‘Swift Execution' Of 172MM Barrel SPR Exchange
The U.S. Department of Energy announced a new Request for Proposal to exchange up to 92.5 million barrels of crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The solicitation follows President Trump’s earlier 172‑million‑barrel release, part of a coordinated 400‑million‑barrel action by...
TC Energy Columbia Gas Pipeline Expansion Advances as US Power Demand Soars
TC Energy approved a US$1.5 billion expansion of its Columbia Gas Transmission system, called the Appalachia Supply Project, to add 0.8 billion cubic feet per day of capacity by 2030. The project is underpinned by a 20‑year take‑or‑pay contract with an undisclosed...
Oil Falls as Iran Proposes Talks but Prices Still Set for Weekly Gains
Oil prices slipped on Friday as Iran submitted a new negotiation proposal to the United States, but the market remains on track for weekly gains. Brent futures fell 0.2% to $110.14 a barrel, while WTI dropped 1.7% to $103.24. Despite...
Corvus Energy Gains DNV Cybersecurity Type Approval for Dolphin NxtGen
Corvus Energy announced that its Dolphin NxtGen battery energy storage system has earned DNV cybersecurity type approval, extending to the Gen 4 BMS pack controller. The certification follows an independent review of more than 50 cyber‑risk controls, confirming the system’s ability...
Data Centres’ Speed-to-Power Need Driving US LDES Commercialisation
Energy Dome, an Italy‑based CO₂‑based long‑duration energy storage (LDES) firm, highlighted its Battery Plus technology at Wood Mackenzie’s summit, linking the solution to the fast‑track power needs of U.S. data centres. The company recently signed an MOU with New Era Energy...
Oil Prices Up 11% for the Week
Oil markets saw Brent crude dip 0.5% to $109.88 a barrel on May 1, yet the benchmark remains up about 11% for the week as geopolitical worries linger over a prolonged Strait of Hormuz closure. The price pressure keeps U.S. gasoline...
Cu-Ion Crosslinked Membranes Boost High-Temp Fuel Cells
Researchers have unveiled a copper‑ion crosslinked polymer electrolyte membrane that dramatically improves high‑temperature proton‑exchange fuel cells. The new membrane delivers up to 45% higher proton conductivity at 200 °C and sustains 5,000 hours of thermal‑cycling durability. Bench tests show a 30% boost...
SAS Warns of Structural E-SAF Gap Threatening Europe’s Aviation Market
SAS Aviation Insights warns that Europe faces a structural shortage of electro‑sustainable aviation fuel (e‑SAF) as the EU’s ReFuelEU Aviation regulation ramps up demand. The report shows Scandinavian airlines will need 36,000 t of e‑SAF by 2030, rising to 330,000 t by...
Europe’s Climate Crisis Demands Immediate Solar, Not Net‑Zero Dreams
The WMO just dropped its Europe State of the Climate 2025 report. Here's the reality Big Oil don't want us to look at >CO2 levels are at a 2-million-year high >Europe is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world....
Coal India’s Production for April Falls 9.7%, Offtake Declines 2%
Coal India’s April coal output dropped 9.7% year‑on‑year to 56.1 million tonnes, while off‑take slipped 2% to 63.2 mt. Five of its seven subsidiaries recorded production declines, with Bharat Coking Coal plunging 41.3%. Pithead stock rose to roughly 125 mt, tightening mine logistics....
1,000th Electric Bus Set For Part Of Belgium
Belgium’s Flanders region transport agency De Lijn celebrated the arrival of its 1,000th electric bus, marking a major milestone in the region’s electrification push. The Flemish government has allocated €400 million (about $436 million) to fund the purchase of electric buses, aiming for...
New England Transmission Owners Ask FERC for Increased ROE
New England transmission owners, led by Eversource and Avangrid, have petitioned FERC to raise the base return on equity (ROE) for transmission investments to 11.39%, up from the 9.57% level set in March. The companies argue the current ROE is...
Project Nexus Solar Canal Demo Completes Construction in California
Project Nexus, a pilot solar‑canal system in California’s Central Valley, has finished construction. The public‑private‑academic effort tests photovoltaic arrays mounted over irrigation canals to generate renewable electricity while shading water to cut evaporation and weed growth. Early field data show...
People, Purpose and Systems Thinking: The Leadership Layer of the Energy Transition
At Solar & Storage Live London, the Solar+ Leaders panel argued that the energy transition’s success hinges more on leadership intelligence than on technology alone. Speakers highlighted a purpose‑driven culture, the widening skills gap, and the need for systemic alignment...
Data Centers and the Grid: How Hyperscale Computing Is Reshaping Power Infrastructure
The surge in hyperscale data centers, driven by AI and digital services, is turning power availability into a decisive factor for site selection and project timelines. Global data‑center electricity use could exceed 1,000 TWh annually by the early 2030s, more than...
NextEra Seeks $100 M Exemption for Maine’s Wyman Station Amid Clean‑air Fight
NextEra Energy has asked the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to grant Wyman Station a clean‑air exemption, arguing that installing modern NOx controls would cost over $100 million. Regulators are weighing the request against state climate goals and community health concerns.
Red Sea Tanker Transits Jump 66%, Eclipsing Pre‑crisis Levels
Red Sea tanker transits surpass pre-Houthi crisis levels in rush to secure Saudi barrels ▶️379 crude oil tanker transits recorded in March, up 66% month on month ▶️Dark transits surge as many tanker operators opt to disable AIS while sailing past Houthi-controlled...
The Iran War Doesn’t Have to Be a Rerun of ‘That ’70s Show’
The Wall Street Journal op‑ed warns that the Iran‑Israel conflict could push crude to near $100 a barrel, reviving the oil‑price shock that helped trigger the 1970s stagflation. However, the United States now runs a net oil export surplus and...
Without Wildfire Reform, California Utilities Could See Credit Impacts: Edison International
Edison International warned that without new California wildfire liability reforms, utilities could see credit rating downgrades that would raise borrowing costs across the state. A state‑commissioned report proposes a $4 billion outlay and three pathways—hardening, expanded insurance, and a fortified Wildfire...
How ICT Ensures Energy Meters Secure Performance
In‑circuit testing (ICT) provides the deep electrical validation that traditional bench testing cannot, catching hidden PCB defects, measurement drift, and communication instability in smart energy meters. Global non‑revenue losses from inaccurate meters total $55‑110 billion, and MID 2014/32/EU non‑compliance can trigger fines...
War Sparks Massive Commodity Surge, Stocks Rise, Volatility Falls
Since the start of the Iran war... Jet Fuel: +80% Sulfur: +68% Heating Oil: +56% WTI Crude Oil: +55% Brent Crude Oil: +52% Diesel: +48% Gasoline: +47% Urea: +47% European Nat Gas: +44% Fertilizer: +23% Coal: +13% Palm Oil: +13% Iron Ore: +8% Wheat: +6% S&P 500: +5% $VIX: -15%
Nation Grapples with Energy Shortages Amid Middle East War
The country is already dealing with energy shortages caused by the Middle East war. https://t.co/7nyJJYYnf4
April ENSO Shift Lifts Northern Coastal Irradiance While Suppressing Brazil and Northern Argentina
April 2026 delivered a split solar irradiance picture across South America, with the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Colombia posting 10‑20% above‑average global horizontal irradiance (GHI) while the Buenos Aires‑to‑Bolivia corridor saw 5‑15% below‑average levels. The divergent pattern aligns with...
U.S. Diesel Demand Remains Robust Despite Iran Conflict
U.S. diesel consumption has been strong so far in 2026 Effects of the Iran War have not materially affected the U.S. economy yet #Diesel #OilMarkets #EnergyIsTheEconomy #IranWar #Macro #Commodities #Demand https://t.co/qQSUV8pEch
Clearlake Acquires Qualus, Exits New Mountain's Grid Bet
Clearlake takes Qualus off New Mountain Capital's books in grid infrastructure bet Read more here: https://t.co/IDKdYzVS5P https://t.co/Y1eH1XSX4z
Market Open: Natural Gas Futures Probe Higher, Fall Back as Bullish Catalysts Proving Elusive
Natural gas futures posted their biggest one‑day gain since March 11, driven by a 12‑cent jump and a modestly bullish storage report, before slipping back as demand forecasts turned bearish. Physical markets weakened across Texas and the Midcontinent, while the EIA...
Exxon Sees Endless Permian Growth, Defies Plateau Predictions
Exxon CEO Darren Woods on the Permian: "... We've had the pedal to the metal here from the very beginning [...] Unlike many of our competitors, who I think have predicted the plateauing of of the resource [....], we have...
Meeting Maurine Haver Before Oil Price Blockade Talk
This is me with Maurine Haver at the Cornell Club yesterday before I’m about to present on oil prices and the Iran blockade to the Forecasters Club of NY. Maurine built Haver Analytics from scratch and is one of the...
How a Cruise Line Cut Emissions by 90% on a 12-Day Voyage
Havila Voyages completed a 12‑day cruise along Norway’s Bergen‑to‑Kirkenes route using biogas, slashing CO₂ emissions by roughly 90% versus conventional marine fuel. The vessel consumed about 0.3 terawatt‑hours of biogas, roughly a third of Norway’s total 2025 production. While the trial...
Geopolitical Turmoil Directly Raises UK/EU Household Energy Bills
Me in FT today: “Given that around 80 per cent of UK and European energy still comes from fossil fuels and a large share of that is imported, every geopolitical shock becomes a household bill shock.” More below. https://t.co/qH7tYyZDBT
Experts Predict Modest New Nuclear Growth in US
Here’s a transcript of a discussion I had at SMU last month with Jim Burke, CEO of Vistra, and Ray Rothrock, a board member at Centrus Energy. Both are very sober about the growth of new nuclear in the US...
Santa Marta Conference Ends Optimistically
The inaugural "Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels" conference in Santa Marta, co‑hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, broke the stalemate of traditional UN climate summits with a science‑driven, collaborative format. Fifty‑nine countries—representing over half of global GDP, a third of...
China's EV Shift to Premium Tests Battery Capacity
China's EV market is going premium - can batteries keep up? . Read more and sign up to my newsletter here: https://t.co/Fo25ebCCBE https://t.co/VuzpjXJ2ZQ
Energy Markets Are Chaotic, yet Largely Ignored
No one is paying attention to how messed up the energy markets are right now. -everyone
Cold Weather Slashes EV Range Up to 39%
"AAA has been testing exactly how big an effect temperatures have on modern EV batteries. In its latest research... it found that hot temperatures reduced range by an average of 8.5%. Cold weather cut vehicles' range by a whopping 39%."...