Today's Energy Pulse
Scania pilots megawatt‑scale V2G for heavy‑duty electric trucks
Scania demonstrated one of the first vehicle‑to‑grid systems for heavy‑duty electric trucks using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS). The pilot showed bi‑directional power flow, allowing trucks parked at depots to feed electricity back to the grid, with real‑time communication between the truck, charger and energy‑management platform enabling dynamic charging and discharging. The test marks a step toward integrating large‑capacity EVs into grid balancing.
Also developing:
Spotlight on Energy and Climate
The April 27 2026 issue of Spotlight’s “Energy and Climate” brings together leading voices—Mike Berners‑Lee, Hannah Spencer, Lord Stern and Katie White—to examine the accelerating energy transition. The cover juxtaposes wind turbines, solar panels and industrial motifs, signaling a blend of technology and policy. Each contributor offers insights on carbon accounting, renewable finance, climate policy urgency and corporate net‑zero roadmaps. The edition positions interdisciplinary dialogue as essential for meeting global climate targets.
How Much Money Can You Save With Solar Panels?
UK homeowners facing soaring electricity bills are increasingly installing residential solar panels to cut costs. Depending on system size and the inclusion of battery storage, annual savings range from about $570‑$760 for a six‑panel 2.8 kW system to $1,020‑$2,030 for a...
Best-Selling Plug-In Hybrids More Costly than Electric Vehicles, Research Finds
New analysis by the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit shows eight of the UK’s ten best‑selling plug‑in hybrids cost on average £4,150 ($5,300) more than comparable electric vehicles, a 10% premium. Real‑world fuel use is three times higher than manufacturers...
A Stress Test for California Carbon Pricing
California’s Air Resources Board unveiled Plan B, a redesign of its cap‑and‑trade market that adds a multi‑billion‑dollar Manufacturing Decarbonization Incentive for high‑emitting industries. The proposal boosts free allowances for refineries from roughly 2.25 to over 6.1 per barrel, effectively returning the...
Texas's 44% Renewable Share Still Needs Reliable Backup
44% of Texas's electricity generation in the first quarter of 2026 came from solar and wind. Does this mean Texas is on its way to a grid that's fully or mostly powered by solar and wind? No. Solar and wind are...
Ireland Solar Exceeds 1GW Peak Output
Ireland’s grid‑scale solar generation broke the 1 GW barrier, peaking at 1,133 MW on 27 April 2026. The milestone follows a rapid climb from 750 MW in March 2025, reflecting a surge in new solar farms. Solar’s share of electricity demand rose to 3.1% in 2025,...
Renewables Overtake Coal
Renewables now account for nearly 34% of global electricity generation, overtaking coal as the largest single source in 2025. Solar power drove 75% of the net increase, adding 636 TWh, while wind also expanded. Coal’s share slipped to 33% after peaking...
Utah Offers Fast-Track Power for AI Data Centers
The challenge we have against the Chinese is they're building 10X the power we are. We've had permitting problems across the country. Utah stepped up and said, "Look, we can compete. Not only do we have the land, 40,000 acres,...
Market Underestimates Oil Disruption, Companies Scramble, Blockade Benefits All
Yergin on oil price and his energy conference: - Market is underpricing oil disruption - Oil companies scrambling to figure out how to unlock supply (ie they think it’s not a quick fix) - Believes that both sides think the blockade of...
Brookfield's Insurance Float Fuels Global Real‑Asset Push, Including India
Brookfield Corporation is leveraging its $135 bn insurance platform and $3 bn annual fee earnings to accelerate investments in infrastructure, renewable energy and private‑equity assets worldwide. The firm’s recent MOUs in Andhra Pradesh signal a new wave of private‑equity‑style capital flowing into...
California Fuel Imports Soar After Refinery Closures
California’s gasoline and jet fuel markets are under pressure after the shutdown of Phillips 66’s 139,000 b/d Los Angeles refinery and Valero’s 145,000 b/d Benicia plant, erasing roughly 17% of the state’s refining capacity in seven months. Imports of refined products to the West...
The Real Cost of the Strait of Hormuz Goes Beyond Oil Prices
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed diesel prices higher, triggering roughly a 50% rise in less‑than‑truckload (LTL) surcharges for U.S. shippers. The cost spike is forcing companies to reroute freight away from fuel‑intensive lanes and to rethink inventory...
Data Center Power Demand in Taiwan Set to Surge Eightfold by 2030 - Report
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs forecasts that data‑center power demand will surge eightfold, reaching roughly 1 GW by 2030, driven largely by AI workloads. Overall electricity consumption is expected to rise 13% from 2023 levels, with AI data centers alone projected...
Oil Near $110 a Barrel Fuels Inflation and Current‑Account Strain in Emerging Markets
Oil prices lingered around $110 per barrel as Middle‑East tensions kept the Strait of Hormuz partially shut, pushing India’s rupee toward 95 per dollar and widening its trade deficit. The surge adds inflationary pressure to other oil‑importing emerging markets, forcing...
Distributed Energy Infrastructure Installs Community Solar Projects Through Heavy Snowfall
Distributed Energy Infrastructure (DEI) has reached mechanical completion on two community‑solar farms near Lysander, New York—a 2.9‑MW West Genesee project and a 5‑MW Cold Springs project developed for Generate Capital. Construction proceeded through a record winter with over 100 inches of...
Rupee Slides to 94.27 per Dollar as Oil Spikes and FII Outflows Hit India
The rupee slipped to 94.27 against the U.S. dollar in early trade on Monday, marking a fifth consecutive session of weakness. The decline was fueled by a 1.16% rise in Brent crude to $106.55 per barrel and foreign institutional investors...
Enphase and Evergen Link IQ Batteries to Australian VPP, Boosting Home Grid Services
Enphase Energy announced that its IQ battery line will be integrated with Evergen’s virtual power plant platform in Australia, enabling residential solar‑plus‑storage systems to provide grid services and energy optimisation. The partnership aims to accelerate VPP participation among Australian homeowners...
Oil Spikes Above $107 as US‑Iran Talks Collapse, Pushing Equity Futures Lower
Brent crude surged more than 2% to $107 a barrel, a three‑week high, after President Trump cancelled a back‑channel mission to Iran, derailing peace talks. The rally pulled S&P 500 futures 0.3% lower and reignited worries about inflation and supply...
Opinion: The RFS Supports Energy Security and Farm Security
Nebraska soybean growers have endured a third consecutive year of weak prices and rising input costs. The Trump administration and EPA finalized the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2026‑27, cementing a minimum 5.25 billion‑gallon biomass‑based diesel volume. The rule unlocks a...
GB Clean Power Hinges on Fixing Grid Connections
Britain’s clean‑energy rollout is being hampered by chronic grid‑connection failures, with developers receiving empty offers that lack dates, conditions, or technical details. Delays now stretch 15 to 26 months and cost overruns have surged up to 200%, eroding investor confidence....
Meta Signs Deal to Power Data Centers at Night with Solar Energy From Space
Meta announced a partnership with Virginia‑based satellite startup Overview Energy to tap space‑based solar power for its AI‑driven data centers in the United States. The deal gives Meta early access to up to 1 GW of capacity, with an orbital demonstration...
Irish Ambition and Delivery on Renewables at WindEurope
Ireland’s delegation, led by Ministers Darragh O’Brien and Timmy Dooley, used the WindEurope conference in Madrid to showcase the country’s renewable ambitions ahead of its EU Presidency. The event, which attracted over 16,000 attendees, featured an Offshore Wind Ministerial Session...
Mideast War Lends Momentum to Global Shale Push
The war in the Middle East has reignited global interest in shale exploration beyond the United States, as energy‑security concerns push investors to look abroad. Successes such as Argentina’s Vaca Muerta basin, where Continental Resources and Halliburton have secured major contracts,...
NextEra Contracted 4 GW of New Generation Projects in Q1
NextEra Energy Resources announced a record 4 GW of new generation contracts in Q1 2026, comprising 2.2 GW of solar, 1.3 GW of battery storage and 0.5 GW of wind. The utility aims to expand its portfolio to 41.5 GW of solar and 43 GW of...
Trina Solar Claims World’s Highest Efficiency for Silicon Solar Cells with 28.0%-efficient Device
Trina Solar announced that its TOPCon‑compatible hybrid back‑contact (THBC) silicon cell achieved a certified 28.0% power conversion efficiency, the highest ever for a large‑area 210R crystalline silicon device. The result, validated by Germany’s ISFH, combines TOPCon passivation, HJT‑style surface treatment...
Geotechnical Investigations to Soon Start at Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm Site
Fugro will launch a geotechnical survey campaign at the Caledonia offshore wind farm in early May, following a February geophysical study. The work, using vessels RS Alegranza and Fugro Synergy, will run through mid‑August and include cone penetration tests, seismic...
Shell Enriches Gas Business with $16.4 Billion ARC Resources Takeover
Shell announced a CAD 22 bn ($16.4 bn) cash‑and‑share acquisition of Canadian gas producer ARC Resources, paying a 27% premium. The deal, split 75% Shell shares and 25% cash, adds ARC’s Montney assets and lifts Shell’s production CAGR from 1% to 4% as...
Medium Duration Storage Endures Woes, While Form’s Long Duration Grows, and Lithium Overflows
Form Energy announced a 300 MW/30 GWh iron‑air battery for Google, marking what could be the world’s largest long‑duration storage system. The project, valued at roughly $1 billion, highlights the company’s rapid pipeline growth—up 375% since late 2025—and its push toward a $20/kWh...
Redefining Energy Security
The COVID‑19 pandemic pushed corporations away from lean, just‑in‑time supply chains toward a “just‑in‑case” model that prioritizes resilience. Simultaneously, oil and gas infrastructure has become a primary target in modern conflicts, exemplified by the ongoing war with Iran. Analysts argue...
Q&A: Weather Derivatives Grow on Higher Renewables
Weather derivatives are gaining traction as renewable capacity expands, offering a direct hedge for volume, average‑price and shape risks that standard price contracts miss. Munich Re explains that cash‑settled weather indices let gas retailers, wind‑farm owners and utilities isolate the weather...
PJM Market Monitor Opposes 1.3-GW Gas Plant Deal Between Hull Street, Rockland Capital
The PJM market monitor, Monitoring Analytics, has asked FERC to reject Hull Street Energy’s proposed purchase of two peaking power plants totaling 1,267 MW from Rockland Capital. The deal could allow Hull Street to divert the Lee County, Illinois and Tait,...
DHL Deploys Second Solar-Powered Parcel Transport Ship in Berlin
DHL has launched a second, larger solar‑powered parcel ship on Berlin’s Spree River, expanding its eco‑logistics pilot that began in 2022. The new vessel, 19.5 m long, can carry up to 1,500 parcels and travels between Köpenick and the Osthafen near...
Oil Prices Set to Remain Above Pre‑Conflict Levels
SLB on their call Friday, echoed part of my positive case on oil and gas even after the war ends and the Strait fully reopens. On what they see from here and “how we expect the market to evolve as...
India's Solar Output Forms Heart on Valentine's Day
India's solar power generation making a big old lovely love heart shape on Valentine's day, February 14 2026 😍 https://robbieandrew.github.io/india/
Coca-Cola Canada Expands Volvo VNR Electric Fleet Across Quebec and Vancouver
Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited is expanding its zero‑emission fleet with three new Volvo VNR Electric trucks in Quebec City and four additional units slated for Vancouver this spring. The rollout brings the company’s nationwide electric fleet close to 40 vehicles,...
Tackling Grid Challenges with AECC: The TS Next-Generation Advanced Conductor
TS Conductor unveiled its next‑generation Aluminum Encapsulated Carbon Core (AECC) conductor, a composite solution that lets utilities replace aging lines without modifying existing structures. The AECC design promises five core grid attributes—reliability, resiliency, affordability, rapid deployment, and safety—addressing the shortcomings...
Fitch Affirms Oil India's Rating with Stable Outlook, Cites Strong Government Backing
Fitch Ratings affirmed Oil India Limited’s long‑term foreign‑currency issuer default rating at BBB‑ with a stable outlook, emphasizing the company’s strategic role in India’s energy security and the government’s 57% ownership. The agency linked OIL’s rating directly to India’s sovereign...
Export Controls Spike US Gas, Favor International Oil Stocks
What if Trump reinstates oil export controls before the midterms? Gas prices are going vertical, the Iran War is unpopular and Republican midterm odds are falling. The surest way to lower prices at the pump is to keep more barrels at...
Shell's $14B Deal Marks Biggest Acquisition in Decade
Shell to buy Canadian shale company for $14 billion, in what would be oil giant’s biggest acquisition in 10 years https://t.co/Bk5GBjmp6I
Applications for Home Energy Upgrades up 96% in 2026
Ireland’s National Residential Retrofit Plan, backed by a record €640 million (≈$698 million) budget, is driving a surge in home‑energy upgrades. In Q1 2026, applications for individual upgrades jumped 186% year‑on‑year, and total applications rose 96%, with SEAI processing 29,000 requests. The...
War Drives Brent Futures to New 2026 High
What is the long-term impact of this war? A good measure might be to look at deferred futures contracts. The blue line is the December 2026 Brent Crude Oil Futures contract. It made a new high today, holding its uptrend, and up...
Energy Leaders Aspen Power and Vontier Accelerate Growth
People on the move: Aspen Power, Vontier Corporation, and more #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/xs0oGgSsfq https://t.co/7FtEyjHyMw
GOP Pushes Bill to Eliminate Renewable Tax Credits Deadlines
Republicans introduce American Energy Dominance Act, aim to remove renewables ITC, PTC deadlines #energysky -- via pv-tech: https://t.co/f8n0LxfYXj
Medium‑duration Storage Struggles as Long‑duration Capacity Expands
Medium duration storage endures woes, while Form’s long duration grows, and lithium overflows #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/fkhxxSDBPX https://t.co/6DZCLf8Dos
200 MW, 4‑Hour Battery Project Secures Contractors
Contract awarded for new 200 MW, four hour battery project battery secures contractors #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/3IZrAy3vDt https://t.co/5XPAdJJ6yV
Meta Taps Space‑solar Startup to Power Data Centers
Meta partners with space startup Overview Energy to secure solar power for data centers “Overview Energy is developing a system that can collect solar energy in space and beam it to facilities on the ground for power generation around the clock.”...
U.S. Drilling Expands Domestic Copper, Gold, Tellurium Supply
Rare U.S. opportunity to grow domestic copper, gold & tellurium supply for electrification, solar & national security as America reduces heavy import reliance. Phase 2 drilling ongoing. $GRL.V $GRLMF @GLMetals
Sungrow Q1 Profit Drops 40% Amid Storage Competition
Sungrow Power Supply, a top Chinese manufacturer of new energy equipment, said its first-quarter net income declined 40% from a year earlier, amid intensifying competition in the energy storage sector as more players enter the market https://t.co/rj46mx4qDW
Standardize, Modularize, and Procure Transformers at Portfolio Level
We are short transformers, but to solve it we need to change how we buy them. The fix isn't just more factories — though we need those too. It's standardization. Modular design. Portfolio-level procurement instead of project-by-project scrambling. https://t.co/nHPIg2z3HH https://t.co/B3n5qUQLMQ
Europe Saw Record Negative EV Charging Prices This Weekend
Great times to charge your EV up in Europe over the past weekend, record negative prices (up to -0.48€/kWh) https://t.co/TDNVn5LQjN