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:
New York Keeps Getting Hotter. Utilities Can Still Cut Off the Power.
New York State unveiled a policy that restricts utility power shutoffs to the hottest days of a heat wave, but the rules are weaker for New York City residents. The change follows intense lobbying by utilities that collectively hold more than $50 billion in shareholder equity. Advocates say the new framework strips away existing protections for low‑income customers, while Con Edison emphasizes payment‑plan options and system cost concerns. Critics argue the policy leaves vulnerable New Yorkers exposed to dangerous heat‑related health risks.
How Carbon Removal Tech Is Adapting to Trump's Energy Agenda
The carbon removal sector is rebranding to fit President Trump’s energy‑dominance agenda, securing Department of Energy approval for two major hubs in Louisiana and Texas. Originally buoyed by Biden‑era climate laws, the industry endured a year‑long review and a pause...
EPRI: Local AI for Energy Research
EPRI has deployed Dell’s Pro Max workstation equipped with NVIDIA’s Grace Blackwell GB10 superchip to run custom AI workloads entirely on‑premises. The system supports up to 200 billion‑parameter models, 128 GB of unified memory, and delivers roughly 1 petaFLOP of AI performance, enabling...
Grid Modernization’s Overlooked Constraint: From Data Gaps to Data Advantage
Investor‑owned utilities face accelerating load growth, DER proliferation, and tighter interconnection timelines. While many invest in advanced metering and DER management, European utilities have found that the real bottleneck is data quality, not technology. Deploying an Intelligent Grid Platform (IGP)...
Mahakumbh 2025 Holds Lessons in Solving India’s Waste Crisis
Mahakumbh 2025, the world’s largest human gathering, hosted roughly 660 million pilgrims over six weeks and produced about 400 metric tons of solid waste. The Uttar Pradesh government deployed a temporary megacity with 15,000 sanitation workers, 10 sewage‑treatment plants and a bio‑CNG facility...
What Load Growth Demands of Resource Planning
Utilities and grid operators are confronting load growth that would have seemed impossible five years ago, with ERCOT projecting an additional 142 GW of peak demand by 2030 and national data‑center demand expected to hit 134 GW, triple current levels. This surge...
Iberdrola Completes Mexico Exit
Iberdrola completed the sale of its Mexican portfolio, including 2.6 GW of capacity, to fellow Spanish firm Cox for $4 billion. The divestiture comprises 1,368 MW of combined‑cycle/co‑generation and 1,232 MW of solar and wind assets, plus 12 GW of renewable projects in development. Cox...
Renewables in Vogue as Iran War Drives up Europe Power Prices
The Iran‑Israel conflict has jolted global oil and gas markets, sending wholesale electricity prices soaring across Europe. Albania, which generates more than 90% of its power from hydropower on the Drin River, has largely insulated its market from the surge....
1973 Arab OPEC Embargo Against the US, Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa for Supporting Israel
In 1973 Arab OPEC members imposed an oil embargo on the United States, the Netherlands, Portugal and South Africa to punish support for Israel during the Arab‑Israeli war. The embargo halted petroleum exports and forced production cuts, causing oil prices...
Two-Year Testing Shows How PV Plants Increase Local Temperatures in Semi-Arid Regions
A two‑year field study at a 100 MW photovoltaic plant in Inner Mongolia measured how large‑scale solar farms affect local climate. Using ground sensors, radiation towers and UAV thermal imaging, researchers found the PV site consistently warmed the near‑surface air by...
LNG Tanker Orders Pick Up Despite Shipping Uncertainty
Global LNG carrier orders are rebounding, with 35 new builds contracted in Q1 2024, surpassing the 37 ordered in all of 2025. Shipyards in South Korea and China are seeing heightened demand despite a looming supply glut and rising construction...
Grenergy Signs Spain Escuderos Storage Contract
Grenergy has inked a 12‑year financial tolling agreement with an investment‑grade international utility for the battery storage component of its Escuderos hybrid project in Castilla‑La Mancha. The deal, effective from July 2028, makes Grenergy responsible for operating and trading the...
The Echo Chamber Harps on Iran Proposing to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Before Nuclear Deal
Iran has floated a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a later start to nuclear negotiations with the United States. The offer ties any easing of the naval blockade to a conditional, phased resumption of commercial...
Japan’s Jera Secures LNG Supplies Through July
Japan's largest power producer Jera announced it has secured enough liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet domestic demand through July, despite ongoing Middle East tensions and shipment disruptions. The firm will leverage its trading subsidiary, Jera Global Markets, to maintain...
New Zealand’s Grid Operator Finds Emerging Energy Gap in Early 2030s
Transpower’s draft Security of Supply Assessment warns that New Zealand could face an energy gap as early as 2029‑2031, even if all currently pledged generation and battery projects are completed on schedule. In the short term (2026‑2028) the hydro‑geothermal dominated mix...
Clarifying the Vague Demand for Baseload Power
When you ask someone to actually define what they mean when they say "we need baseload power"
Goldman, Citi Lift Oil Price Forecasts to $90‑$110
Goldman and Citi strategists are boosting their oil forecasts again. GS now sees brent averaging $90 a barrel in Q4. Citi's Layton just raised his base case average price forecasts to $110/95/80/bbl for 2Q/3Q/4Q 2026, respectively, from $95/80/75/bbl. https://t.co/hI2hYmRVx1
Altilium EV Battery Recycling Expands with New Investment Round
Altilium, a UK‑based clean‑tech firm, has opened a new investment round on Republic Europe, bolstered by a £18.5 million UK government grant (about $23.5 million). The capital will expand the ACT3 recycling plant in Plymouth and fund a commercial‑scale facility in Teesside,...
Free Weekly Energy Transition Newsletter Launches with Bright Spots
I just launched a Substack newsletter. Every week I'll be writing about the energy transition. The first issue is out today. I include a section called Bright Spots — good news from the transition every week. Please subscribe - it is completely...
Powering Up! How a Shared Foundation Model Is Improving Electrical Grid Management
Keen AI’s FoSMo is a shared computer‑vision foundation model funded by Ofgem to automate condition assessments across the UK electricity grid. By processing over a billion images, the model identifies defects on pylons and other assets, replacing manual video reviews...
Two Hot Climate Tech Startups Just Raised $1 Billion+ in IPOs
Public markets are showing newfound appetite for climate‑tech firms, highlighted by X-energy's $1 billion IPO that surged 25% in its first trading hour. The nuclear startup counts tech giants Amazon and Google among its early backers. Meanwhile, geothermal pioneer Fervo filed...
Trump Is Blocking Solar for Farmers. Can the Farm Bill Fix That?
President Donald Trump halted the USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), freezing nearly $1 billion in promised funds, canceling a key application window and imposing strict limits on ground‑mounted solar and foreign‑made panels. The House Farm Bill, slated for a...
Elemental Forces Set to Collide in IMO NZF Battle
The International Maritime Organization’s Net Zero Framework (NZF) is under intense scrutiny at the 84th Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting, as the United States, backed by several nations, pushes to derail the policy. Environmental groups are staging high‑visibility protests, while...
Chinese Solar Exports Surge 125% in March on Policy Change Rush, Not Underlying Demand Acceleration
Chinese customs data show solar module exports surged 125% month‑on‑month in March 2026, reaching $3.61 billion in value and about 37 GW in volume. The spike stems from manufacturers front‑loading shipments before China ends its PV export tax rebates on April 1, aided...
Iran Still Loading Oil at Kharg, Storage Not Exhausted
PHOTO OF THE DAY: As of yesterday (April 26), Iran was still loading oil into tankers at Kharg Island. So beware of talk about Tehran running out of onshore / floating storage in only a couple of days. (Photo via...
Qatar LNG Faces Long Road Back After Unprecedented Disruption
Qatar’s LNG export machine suffered its steepest decline in over 20 years, dropping to 0.23 million tonnes in April—about 85 % below the nine‑year average—after the Strait of Hormuz closed and missile strikes disabled trains 4 and 6. Analysts forecast a three‑phase...
Ghana’s Fuel Payment Strategy Works for Now: How to Fix Longer Term Problems
In 2023 Ghana launched a gold‑for‑oil payment scheme, using domestically mined gold instead of scarce US dollars to settle petroleum imports. The arrangement eased pressure on the cedi, helped curb fuel‑price inflation to roughly 3‑4% by early 2026, and lowered...
BOE Prepares for Prolonged Energy Shock, Keeps Rates Steady
BOE is set to war-game a longer energy shock while holding rates https://t.co/6By4YDVI14 via @tomelleryrees https://t.co/HDTDA50Kfe
DynaCERT Accelerates Market Entry in Vietnam: Strategic Partnerships and Pilot Projects Confirm Market Potential
dynaCERT Inc. announced the launch of its HydraGEN™ hydrogen‑on‑demand system in Vietnam, backed by two memoranda of understanding—one with Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam University of Technology and another with a leading Vietnamese oil and gas company. The company has already commissioned...
Engineering the Highlands’ Next Chapter: Why the North Is Becoming the UK’s New Powerhouse
The Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport is accelerating Scotland's energy transition, drawing massive offshore wind, hydrogen, digital infrastructure, and grid‑reinforcement projects. Abundant renewable generation, deep‑water ports at Nigg and Invergordon, and a clear policy framework have created a high‑tech...
Iran Offers Blockade Lift, Strait Reopen, Nuclear Talks Delayed
According to @Axios, Iran has given the US a new proposal for reaching a deal on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the naval blockade first, and postponing nuclear negotiations for a later stage. https://t.co/4oIkEaf0lH
WA Decarbonisation Mission Backed by $1.4 Billion Fund
The Western Australian government has allocated a AUD 1.4 billion clean‑energy fund—roughly $920 million USD—in the 2026‑27 budget. The capital will back projects such as the Clean Energy Link, which will extend renewable power to about 1 million households. The initiative includes new high‑capacity...
Gas Companies Pay Tax, but Australia Still Needs a Fairer Return
Australia’s booming LNG exports generate roughly $30 billion annually, yet the tax framework leaves the public with a modest share of profits. A Senate inquiry is revisiting gas taxation, arguing that earlier policy decisions missed an opportunity to lock in a...
Green Transition Crucial for Europe's Economic Security
Iran’s lesson for Europe: The green transition matters for economic security https://t.co/hAuA9BMqco via @opinion https://t.co/K4104H0nlG
Europe Urged to Become First “Electro-Continent” With 50% Electrification Target by 2040
A coalition of European investors, corporations and startups has issued an open letter urging EU policymakers to adopt a 50% clean‑electricity target for final energy consumption by 2040, effectively making Europe the first “electro‑continent.” The letter highlights that Europe has...
Speculators Anticipate Desperate News to Drop Brent
🙈Tomorrow morning, right before US markets open — what’s the desperate news they’re releasing to drive Brent back down to the mid-$90s? Any Guess?
Global Chokepoints Under Siege: Next Target?
🎯Panama Canal kicked it off, Red Sea followed (Suez Canal and Bab Al Mandab), now Hormuz Strait. 🎯Next target?
Australian Court Amends Consent for Hydrostor’s 1.6GWh Long-Duration Energy Storage Project Following Appeal
The New South Wales Land and Environment Court upheld an appeal by tourism operator Outback Astronomy, imposing amended consent conditions on Hydrostor’s 1.6 GWh (200 MW/1,600 MWh) Silver City advanced compressed‑air energy storage (A‑CAES) project. Hydrostor must now consult the complainant at every...
Amid Energy Crisis, Chinese Solar Exports Double
China's solar equipment exports doubled in March, reaching 68 GW—a volume comparable to Spain's total solar capacity. The surge follows the Iran‑Hormuz oil disruption, prompting Asian and African nations to replace fossil‑fuel imports with Chinese panels. A temporary rise in export...
74% Demand Energy Savings, Government Stalls Implementation
Japan's government is under pressure to implement energy-saving measures 🇯🇵⚠️ Some 74% of those surveyed in a recent Nikkei/TV Tokyo poll said energy-saving is needed Takaichi has repeatedly said measures aren't needed, and there is enough oil supply https://t.co/c5gj48aVOt
Haass: Trump Trapped Between Blockade and Nuclear Deal
Former CFR President @RichardHaass to Trump: Hormuz: End the US Blockade in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait That will never happen Nukes: cap enrichment under strict monitoring, JCPOA-style. That's really unlikely to happen Trump is trapped. #Iran #Hormuz #Geopolitics #NuclearDeal #JCPOA #OilMarkets #EnergyCrisis
Archer Secures $320m Equinor Contract Extension
Archer, a Norwegian offshore service provider, has secured a three‑year contract extension with Equinor worth roughly NOK 3 billion ($322.5 million). The deal expands the integrated wireline and intervention services originally awarded in 2021 across key Equinor assets on the Norwegian Continental Shelf....
Trump’s 3‑day Oil Crisis Claim Vastly Overstated
Trump says 3 days till Iran's storage is full That's exaggerated & assumes the blockade works perfectly. It barely works at all. In reality, Iran has weeks of storage, floating barrels, & workarounds. That doesn't mean Iran feels no pressure. Just not as much as...
Energy Futures Edge Up 2.5% Amid Low Conviction
After weeks of turmoil, energy markets barely moved Just a modest 2.5% weekly gain Limited positioning changes across WTI, Brent, & refined fuel product futures. Volatility is high, but conviction is low. #OilMarkets #Commodities #Energy
MARKET CALL: Devil-May-Care
The note forecasts the S&P 500 hovering around 7,000 with a year‑end target of 7,700, assuming a mid‑year resolution to the Strait of Hormuz stalemate. It highlights a barbell positioning—overweight Energy and market‑weight IT—because both sectors trade above their 200‑day...
Physics versus Ideology – Ten Years of Energy Policy Confusion
Kathryn Porter marks the ten‑year anniversary of her Watt‑Logic blog, which has evolved from a personal site into a worldwide consulting practice serving utilities, generators, traders and regulators. She highlights that the core physics of power systems—dispatchability, inertia and the...
U.S. Crude Tanker Delivers 910,000 Barrels to Japan, First Shipment Since Iran Crisis
The M/V Otis arrived in Tokyo Bay on April 26 with 910,000 barrels of U.S. crude from Texas after a 35‑day journey through the Panama Canal, the first direct U.S. shipment to Japan since the Iran crisis. The delivery underscores...
Hormuz Strait Blockade Strands 20,000 Seafarers on 2,000 Vessels, Exposing Global Shipping Fragility
The U.S.–Iran clash over the Strait of Hormuz has stranded roughly 20,000 seafarers aboard 2,000 vessels, underscoring how geopolitical disputes can weaponize commercial shipping. The International Maritime Organization warns that naval escorts are not a lasting fix and calls for...
U.S. Stock Futures Slip 0.3% as Iran Talks Stall and Oil Prices Surge
U.S. stock futures fell on Sunday, with Dow Jones futures down 0.2% and S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures each slipping 0.3% after Iran‑U.S. peace talks stalled and oil prices rose above $96 a barrel. The move underscores how quickly...
Fed Likely to Hold Rates as Oil Prices Surge Over 50%, Analysts Say
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates steady at its next policy meeting as oil prices push gasoline costs up more than 50% since the US‑Iran conflict began. Analysts say the inflationary pressure from higher energy costs makes...