Today's Energy Pulse
Scania pilots vehicle‑to‑grid power for heavy‑duty electric trucks
Scania showcased one of the first V2G systems for heavy‑duty electric trucks using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS). The pilot demonstrated bi‑directional power flow, letting trucks feed stored electricity back to the grid while parked, with real‑time communication enabling dynamic charging and discharging. The company also opened orders for trucks equipped with an extra battery pack and MCS.
Also developing:
US Enforces Full Hormuz Blockade, Ends Russia, Iran Oil Waivers, Fuel Shock Hits Global Supply Chain
Washington has declared a full blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and refused to renew emergency waivers that allowed Russian and Iranian crude to flow. The moves, announced by Pentagon officials and Treasury spokesperson Scott Bessent, have triggered a sharp rise in oil prices and a scramble across supply chains worldwide.
Duke Energy Unveils $103 B Five‑Year Plan to Add 20 GW Amid Data‑Center Surge
Duke Energy said it will spend $103 billion over the next five years to add about 20 GW of generation capacity, driven by booming AI data‑center demand. The plan, which includes gas, solar, battery storage and grid upgrades, has sparked a dispute...
Canada Greenlights $4 B Enbridge Gas Pipeline Expansion to Add 300 MMcf/D in British Columbia
The Canadian government approved Enbridge's $4 billion Sunrise Expansion, a natural‑gas pipeline project in British Columbia that will add up to 300 million cubic feet per day of transport capacity. The expansion, part of Enbridge’s Westcoast system, is slated to begin construction...
IMF: UK and Germany Hardest Hit by Energy Crisis
The UK and Germany are the two countries in the developed world whose economic growth prospects have been most hurt by the ongoing energy crisis, according to the IMF. This is totally unsurprising given that the UK has shut down its...
France Reaffirms Efforts To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz
French President Emmanuel Macron announced a push to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within days and weeks, emphasizing freedom of navigation under international law. He warned that panic over geopolitical uncertainty could itself trigger shortages. TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne...
U.S. States Retreat From Climate Goals as Costs Surge and Federal Support Fades
Several U.S. states are scaling back or postponing their climate targets as renewable project costs rise and federal incentives wane. Governors in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island have announced revisions to emissions goals, utility‑bill programs, and renewable‑energy deadlines. The...
The Petrodollar Post-Mortem: Why the Bitcoin Standard Is the Only Way to Price Energy After the Iran War.
The 2026 Iran‑U.S. conflict shattered the petrodollar regime when the Strait of Hormuz was blocked, forcing oil‑exporting nations and the BRICS bloc to abandon dollar‑based settlement. The resulting energy price volatility exposed the fragility of fiat accounting, prompting sovereign individuals...
Hormuz Crisis Unfolds: Market Calm, Leaders Navigate Shock
🎙️ NEW PODCAST 🎧 On the latest episode of Oil Ground Up, I spoke with @Amena__Bakr about the latest tracking of the Hormuz crisis, the shockingly sanguine market reaction thus far, and how the political and industry leadership across the region...
The Ceasefire Trade Tests the Bond Market's Resolve
A two‑week U.S.–Iran ceasefire announced on April 8 drove Brent crude down from $109 to $95 a barrel, erasing roughly half the war premium. The price drop lifted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz but left the 10‑year Treasury yield...
Solar Panels and Batteries Are Changing Life in Brazil’s Amazon
Brazil’s Amazon is transitioning from diesel‑dependent micro‑generators to solar‑panel and battery microgrids, driven by falling technology costs and federal incentives. The Ministry of Mines and Energy approved 29 projects that will reach 650,000 people and avoid 800,000 metric tons of...
Trump’s Disdain for Wind Projects Creates a Political Storm for Republicans in Coastal Virginia
President Donald Trump issued an executive order that temporarily halted five major offshore wind projects, wiping out roughly $35 billion in planned investments. Nine House Republicans, led by Virginia Rep. Jen Kiggans, sent a letter demanding an explanation, highlighting the political...
Hormuz Closure and U.S. ‘Shoot‑and‑Kill’ Orders Cripple Oil Flow, Push Jet‑Fuel Prices Higher
The United States has ordered its navy to fire on any vessel laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, effectively sealing the vital chokepoint. The closure has choked oil shipments, sent jet‑fuel prices soaring and rippled through fertilizer and petrochemical...
Battery Costs Plunge, Solar Takes over All Power Markets
Today’s "anytime solar" revolution is a vertical takeover of the global power grid: With stationary battery costs cratering 45% in just 12 months to $70/kWh, the "but the sun doesn't shine at night" argument is officially in the graveyard 1 It's...
Maine Governor Delays Decision on Nation’s First AI Data‑Center Moratorium
Maine’s legislature passed LD 307, a bill that would pause construction of AI data centers over 20 MW until November 2027. Governor Janet Mills has not yet signed the measure, signaling a possible veto. The move underscores a growing clash between economic...
EU Starts Roll Out of Russian LNG Import Ban at Tricky Time
The EU began prohibiting spot‑market purchases of Russian LNG on April 25, 2026, while allowing existing long‑term contracts to run through year‑end. The ban removes roughly 2.8‑3.5 million tonnes of Russian LNG annually, about 3 % of Europe’s total LNG imports, and aims to...
The Oil Futures Market Is Lying to Us
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced the removal of roughly 500 million barrels from global oil inventories, a pace that could top a billion barrels by June. While Brent futures have rebounded above $100, long‑dated contracts are rising...
Transcorp Power Posts N39.59bn Q1 Profit
Transcorp Power Plc reported unaudited Q1 2026 results showing revenue of N94.59 billion (≈$118 million) and profit after tax of N29.70 billion (≈$37 million), both down year‑on‑year. The company’s cash balance jumped to N10.40 billion (≈$13 million), while total assets rose to N613.42 billion (≈$767 million). Operational disruptions,...
OM in the News: Making Renewable Natural Gas Directly From Waste
Washington State University researchers added a high‑temperature, high‑pressure oxygen pretreatment to sewage sludge before anaerobic digestion, tripling renewable natural gas (RNG) yields and cutting treatment costs by about 50% to $253 per ton of dry solids. The method converts up...
Sanctions Block Russian LNG, Not Crude, Through Red Sea
Explain this: The green arrows in the Red Sea show tankers carrying Russian crude oil. The second image shows the same area with no arrows at all — indicating zero LNG carriers passing through. The third image shows...
X‑Energy Secures Over $1 Billion in IPO to Accelerate SMR Rollout
X‑Energy sold 44.3 million shares at $23 each, raising more than $1 billion in its IPO. The funding will fast‑track the Xe‑100 small modular reactor program, backing contracts with Amazon, Dow and Centrica and expanding the company’s 11 GW pipeline.
U.S. Envoys Witkoff, Kushner Fly to Pakistan for Iran Talks Amid Hormuz Tension
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are heading to Islamabad for a fresh round of mediated talks with Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi. The White House hopes the indirect negotiations will revive a stalled cease‑fire and ease the Strait of Hormuz...
Iran-Israel Conflict Pushes Brent Above $100, Stoking Global Inflation Fears
The Iran-Israel war has lifted Brent crude to $105‑$106 a barrel, a 44%‑55% jump since the conflict began, prompting economists to warn of heightened inflation and a possible drag on global growth through 2026. The shock stems from a near‑closure...
Crude Oil Slides 1.2% as Iran Foreign Minister Heads to Pakistan, Raising De‑escalation Hopes
Crude prices dropped sharply on Friday after reports that Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Araqchi, flew to Islamabad for talks that could extend the cease‑fire with the United States. Brent fell about 1.2% to $104 a barrel and WTI slipped $1.20...
India's Adani Green Reins in Renewable Additions Due to Transmission Limits
India’s Adani Green Energy Ltd is voluntarily limiting its renewable‑capacity additions to about 4.5‑5 GW per year, well below the 7‑8 GW it could otherwise install, because of persistent power‑transmission bottlenecks. The constraints forced the company to write off roughly ₹5 billion (≈ $53 million)...
Peak Power at Record High of 252 GW on Friday Amid Soaring Mercury Levels
India’s power grid hit a record 252.07 GW of peak demand on April 24, driven by an intense heat wave that spurred widespread use of air‑conditioners and coolers. The previous high of 250 GW was set in May 2024. Kerala alone logged a historic...
Urals Crude Prices at Russian Ports Slip Below $100 per Barrel
Urals crude prices at Russia's western ports slipped below $100 per barrel, settling around $90 after a brief stint above the $100 mark in April. The year‑to‑date average rose to $65 per barrel, well above the $45 level before the...
How to Think About the Extractive Problem of Lithium Mining
Electric vehicle sales are surging, with more than one‑in‑five new cars projected to be electric by 2025, driving a massive demand for lithium. Thea Riofrancos’s field research in Chile’s Atacama Desert—home to roughly 20% of the world’s lithium—reveals severe ecological...
Why I Prefer Comstock Over CNX Resources
The author argues that CNX Resources remains a strong sell because its management prioritizes share repurchases over deleveraging, leaving the company with a 2.0 debt‑to‑equity ratio—higher than the industry‑preferred 1.6. Temporary tailwinds from higher gas prices and cold weather are...
Adani Energy Solutions to Raise FY27 Capex by 47% to ₹22,000 Crore, Led by Transmission Push
Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL) announced a 47% jump in FY27 capital expenditure to ₹22,000 crore (about $2.65 billion), driven primarily by a ₹15,500 crore ($1.87 billion) transmission push. The plan allocates ₹2,350 crore to distribution and ₹3,900 crore to smart‑metering, with a target of installing...
Gulf Oil Output Can Rebound in Months After Hormuz Reopens: Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs research says Gulf crude output could rebound within months after the Strait of Hormuz reopens, though full pre‑war levels may take longer. The conflict cut Gulf production by 14.5 mbd, a 57 % drop. Recovery will depend on tanker availability,...
US Weaponizes Gas Abroad, Fuels Climate Crisis, Needs Clean Energy
America is basically using gas as a weapon of war against Asia and Europe: their violent actions in the Middle East have pushed up the price elsewhere but *not* in the US. Fossil gas causes climate change AND it's an...
Oil Prices Already Reflect War Shortfalls, Further Rises Unlikely
I covered 3 topics on this morning's live stream: (i) the 60% rise from before the war means oil already prices the physical shortfalls unfolding now, so prices shouldn't rise much further; (ii) global supply chain disruptions; (iii) rising global...
Science History: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Melts Down, Bringing the World to the Brink of Disaster — April 26, 1986
On April 26, 1986, operators at Chernobyl’s Reactor 4 performed a safety‑test that deviated from protocol, keeping the reactor at half power and causing xenon buildup. A rapid power drop led the crew to withdraw most control rods, triggering a 100‑fold power surge...
WTI Spreads Surge, 12‑month Up
WTI 12-month spread widened $7.84 (60%) for the week ending April 24 6-month spread widened $6.35 (69%) & price rose $10.55 (13%) from $83.85 to $94.40 #energy #OOTT #oilandgas #WTI #CrudeOil #fintwit #OPEC #Commodities #commoditiesmarket https://t.co/SWXxGMx8Qy
Hormuz Delay Persists; Stocks Hit Record Highs as Forecasted
Strait of Hormuz likely will not fully reopen for months, Baker Hughes executive says @seekingalpha and stocks are at record highs, just as everyone predicted https://t.co/byIcXkNS7j
Next Diesel Price Rollback Seen at P8 to P10
Diesel prices in the Philippines are set to drop another P8‑P10 per liter (about $0.15‑$0.18) on April 28, potentially bringing the average to roughly P100/L ($1.79). The decline follows recent rollbacks of P24.94 and P20.90 earlier in the month, driven...
Drilling Against Low‑Price Regime Defies Capital Logic
"Why drill into a regime that wants low prices in a so called capitalist world?" correctly asks @NGLFundamentals Trump wants cheap oil. Why drill into your own price ceiling? That’s not how capital works. #OilMarkets #EnergyPolicy #Shale @RKelanic https://t.co/Sb1c4MChCv
Solar Hardware Demand Spikes, Driving Fragmented DIY Panel Market
Ember says solar demand is surging. No—solar HARDWARE demand is surging. Cells & wafers--not panels That’s fragmentation Everyone wants to build their own panels Still using Chinese inputs Go figure #Solar #EnergyTransition #SupplyChains #Geopolitics @ctindale https://t.co/oAeTOhe7lC
US Imposes Sanctions on Chinese ‘Teapot’ Refinery for Buying Iranian Oil
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, a Chinese "teapot" plant, for buying billions of dollars worth of Iranian oil. The move also targeted roughly 40 vessels and shipping firms linked to Iran’s shadow fleet. China, which accounts for...
Iran War Enters Week Nine, Strait of Hormuz Closed
Today marks the start of the 9th week of the Iran War and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. https://t.co/SlkCd7pW0e
Solar & Battery Microgrids Power Amazon’s Off‑grid Villages
Solar panels and batteries are spreading across the Amazon rainforest, bringing 24/7 power to off-grid communities https://t.co/xGduaflVUL
Oil Inventories Near Record Lows Despite Potential Hormuz Reopening
The world’s oil buffers are rapidly being depleted, with crude inventories poised to reach the lowest levels on record even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens in full by the end of this month: GS’s Daan Struyven & team https://t.co/Z3i0GtxRlv
France Adds 1.41 GW Solar Capacity in Q1
France deploys 1.41 GW of solar in Q1 #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/oL044RiK7a
Shale Revolution Made US Energy Arsenal—Preserve It
The shale revolution turned the United States into an Arsenal of Energy™️ and never has one been needed more than now. Let’s keep it that way. https://t.co/N1tkma5zaq
Mexico-Japan Oil Trade Remains Sporadic, Future Uncertain
🇯🇵🇲🇽 The last oil shipment from Mexico to Japan was in October 2023, and the previous one was in April 2022. Will we see steady shipments going forward?
Denmark Swaps 90% Coal for 60% Wind
Denmark's coal-to-wind transition is one of the most dramatic energy transformations of the past three decades. In 1990, coal provided 90% of Danish electricity. Today it is under 3%. Wind now covers roughly 60% of electricity generation. https://t.co/vfwOET4gUg
Iran's Real Power: Strait of Hormuz Outweighs Nukes
“… The Strait of Hormuz, geography’s strategic gift to Iran, is now a more potent source of influence for Tehran than its nuclear program, ballistic missiles or proxies have ever been…” https://t.co/6yrHVfIioz
Pakistan's Solar Surge Becomes Nation's Top Power Source
Pakistan went from near-zero solar to its single biggest electricity source in a decade. The current energy crisis will further accelerate the transition across the globe. Quoted in @news.rte.ie on this. https://t.co/7FQod74JeP
Libya's Oil Boom and Currency Surge Amid US‑Israeli Conflict
Libya’s oil production JUMPED from roughly 400 thousand barrels a day in March to 1.43 million barrels a day in April. In the same time frame, the Libyan dinar has APPRECIATED by over 17% vs. the USD. LIBYA = BIG WINNERS OF...
Singapore’s Fuel Hub Doubles Russian Oil Imports Amid War
Singapore, the world’s biggest ship refueling port, TURNS TO RUSSIA FOR OIL. Oil imports from Russia have DOUBLED since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran. RUSSIA = BIG WINNER. https://t.co/oBUnq9FGNS