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:
Masdar Forms Renewables JV with Montenegro State Utility
UAE‑state‑owned Masdar has entered a 50/50 joint venture with Montenegro’s national utility EPCG to develop solar, wind, hydro, pumped‑hydro storage and battery projects. The partnership aims to boost local renewable generation and export clean power to the Western Balkans and southern Europe via an existing subsea link to Italy. Masdar cites the deal as a step toward its 100 GW target by 2030, while the Balkans are projected to receive two‑thirds of new capacity from renewables through 2040.
US Gas Plant Costs Surge 66% Amid Rising Demand
Costs to build natural gas-fired power plants in the US increased 66% between 2023 and 2025 as developers propose building more projects nationwide to meet rising electricity demand. https://t.co/dO5y2ajRdJ
Tesla Reports Surge in EV Orders as Gasoline Prices Spike
Tesla posted a 16% year‑over‑year revenue increase to $22.4 billion in Q1 2026 and said soaring gasoline prices drove a rebound in electric‑vehicle demand across key regions. The automaker highlighted stronger margins and a rise in full‑self‑driving subscriptions, underscoring a shift...
Iran Seizes Ships in Hormuz, Driving Oil to $104 and Gold Below $4,700
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seized two merchant ships and fired on three others in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such seizure in the current conflict. The escalation lifted Brent crude to $103.60 a barrel and pushed gold under $4,700...
Oil Futures Backwardation Usually Not Bullish
New free article: Backwardation in Oil Futures is Not Generally Bullish #CL_F Link in reply below. 👇 https://t.co/NTU7sp9zR6
US Navy Seizes Another Iranian Oil Tanker—After Iran Said It Banked First Tolls From Ships Crossing Hormuz
The U.S. Navy seized the stateless tanker M/T Majestic X in the Indian Ocean, accusing it of transporting Iranian oil. Iran announced that the first tranche of tolls collected from ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz has been deposited into its...
From Net Oil Importer to Net Oil Exporter : Shifts in the Role of Petroleum in the US Economy
The United States transitioned from a long‑standing net oil importer to a net exporter around 2020, as refined petroleum exports outpaced imports. Data from the Federal Reserve’s FRED series show the net export share of GDP turning positive after decades...
Ohio Is Where Wind and Solar Projects Go to Die, and Other Findings From New Research on State Permitting
A new study of state‑level permitting across 19 states finds Ohio to be the toughest market for wind and solar developers, with seven project rejections and five withdrawals—the highest counts in the sample. The shift began after Ohio’s 2021 Senate...
Construction Begins on TerraPower Natrium Nuclear Project in Kemmerer, Wyoming
TerraPower has broken ground on the Kemmerer Unit 1 Natrium project in Wyoming, marking the start of on‑site construction for its flagship sodium‑cooled fast reactor. The plant will generate 345 MW of baseload power and can ramp to 500 MW using an integrated...
RWE and Polarium to Combine Distributed Batteries Into 50MW/135MWh Germany VPP
German utility RWE has partnered with Sweden‑based Polarium to launch a battery‑based virtual power plant in Germany. The VPP will initially aggregate 1,600 distributed batteries, delivering at least 50 MW and 135 MWh of capacity, with plans to scale to 10,000 units...
Rising Fossil Fuel Prices Boost Clean Energy Push
Soaring oil and gas prices are helping to bolster the argument that the world needs to accelerate its move to clean energy sources https://t.co/HivJRoJBib
CenterPoint to Energize 8 GW of Data Center Load by 2029
CenterPoint Energy announced it will have 8 GW of data‑center load energized by 2029, with an additional 4.2 GW slated thereafter, marking a 60% increase from last year. The utility already has 3.5 GW under construction and expects to tap 10 GW of existing...
Europe Faces Freedom‑energy Trade‑off; Italy Picks Energy
Europe has put itself in a pickle where it has to choose between freedom and energy. Italy is choosing energy. https://t.co/g4zp4ZGexS
Drone Strike Sparks Oil Fire, Toxic Rain in Tuapse
Polluted rain fell on Russia’s Black Sea city of Tuapse as authorities struggle to extinguish a blaze at local oil facilities following a drone attack, highlighting the environmental effects from the war in Ukraine. https://t.co/ldgFZWUPNF
EU Warned over 'Disastrous' PPA Own Goal Just as It Tries to Promote Them
The European Union is facing criticism that its draft eco‑rules could exclude corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) from carbon‑footprint calculations. Industry groups warn that this would strip manufacturers of green‑energy credits, undermining the incentive to invest in wind and solar...
Fuel Price Shocks Accelerate Europe's Shift to EVs
Every fossil fuel shock drives Europeans toward EVs. Ukraine 2022. Iran 2026. Same pattern. When prices hurt, people look for the exit. https://t.co/VRFYzjBHSG https://t.co/78BnIebvjZ
Republican Lawmakers Attempt to Shield Big Oil From Climate Lawsuits in ‘Alarming’ Bills
Republican lawmakers introduced the Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026, led by Rep. Harriet Hageman and Sen. Ted Cruz, to grant oil and gas companies sweeping legal immunity from climate‑related lawsuits. The proposal would dismiss more than 70 pending state...
Catalysts Target Surface Barriers to Improve Hydrogen Release From Magnesium Hydride
Researchers at Tohoku University have shown that the initial surface step—dubbed the “burst effect”—is the most energy‑intensive part of hydrogen release from magnesium hydride (MgH₂). By designing catalysts that specifically target this barrier, they achieved faster and more complete dehydrogenation....
Tesla Reports Declines in Quarterly Energy Storage Revenues and Deployments
Tesla reported a 15% drop in Q1 2026 energy‑storage deployments, delivering 8.8 GWh, and a 12% year‑over‑year decline in energy‑generation and storage revenue to $2.408 billion. Despite lower volumes, the division posted a record gross margin above 39.5%, its highest ever. CFO Vaibhav...
California Bypasses Jones Act with U.S.-made Gasoline
"California has new way of getting gasoline due to Jones Act waiver" (And the fuel is American-made.) https://t.co/HnQQWljVtX "Nationally, 44 voyages by foreign-flagged vessels have carried petroleum products between U.S. ports" 😲 https://t.co/noAURnRzqq
From COP to Colombia: What Are the Santa Marta Talks and What’s at Stake?
More than 60 countries will gather next week for the International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF), co‑hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands. The summit is not designed to produce a binding treaty; instead it will...
Another French Energy Giant Weighs Trump’s Payout to Exit Offshore Wind
French utility Engie is negotiating with the Trump administration for a possible refund on its U.S. offshore wind leases, mirroring TotalEnergies' recent $1 billion payout deal. Engie has paused development on three projects and taken a loss on its Ocean Winds...
Carbon Pricing in Denmark: How Does It Work?
Denmark’s carbon pricing scheme now blends a rising carbon tax, EU ETS participation, and a €7.2 bn (≈$7.9 bn) Green Fund to fund offshore wind and carbon‑capture projects. The 2022 Green Tax Agreement lifts the tax to about $109 per tonne of...
Range of Reforms to Electricity Network Planning and Consenting Pushed Through
The UK government has enacted a suite of reforms to electricity network planning and consenting, expanding permitted‑development rights for substations, overhauling Section 37 to fast‑track low‑impact overhead line upgrades, and raising the distance threshold for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) from...
Costa Rica Leads Renewable Tourism, Overtaking Portugal and New Zealand
Costa Rica has risen to the top of the renewable tourism rankings, overtaking Portugal, New Zealand, Thailand, India and Egypt as the global oil crisis drives travelers toward low‑carbon destinations. The Central American nation’s near‑100% renewable electricity, more than a...
Berlin-Based VREY Raises €3.3M to Unlock Shared-Roof Solar
Berlin‑based climatetech startup VREY closed a €3.3 million seed round (about $3.6 million) led by Rubio Impact Ventures, with HTGF and Kopa Ventures participating. The funding will fuel expansion of its EnergyOS platform that lets property owners install solar on shared roofs...
Floating Wind & Deepwater Oil and Gas - Two Worlds Collide
The latest Intelatus Global Partners forecast warns that rising floating offshore wind projects will strain the supply of large anchor handling tug supply vessels (AHTSs) and multi‑purpose support vessels (MSVs) as early as 2029‑2031. While deep‑water oil and gas activity...
Hormuz 'Reopening Optimism' Is 'Sliding Fast', Analyst Warns
Analysts warn that optimism about a May 1 reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is eroding, raising the risk of a sharp Brent price adjustment. SEB’s Bjarne Schieldrop notes that each week of delay could add roughly $5 per barrel to...
AI Designs Thermoelectric Generators 10,000 Times Faster Than We Can
Japanese researchers unveiled TEGNet, an AI platform that designs thermoelectric generators up to 10,000 times faster than conventional simulations. Prototypes built from the AI’s recommendations achieved roughly 9 percent conversion efficiency, matching the performance of today’s best devices. The tool also identified...
The Absolute Best Water Reactor: What Happened to the World’s Fastest Constructed Reactor?
In this episode, James Krelnstein and the Decouple team dissect the Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR), spotlighting Japan’s record‑breaking construction of Kashiwazaki‑Kariwa Units 6 and 7, which were built in just 38 months and at a third of the cost...
Oil Exporters Scramble for Routes Beyond Hormuz — but There Are No Easy Options
The shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz has halted roughly 20 million barrels per day of oil and gas exports, forcing Gulf producers to hunt for alternative routes. Existing pipelines such as Saudi Arabia’s East‑West line and the UAE’s Habshan‑Fujairah corridor...
GM Achieves 100% Renewable Electricity Goal in U.S.
General Motors announced it achieved its 2025 target of powering every U.S. facility with 100% renewable electricity, becoming the first U.S. automaker to do so. The milestone follows two accelerations of the original 2050 deadline and pushes the company’s global...
Global Solar Council Appoints New Strategic Board
The Global Solar Council (GSC) unveiled a new strategic board on April 23, 2026, drawing leaders from national PV associations and major solar firms. Notable corporate members include Fiona Hiu of China’s Sungrow, Dinesh Dhamija of Romania’s Ruserio Solar, and...
Anglo American Draws Three Bidders for Coal Sale
Anglo American is restarting the sale of its Queensland steelmaking coal assets after a $3.8 billion deal with Peabody Energy fell apart due to a mine fire. At least three parties—Stanmore Resources, Mitsubishi Corp. and Indonesia’s BUMA Internasional—are now in the...
Petroleum Rail Shipments Jump 15.5% Amid Rising Prices
Petroleum rail shipments surge 15.5% YoY. We expect this to accelerate as oil prices stay elevated and new oil production comes online. https://t.co/ybdZfwN2NM
Deepwater’s Playbook for Delivering Growth
Deepwater oil output is projected to climb from roughly 8 million barrels per day today to about 10 million barrels per day by the early 2030s, according to Welligence. After 2035, production will decline unless a new wave of pre‑FID projects is...
Yalla Group Publishes 2025 ESG Report, Highlights Renewable Energy and Diversity Gains
Yalla Group Limited released its 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, outlining progress on renewable energy, AI‑driven efficiency and workplace diversity. The report signals the company's intent to deepen sustainable practices while expanding its digital entertainment ecosystem across the...
Uniting ECA and SEforALL to Boost Africa's Sustainable Energy
I had a great discussion with my colleague @claverGatete. We discussed how to align @ECA_OFFICIAL and @SEforALLorg efforts to accelerate sustainable energy and socioeconomic development across #Africa. https://t.co/izerSLJDnI
Bull of the Day: Chevron Corporation (CVX)
Chevron (CVX), a Zacks Rank #1 integrated energy giant, leveraged its low‑cost Permian base to post a Q4 adjusted EPS of $1.52, beating forecasts, while operating cash flow more than doubled to $10.8 billion. The company raised its dividend 4% to...
UK’s BII Rolls Out $1.5 B Fund to Finance Asia’s Energy‑Transition Projects
British International Investment (BII) has launched a £1.1 billion ($1.5 billion) fund aimed at equity and mezzanine financing for energy‑transition assets in India, the Philippines, Indonesia and other Southeast Asian markets. The fund will target power generation, transmission, storage, electric‑vehicle infrastructure and...
German Environment Minister Discusses War‑Driven Energy Shifts
Very good exchange with German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider @schneidercar in Berlin We discussed a wide range of issues, including the energy implications of the war in the Middle East and the prospects for different fuels & technologies https://t.co/wOzs6bLX0R
Saudi Oil Export Revenue up $100 M YoY in February
Press the translate button.... but remember: 1- cost of diversion is high 2- they have massive losses in NGLs, petrochemicals,and other sectors
BOEM Issues Environmental Review for Multi-Well Stimulation at Californian Offshore Platform
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a final environmental impact statement for well‑stimulation, including hydraulic fracturing, on Platform Gilda off Ventura County, California. The document was completed in just 28 days after the notice of intent and...
Moody's Cuts India's FY27 Growth Forecast to 6% Amid West Asia Conflict
Moody's Investors Service reduced its projection for India's fiscal year 2026‑27 GDP growth to 6%, down from 6.8%, blaming weaker consumption, softer industrial activity and soaring energy prices linked to the West Asia conflict. The downgrade clashes with Assocham's optimism...
Bloomberg Warns Iran War Exposes Europe's Fossil Fuel Reliance, Green Shift at Risk
A Bloomberg analysis warns that the war in Iran has sent European natural‑gas prices soaring more than 60%, exposing the bloc’s continued dependence on fossil fuels. The surge challenges the pace of the EU’s green transition and raises concerns about...
Ontario, Yukon Team up on Nuclear Energy
Ontario and Yukon have signed a partnership to explore small modular reactor (SMR) deployment for Yukon’s strained electricity system. The agreement leverages Ontario’s nuclear operating experience to assess technical, regulatory, and financing aspects of SMRs and off‑grid microreactors. Yukon’s 152 MW...
New York State Grants Siting Permits to 125MW Solar-Plus-Storage Project
New York’s Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) granted final siting permits for AES Corporation’s 125 MW Sugar Maple solar‑plus‑storage project, which includes a 20 MW battery energy storage system. The design was altered to minimize above‑ground lines and...
Local Communities Resist Battery Plants Over Fire Risks
The battery backlash is here as locals worry about fire risks and industrialization, and the fight is just beginning https://t.co/8pFL2WDHGX
Green Capital Enlists EPC Electrum for 320MWh Poland BESS, Under Full Wrap for ‘Cost Predictability’
Green Capital has contracted Polish EPC firm Electrum to build an 80 MW/320 MWh battery energy storage system in Lower Silesia, Poland, using a full “wrap” model that includes procurement, installation, grid integration and a five‑year O&M agreement. Construction is set to start...
Will Fusion Power Get Cheap? Don’t Count on It.
Fusion power promises a steady, zero‑emission electricity source, but a new Nature Energy study warns its cost may not fall quickly. Researchers estimated fusion’s experience rate—the cost decline per capacity doubling—at only 2% to 8%, far slower than solar (23%)...