Today's Energy Pulse
Scania pilots vehicle‑to‑grid charging for heavy‑duty electric trucks
Scania demonstrated one of the first vehicle‑to‑grid (V2G) systems for heavy‑duty electric trucks using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS). The pilot showed bi‑directional power flow, letting trucks feed stored electricity back to the grid while parked at depots. Real‑time communication between the truck, charger and energy‑management platform enabled dynamic charging and discharging.
Also developing:
Gurgaon Sees Rooftop Solar Boom as 7k Applications Filed in 5 Months
Gurgaon recorded 7,497 rooftop solar applications in just five months, pushing operational connections past 4,200. The surge, driven by the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, has seen subsidies flow to roughly 2,360 households and rapid installations in upscale housing societies. Haryana aims for 222,000 rooftop systems by March 2027 and a cumulative 1.6 GW capacity by 2030. The trend promises lower grid dependence and contributes to India’s clean‑energy targets.
From Coal to Solar: A Stable Jobs Transition for Poland
A new study by AGH University of Krakow projects Poland’s solar industry will maintain between 20,000 and 40,000 full‑time jobs through 2040, depending on investment scenarios. The research outlines three pathways—a baseline, the PEP2040 policy scenario, and an optimal (OPT)...
Episode 443: Europe’s Biomethane Sector Gains Momentum Despite Policy Challenges
In this episode, ICIS analysts Laura Sapadous and Andrea Battaglia examine Europe’s rapidly evolving biomethane market, focusing on recent regulatory updates in Germany and Italy and an EU infringement case against France’s national certificate scheme. They highlight Germany’s new THG...
Denver Launches Sewage‑Powered District Heating Pilot to Slash Fossil Fuel Use
Denver officials have begun a pilot thermal‑energy network that taps waste heat from the city’s sewage system to heat and cool 11 municipal buildings. The “ambient loop” replaces an aging natural‑gas steam system and is a core element of the...
The UAE’s OPEC Exit Frees up Oil Wealth as It Bets Big on AI
On May 1 the United Arab Emirates left OPEC, releasing a production gap worth over $61 billion annually at current Brent prices. State oil giant ADNOC responded with a $55 billion acceleration plan for oil, refining and petrochemical projects, freeing capital for AI‑focused...
Commission Approves €1.3 Billion German State Aid to Support Renewable Hydrogen Production
The European Commission has cleared a €1.3 billion (≈US$1.4 bn) German state‑aid programme that finances renewable‑hydrogen production through the European Hydrogen Bank’s Auctions‑as‑a‑Service tool. The scheme will fund up to 1,000 MW of electrolyser capacity, targeting 10 million tonnes of green hydrogen and an...
US Startup Antora Deploys 5GWh Thermal Energy Storage System at Biofuels Facility in South Dakota
California‑based Antora has commissioned Project Big Stone, a 5 GWh thermal‑battery system at POET Bioprocessing’s biofuels plant in South Dakota. The TES array stores heat up to 2,400 °C, delivering multi‑day, round‑the‑clock power and lowering the plant’s energy costs. A long‑term heat‑of‑ftake...
Dalkia to Deliver Green Hydrogen Plant in Cumbria
Dalkia, backed by EDF, will design, build and commission a 30 MW green hydrogen plant for Kimberly‑Clark’s Cumbria factory. Construction begins this summer, with commercial operation slated within two years. The project is part of the UK government’s first wave of...
Why Is Oil Moving Lower Today?
Oil prices slipped as markets processed U.S.-Iran diplomatic signals and mixed U.S. economic data. President Trump’s remarks lowered the immediate strike risk but left a geopolitical premium, while IEA data showed global supply fell 1.8 million barrels per day in April,...
German Wind Group Seeks 16GW Return Option to Avoid Offshore Gridlock
The German Offshore Wind Energy Federation (BWO) is urging the government to create a legally binding, voluntary return mechanism for offshore wind sites awarded in the 2023‑2025 tender rounds. Developers could relinquish sites that face prolonged grid‑link delays, preventing years‑long...
Sahaj Solar, Clarion Plan 750 MW PV Module Factory in UAE
Sahaj Solar of India and Clarion Investments of New York have formed a joint venture to build a 750 MW photovoltaic module manufacturing plant in the United Arab Emirates. The facility will serve both domestic demand and export markets, with a...
Federal Government Prepares Withdrawal From Uniper – Orderly Reprivatization Following 2022 Crisis Rescue
The German federal government announced it will begin the orderly reprivatization of Uniper, retaining a blocking minority of 25% plus one share while selling the remaining equity by the end of 2028. The move follows a 2022 state‑aid rescue that...
CFTC Probes $800m Oil Trading Spike
U.S. regulators are probing an $800 million spike in crude oil futures trading that unfolded minutes before a Trump‑issued social‑media post on March 23, which hinted at possible U.S. action against Iran’s energy infrastructure. The surge generated sharp price drops after the...
Former Eskom CEO Says Three Men Saved South Africa From Disaster
Former Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga praised Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Mteto Nyati and Dan Marokane for reversing South Africa’s historic power crisis, noting Eskom’s announcement on 15 May 2026 that the utility has gone a full year without load‑shedding—the first such stretch since 2016‑18. The turnaround is attributed...
Assessing the Role of Distinct Intra-Annual Inflow Patterns in Hydropower Scheduling Beyond Conventional Unevenness Metrics
A new study of the Longyangxia reservoir on the Upper Yellow River shows that intra‑annual inflow patterns, identified through k‑means clustering of 67 years of monthly data, significantly affect hydropower scheduling. Nine distinct patterns were found, and their frequency shifts...
Rockefeller Foundation, Temasek Trust Go Nuclear with New Philanthropic Coalition
The Rockefeller Foundation and Singapore’s Temasek Trust announced the Global Coalition for Nuclear Philanthropy (GCNP) at the Philanthropy Asia Summit, uniting several U.S.-based foundations to channel capital into nuclear energy. Current climate‑philanthropy support for nuclear sits at just 0.2%, highlighting...
World’s Largest Thermal Energy Storage Plant by POET Launches in Big Stone City, South Dakota
POET, in partnership with Antora Energy, launched the world’s largest thermal energy storage plant in Big Stone City, South Dakota. The 5‑gigawatt‑hour system stores excess wind power in carbon blocks heated to 4,000 °F and now supplies electricity to POET’s adjacent...
Adani Green to Develop 2,250 MW Gandikota-2 Pumped Storage Project in AP
Adani Green has secured the development rights for a 2,250 MW pumped‑storage project in Andhra Pradesh’s YSR Kadapa district. The Gandikota‑2 facility, assigned to Adani Hydro Energy Eleven Ltd, will be built under the state’s Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2024 and is slated...
Mexico Secures Floating Gas Plant for Yucatán Power Needs
This is an amazing story and I am fascinated by the technology and the business model: Mexico Signs Deal for Floating Gas Power Plant to Meet Yucatan Demand Daily Energy Report https://t.co/Z5ARrWRQIu
“Island-Able” Solar-Battery Microgrid Wins Funding to Keep Lights on in Town at the End of the Line
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has granted roughly AU$3 million (about US$2 million) to EDP Renewables Australia for the Braidwood Renewable Microgrid Project in New South Wales. The pilot will install a 5 MW solar plant paired with a 5 MW/10 MWh battery that can...
Why the Iran War Won’t Mean More Coal Use in China
The Iran conflict pushed global oil prices above $100 a barrel and doubled LNG costs in Asia, prompting analysts to warn that coal could appear cheaper by comparison. In China, however, the government‑set coal price range of ¥570‑¥770 (about $80‑$108)...
Why We Should Treat Households as Energy Infrastructure
Communities are rebelling against soaring electricity bills and utility‑driven infrastructure spending, prompting states to rethink households as active energy assets. A new "Homegrown Energy" policy package proposes making heat pumps, rooftop solar, batteries and smart appliances affordable for 96% of...
Citi Bull Case Brent Hitting $150 Near Term as Oil Markets Under-Price Disruption Risk
Citi projects Brent crude climbing to $120 per barrel in the near term, citing that markets are under‑pricing the risk of a prolonged Hormuz disruption. Its bull‑case scenario pushes Brent to $150 if the Strait of Hormuz reopens only gradually...
Solar Developer’s Wrong Powerline Hookup Adds Five-Year Delay
U.S. Solar developer seeks connection to wrong powerline, delays project five years #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/CmgDlCPJEr https://t.co/J0XFWnQNZu
Hitachi Inks 20-Year LTSA with Akaysha Energy for 298MWh Battery Storage System in Australia
Hitachi Energy has entered a 20‑year long‑term service agreement (LTSA) with Akaysha Energy to operate the 155 MW/298 MWh Ulinda Park battery storage system in Queensland. The deal includes Hitachi’s AI‑enabled HMAX Energy platform, providing IoT monitoring, predictive analytics, and 24/7 global support....
Edify Secures Funding to Build Two Massive Solar‑Battery Plants
Australia’s Edify has secured financing needed to begin construction on two massive solar-and-battery power plants https://t.co/MOXEUSZ8Pf
AIIB, ADB, StanChart Back Uzbekistan Wind Farm- #BeltAndRoad #Economy #Infrastructure
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has approved a $107 million loan to Acwa for the Bash 2 wind power plant in Uzbekistan’s Bukhara region. The 300‑megawatt project, co‑financed by the Asian Development Bank and Standard Chartered, will generate roughly 943 GWh annually, powering...
U.S. Solar Capacity Overstated Compared to Factory Output
U.S. solar faces massive gap between stated capacity and real factory output #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/oLWF5GvMV0
UAE, Kuwait Expand Overseas Storage to Safeguard Asian Supply Chains
Gulf national oil firms are reshaping logistics to insulate Asian supply chains from Strait of Hormuz disruptions. Kuwait Petroleum Corp. has positioned 7‑8 million barrels of crude in Japan and South Korea, while ADNOC is negotiating storage of up to 30 million...
Putin Is Pushing for a Blockbuster Oil and Gas Deal in China. Will He Get It?
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing seeking a multi‑billion‑dollar oil and gas partnership with state‑run China National Petroleum Corp. The talks focus on long‑term supply contracts, potential yuan‑based settlements, and a pricing formula tied to global benchmarks. Negotiations come...
Scientists Unveil ‘DNA Battery’ That Charges Directly From The Sun
Scientists at UC Santa Barbara have created a liquid solar battery that mimics DNA’s pyrimidone molecule to capture sunlight, store it chemically for months or years, and release it as heat on demand. The molecular system achieves an energy density...
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Trims Stake in 147-Year-Old Oil Stock
Berkshire Hathaway sold roughly 35% of its Chevron stake in Q1 2026, offloading over 45 million shares at an average of $182.59 and generating about $8 billion. The sale reduced Berkshire’s holding to 4.2%, keeping it the fourth‑largest institutional shareholder. Buffett’s team...
Gas and LNG Markets, May 19, 2026
On May 19, 2026, U.S. spot natural‑gas prices slipped about 5% to roughly $2.45 per MMBtu, while Asian LNG futures hovered near $10.20 per MMBtu, indicating stable demand despite a mild weather outlook. European LNG exporter netbacks rose 8% as tighter regional...
Jolywood Begins Mass Production of Low‑Silver TOPCon Cells
Jolywood starts mass production of low-silver TOPCon solar cells #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/QXmA1i3Pdn
Market Watch: Heat Wave Drives Nymex to 2-Month High
June’s scorching heat wave pushed NYMEX natural‑gas futures to a two‑month high, with the prompt‑month contract closing at $3.114 per million British thermal units, up nine cents on the day. Analysts cite stronger summer cooling demand, tighter near‑term supplies, and...
Natural Gas Spot Prices, May 19, 2026
Energy Intelligence’s May 19, 2026 briefing notes that U.S. natural‑gas futures surged to an 11‑week high as an early‑summer heat wave lifts demand and war‑driven oil price spikes spur associated‑gas production. The NGSA forecasts record‑setting summer supply and demand balances, while two...
Critical Notices, May 19, 2026
Energy Intelligence’s May 19 2026 Critical Notices highlight three key developments: Qatar’s Hormuz LNG transit route is unlikely to generate steady export volumes, and senior Qatari official Al‑Kaabi cites shipping constraints as the main hurdle to reviving Qatari LNG shipments. In the...
Utilities Advance Combined-Cycle Projects Across Midwest and Southeast
Utilities in the Midwest and Southeast are moving ahead with more than 3.3 GW of new combined‑cycle natural‑gas generation. Duke Energy broke ground on a 470 MW expansion at its Indiana Cayuga site, Evergy began construction of a 710 MW Chisholm Trail plant...
Aspen Power Appoints Jason Patsio as Chief Commercial Officer to Drive Renewable Growth
Aspen Power announced the hiring of Jason Patsio as Chief Commercial Officer, tapping his experience overseeing a 2.5 GW portfolio of solar and battery assets. The move signals the clean‑energy platform’s push to tighten commercial discipline and scale revenue across distributed...
Enbridge Developing 365-MW Solar + Storage Project for Meta Data Centers
Enbridge is building the Cowboy Project, a 365‑MW solar farm paired with a 1,600‑MWh battery storage system in Wyoming, to power Meta’s expanding data‑center portfolio. The first phase, slated for completion by the end of 2027, represents a $1.2 billion investment...
Fortescue Leads Australian Miners to Cut $7bn Diesel Subsidy with Renewables
Fortescue Metals, backed by CEO Dino Otranto, is urging the nation’s 18 biggest miners to replace the AU$11 billion (≈$7 bn) diesel tax credit with renewable power. The campaign calls for capping the Fuel Tax Credit at AU$50 million (≈$33 million) and reinvesting the...
Amprius and Matternet Partner to Advance Drone Delivery
Amprius Technologies and Matternet announced a strategic partnership to integrate Amprius’s silicon‑anode lithium‑ion cells into Matternet’s M2 delivery drones. The cells deliver up to twice the energy density of traditional graphite batteries, extending range, payload and reducing charge time. Both...
Rising Heat Strains US Power Grid Needing Off-Season Repairs
A late‑spring heat wave is stressing the U.S. Eastern Interconnection, prompting PJM Interconnection to keep all generators online and suspend planned maintenance. Temperatures above 90°F are forecast across the East Coast, and PJM declared a low‑level emergency in parts of...
The New ‘Gold Rush’ of Geothermal Energy
Geothermal power is gaining traction as a zero‑emissions energy source. The sector’s visibility surged last week when Houston‑based Fervo Energy went public, raising $1.89 billion in its IPO—the largest clean‑tech offering ever—and achieving a valuation above $10 billion. The IPO signals strong...
Span Is Building a New Kind of Electric Utility
Span is turning residential electrical panels into a flexible grid resource, enabling homeowners to host AI compute nodes while avoiding expensive service upgrades. The company’s XFRA “distributed data center” leverages unused capacity, and its partnership with PG&E will see Span...
Utilities Are Betting Billions on a Technology That Could Become Obsolete
U.S. utilities have shifted from coal to natural‑gas plants, citing higher efficiency, lower shipping costs and minimal waste. However, recent EIA data show solar‑plus‑storage at $53.44/MWh and on‑shore wind at $29.58/MWh now undercut the $64.55/MWh levelized cost of combined‑cycle gas....
Iran's Floating Oil Stockpile Jumps 65% As U.S. Naval Blockade Bites
Iran’s floating oil stockpile surged 65% to roughly 42 million barrels as the U.S. naval blockade, launched in mid‑April, forced Iranian tankers to linger in the Persian Gulf and near the Strait of Hormuz. The number of Iranian‑laden vessels rose from...
The Impacts of the Iranian Crisis on Japan’s Energy Strategy
The February 28 US‑Israeli strike on Iran sent shockwaves through global energy markets, raising prices and testing supply chains. Japan, despite importing the bulk of its fossil fuels, weathered the crisis better than most Asian peers thanks to sizable crude‑oil reserves,...
OPEC+ and the Business World: What’s the Connection?
OPEC+ production decisions continue to steer global oil prices, creating ripple effects across transportation, manufacturing, consumer spending, and financial markets. When the cartel cuts output, fuel costs climb, squeezing margins for retailers, airlines, and logistics firms. Higher energy prices raise...
Energy Policymakers Grapple with Reliability, Fairness, and Flexibility: Texas Grid Roundup #92
Texas regulators are refining the ERCOT reliability standard, shifting from the 2026 Regional Transmission Plan forecast to a more conservative batch‑zero load projection. The batch‑zero forecast, expected by mid‑August, predicts a peak demand of 90‑98 GW, well below the 112 GW estimate...