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:
Solx and Caelux Seal $3 GW Perovskite Solar Deal, Making Puerto Rico a New Manufacturing Hub
Solar startup Solx and California glass specialist Caelux have signed a five‑year, 3‑gigawatt strategic partnership to produce tandem perovskite‑silicon Aurora™ modules in Puerto Rico. The venture aims for 28% conversion efficiency and plans to scale to high‑volume roll‑to‑roll production by next year, positioning the island as a U.S.‑based hub for next‑generation solar manufacturing.
Redwood Materials Lays Off 10% of Staff to Speed Energy‑Storage Development
Redwood Materials announced it is cutting roughly 135 employees – about 10% of its workforce – as part of a restructuring aimed at accelerating its energy‑storage product line. The move follows a $425 million financing round that lifted the company’s valuation...
PureDC Unveils Europe’s First Microgrid-Powered Data Center in Dublin
PureDC has commissioned a 54 MW microgrid‑powered data center on Dublin’s Orion Business Park, delivering five‑nine reliability without a traditional utility connection. The facility blends dual‑fuel Wärtsilä engines, battery storage and renewable gas to meet AI‑driven compute demand while meeting 100%...
Nearly 11,000 Consumers Get 'Zero' Electricity Bills After Rooftop Solar System Adoption in Western Odisha
In March 2026, nearly 11,000 households in western Odisha reported zero electricity bills after installing rooftop solar under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and TP Western Odisha Distribution Ltd’s 1‑kW Utility‑Led Aggregation model. The region now has 10,885 solar installations, with about 60% of those homes...
Iran War Fossil Fuel Shock Drives Inflation to 3.3 per Cent
UK consumer price inflation jumped to 3.3% in March, the fastest rise in fuel costs in over three years. The surge is directly linked to the Iran‑related disruption of oil and gas supplies, as the conflict threatens the Strait of...
PV Curtailment Exceeds 3.8% in Spain over Past Nine Months
Spain's photovoltaic (PV) curtailment averaged 3.83% over the past nine months, with stark regional disparities. In Badajoz province curtailment exceeded 37%, while Extremadura and Castilla‑La Mancha also show high rates, contrasting with Andalusia's lower levels despite large installed capacity. Circe,...
HVO Fuel Tested as a Direct Replacement for Diesel on Cork Commuter Trains
Iarnród Éireann is conducting a pilot that replaces diesel with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) on two‑car Class 2600 commuter trains in Cork. The trial will use 100,000 L of HVO supplied by Corrib Oil over a 12‑ to 16‑week period, matching the fleet’s...
EMCOR Posts Record $4.5 B Q4 Revenue, Fuels Growth in Data‑center and Solar Construction
EMCOR Group posted a record $4.5 billion quarterly revenue, up 19.7% year‑over‑year, and announced over $1 billion in acquisitions, including Miller Electric. The results underscore accelerating demand for data‑center, solar and fire‑life safety projects across the United States.
How Does This Iran Oil Crisis Compare to the 1979 Iran Oil Crisis?
The article compares today’s Iran‑related oil shock to the 1979 Iran oil crisis, highlighting similar spikes in crude prices—from $57 to $103 a barrel—and the resulting ripple effects on gasoline, housing and food costs. Inflation, which fell below 3% in...
Oil Rises While Volatility Soars, Market Stays Skeptical
Crude oil futures #CL=F and volatility #OVX have been diverging the past 48 hours as Oil recovered from $80 to $90. OVX has kept climbing to 76 (+10%). Market isn't buying the calm.
How New Emissions Rules Could Cripple the Clean Energy Industry
U.S. clean power now accounts for roughly 90% of new electricity capacity, driven largely by corporate procurement that funds over 40% of that growth. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol plans to replace its current accounting method with a "24/7" hourly matching...
Rajasthan Emerges as Third-Largest State in Rooftop Solar Installation
Rajasthan has become India’s third‑largest market for rooftop solar, with 2,090 MW of capacity across 245,317 installations. The state’s PM Surya Ghar scheme has added 177,468 systems (686 MW) since 2024, driving an average of 675‑700 new consumers to switch to solar...
5132: The Giving Is In The Work | Shruti Deorah, Founding Executive Director, India Energy and Climate Center
In this episode, Shruti Deorah, founding executive director of the India Energy and Climate Center (IECC), discusses her journey from corporate roles to climate policy and philanthropy, emphasizing the need for systemic, policy‑driven solutions to India's clean‑energy transition. She highlights...
Solar's 2025 Surge Outpaces Gas, Dismantles LNG Chokepoint
Solar isn't just growing. The scale of its 2025 surge is completely bonkers >We added enough new solar last year to displace every single unit of gas power generated by 100% of LNG exports through the Strait of Hormuz >So just 1...
NYK Launches Oil Analysis Service for Ammonia-Fueled Engines
Japan’s NYK Group has introduced a lubricating oil analysis service tailored for ammonia‑fueled marine engines. Developed by its subsidiary Nippon Yuka Kogyo, the service uses oil samples to spot early signs of wear and abnormal conditions, enhancing engine reliability. The...
‘Great News for Irish Energy Storage Industry’ as Regulator Cuts Grid Fees
Ireland’s Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) announced it will levy grid fees on energy‑storage units (ESUs) solely as generators, applying only Generation Transmission Use of System (G‑TUoS) charges and dropping Demand‑TUoS fees. The regulator estimates the shift will boost...
Zambia’s President Launches Country’s Largest Hybrid Solar-Plus-Storage Project
President Hakainde Hichilema launched Zambia’s largest hybrid solar‑plus‑storage project, Leopards Hill, a 250 MWp solar photovoltaic plant paired with a 150 MW/600 MWh battery system near Lusaka. The $315 million development, led by IPP Globeleq and Leopard Investment Company, is slated for financial close...
Decarbonising the UK’s “Ordinary” Stations: Reduce First, Then Generate
UK rail decarbonisation has focused on electrification, but 449 GWh of non‑traction electricity—mainly stations—remains untapped. The article proposes a two‑step programme for the 1,241 Category C‑E stations: first cut demand with LED lighting and smart controls, then add modest solar PV arrays....
SK Considers ‘Various Strategic Options’ to Raise Financing for BESS Developer Key Capture Energy
South Korean conglomerate SK Group, via its SK Innovation E&S arm, is exploring strategic options to raise roughly US$350 million for battery‑storage developer Key Capture Energy. The capital raise, reportedly overseen by Nomura Greentech, remains unconfirmed. KCE, which operates 623 MW of...
Data Centre Grid Demands and the BYOP (Bring-Your-Own-Power) Solution
Canada hosts just over 300 data centres, with eight hyperscale projects under construction and dozens more planned, while the U.S. dominates global capacity. New Canadian facilities face immediate grid‑capacity constraints, prompting provincial selection processes and higher rates for loads above...
South Africa: Standard Bank Backs Mulilo’s Mercury Battery Storage Project
Standard Bank has led financing for Mulilo Energy’s Mercury battery storage project, achieving financial close on a 76 MW/304 MWh system in South Africa’s Free State. The BESS was awarded under the second bid window of the Battery Energy Storage Independent Power...
SolarEdge Targets C&I with New All-in-One Battery
SolarEdge introduced the CSS‑OD 197, a 197 kWh all‑in‑one commercial and industrial battery that can be configured up to 1 MW/4 MWh. The system uses lithium‑iron‑phosphate modules, delivering 187 kWh usable capacity and a 0.5C charge/discharge rate. It is modular, supporting up to 20 inverters...
Norway: Dry Well in License Awarded in 1985
Equinor and its partners drilled wildcat well 34/8‑A‑37 H in Norway’s 1985‑granted licence 120, located 140 km west of Florø. The well reached 3,081 m vertical and 6,662 m measured depth but was classified as dry despite hydrocarbon shows in the Statfjord and Lunde...
Nordex Launches Upgraded Wind Turbine Model, Eying Key German Market
German wind turbine manufacturer Nordex has introduced an upgraded version of its N175/6.X model, raising the turbine’s power rating to 6.5 MW while keeping acoustic emissions unchanged. The higher output translates into a noticeable boost in energy yield per turbine without...
Commodity Traders Post Windfall Gains Amid Iran Conflict-Driven Market Turmoil
Commodity trading houses are logging multi‑billion‑dollar gains as the Iran conflict fuels extreme volatility in oil, copper and gold markets. Vitol alone is estimated to have earned about $2 bn in the first quarter, while Trafigura, Gunvor and Mercuria report record‑level...
Repowering Key for Japanese Solar Assets Approaching Feed-In Tariff Expiry
GSSG Solar and Voltaiyo secured a refinancing deal with SBI Shinsei Bank for the 104 MW Jupiter Portfolio, a collection of eight first‑generation feed‑in tariff (FIT) solar projects in Japan. The refinancing underscores lender confidence as Japan’s FIT rates are set...
No Driveway, No Problem? New Rules Could Unlock At-Home EV Charging
The UK government is set to extend permitted‑development rights to cover on‑street electric‑vehicle (EV) charger installations, eliminating the need for planning permission for pavement‑integrated solutions. Homeowners without driveways will be able to install chargers without a formal planning application, though...
First PV Plant Operating in Poland’s Balancing Market
The 204 MW Zwartowo solar power plant has become Poland’s first large‑scale solar asset to operate in the country’s balancing market. Developed by Germany’s Goldbeck Solar and aggregated by Respect Energy, the project required a 14‑month qualification process to meet regulations...
Abaxx Exchange Lists World’s First Solar Irradiance Futures Contract
Abaxx Exchange will list the Enwex Germany Solar (GSM) futures contract on April 23, marking the world’s first exchange‑cleared solar irradiance product. Developed by German energy exchange Enwex, the contract lets participants hedge Germany’s solar irradiance risk in a standardized,...
US Steel Industry in Critical Window of Opportunity for Decarbonization Amid Upcoming Relines: RMI
The U.S. steel sector faces a pivotal decarbonization window as several blast furnaces approach costly reline deadlines before 2030, forcing capital choices that will lock in production pathways for decades. Direct‑reduced‑iron combined with electric‑arc furnace (DRI‑EAF) remains the preferred low‑carbon...
Historic Turning Point in the Global Electricity Market: Renewables Cover Demand Growth in 2025 and Surpass Coal
Ember’s 2025 Global Electricity Review shows renewables fully covered the year’s net electricity demand growth, preventing any increase in fossil‑fuel generation. Solar power alone added 636 TWh, a 30% jump, and together with wind supplied 99% of the extra demand. Coal’s...
Australian Billionaire's Waste-to-Energy Plan Labelled 'Waste Colonialism'
Australian billionaire Ian Malouf proposes a $900 million waste‑to‑energy plant at Vuda Point, Fiji, capable of generating up to 80 MW and supplying roughly 45% of the island’s electricity. The facility would burn up to 900,000 tonnes of waste annually, including material imported...
DeepOcean Contracted for Inter-Array Work on New Taiwanese Offshore Wind Farm
DeepOcean, a Norwegian marine services firm, secured a contract to install inter‑array cables for the TPC Phase II offshore wind farm off Taiwan. The work will be executed on the chartered vessel Orient Adventurer, upgraded with ROVs, a carousel and a...
Drax Signs New Pellet Contract Cutting Shipping Emissions Each Year
Drax Group has inked a new transatlantic freight agreement with Ultrabulk that runs to March 2031 and obligates the carbon intensity of each wood‑pellet shipment to decline annually. The contract, tied to the debut of the 40,000‑dwt M.V. Ultra Yorkshire, saw...
Crown Ether‐Based Co‐Self‐Assembled Monolayer Enhances the Interaction with Perovskite for High‐Performance Solar Cells
Researchers introduced a crown‑ether‑functionalized self‑assembled monolayer (SAM) that co‑assembles with Me‑4PACz to form a dense mixed interfacial layer on inverted perovskite solar cells. The crown ether selectively binds undercoordinated Pb²⁺ ions, passivating defects and suppressing non‑radiative recombination. This molecular engineering...
Gunfire and Gridlock Choke Hormuz
A Liberia‑flagged container ship was hit by IRGC gunfire 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman despite having permission to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The United States has extended a land cease‑fire with Iran but kept a maritime blockade, boarding...
In Situ AlNi Derived From Ni/Dual‐Phase TiO2 for Hydrogen Storage Enhancement of MgH2
Researchers introduced a dual‑phase TiO₂‑supported nickel catalyst (Ni/Dp‑TiO₂) into an Al‑alloyed magnesium hydride (Mg₉₀Al₁₀) matrix, creating an in‑situ AlNi/Dp‑TiO₂ phase that dramatically improves hydrogen storage. The modified material absorbs 4.28 wt% H₂ at 150 °C and releases 3.86 wt% at 250 °C within 2,500 seconds,...
Iran War Reflects the False Promise of US ‘Energy Dominance’
President Donald Trump’s claim of U.S. energy dominance is undermined by a 2025 net crude import of 2.2 million barrels per day and a refinery fleet tuned to medium‑sour blends from the Persian Gulf. The war in Iran and the temporary...
'Spectacularly Ill-Advised': Energy Giants Condemn Gas Tax
Australia is debating a 25% tax on gas exports and higher petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT) on windfall profits. Energy giants such as Shell, ConocoPhillips and Origin Energy warned the measures would deter investment, reduce energy security and damage trade...
Vestas Opens New Warehouse and Training Academy in Poland
Denmark’s wind turbine leader Vestas inaugurated a new 26,857 m² warehouse and training academy in Toruń, Poland. The site combines logistics space with modern classrooms and four digital simulators, targeting the training of roughly 3,000 service and construction technicians each year....
Interview with Asharq Bloomberg TV Dubai 22.04.2026
In a 22 April 2026 interview on Asharq Bloomberg TV, The Macro Butler warned that oil prices are as unreliable as central‑bank forecasts because the Strait of Hormuz is effectively shut by a naval blockade. He argued that the apparent stability of...
Over 70% of Malaysia’s Blending Depots Are Ready for B15 Biodiesel Implementation – Economy Minister
Malaysia’s government has approved raising the mandatory biodiesel blend from B10 to B15, beginning with an interim B12 phase. Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir reported that more than 70% of the country’s blending depots can accommodate the higher blend...
Why Smartphone Cameras Could Unlock Cheaper, Faster Rooftop Solar
U.S. jurisdictions are increasingly adopting smartphone‑based virtual inspections to streamline rooftop solar permitting. Maryland counties report faster follow‑up inspections, while California legislators back bills extending remote checks to heat pumps and water heaters. Early adopters such as Pima County and...
A New Thermal Battery Could Help This Minnesota Campus Electrify Heat
The University of Minnesota, Morris, which already generates more wind power than it consumes, has launched a pilot thermal‑battery project with Cache Energy. The containerized unit converts excess electricity into 1,000 °F heat, supplying continuous steam‑heat to a large campus workshop...
Enhanced Exciton Dissociation and Charge Transport Through Fine Morphology Tuning for Efficient Ternary Photovoltaics
Researchers applied a morphology‑guided composition strategy to a PM6:D18:BTP‑4F ternary organic photovoltaic blend, optimizing the donor‑acceptor ratio to 0.8:0.2:1.4. The resulting active layer exhibits a π‑π stacking distance of ~3.66 Å, a face‑on molecular orientation, and continuous interpenetrating networks, which accelerate...
Qatar Readies US LNG Plant for First Exports
Qatar is preparing to begin exports from its LNG plant in the US 🇶🇦🤝🇺🇸 An empty tanker docked at the Golden Pass facility in Texas this week. The plant is partially owned by QatarEnergy -- its only overseas LNG facility Exports from Qatar...
German Public Truck Charging Gets Cheaper, More Competitive
Truck charging in public becoming more competitive even in Germany 🇩🇪 ⚡️⚡️⚡️🪩🪩🪩 Prices 📉 #alwaysbecharging #elektrotrucker https://t.co/qezy70DVTh
Greenpeace, Australia's Woodside Drop Emissions Case
Greenpeace’s greenwashing lawsuit against Australian oil major Woodside was dismissed by mutual consent in the Federal Court of Australia. The case, filed in December 2023, alleged that Woodside misrepresented its emissions reductions and omitted scope 3 emissions, which account for 90%...
Europe Must Cut Fossil Demand, Not Chase New Suppliers
NEW ANALYSIS: My new article in @NatureEnergyJnl argues Europe keeps responding to energy crises by changing supplier. 95% of EU oil and 88% of gas was imported in 2024. The structural fix: reduce fossil fuel demand through electrification + efficiency. https://t.co/vA5UUg9a5z https://t.co/MNqLOFQREr
Policy, Not Technology, Limits Industrial Electrification Potential
NEW RESEARCH: Up to 90% of industrial energy demand could be electrified with existing & emerging tech. Under high-ambition policy, 51% by 2050 is achievable. 84% under the most enabling assumptions. The technologies exist. The key constraint is policy. https://t.co/eorr67N5hc https://t.co/KjtKeKGc0g