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:
Electric Cooperative Leaders Advocate for Federal Policies Essential to Maintaining Affordable, Reliable Power
Around 1,500 electric cooperative leaders will convene in Washington, D.C., to press federal lawmakers for policies that safeguard affordable, reliable power. Representing utilities that serve 42 million customers across more than half of the nation’s land, they warn that grid reliability is deteriorating amid plant retirements and surging demand from data centers and electrification. The cooperatives seek expanded Rural Utilities Service loans, faster FEMA reimbursements, streamlined permitting, and stronger wildfire‑mitigation rules to modernize infrastructure without passing costs to ratepayers. Their lobbying underscores the critical role of rural co‑ops in the nation’s energy transition.
Oil Prices Rise After Trump Says Iranian Ship Seized
Global oil markets surged after President Donald Trump announced the U.S. Navy seized an Iran‑flagged cargo vessel, pushing Brent crude over 4% to $94.20 a barrel. The move follows Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that...
Seaborne Crude Oil Shipments Plunge 16% as Iran War Chokes Strait of Hormuz
BIMCO reports that global seaborne crude oil shipments have dropped 16% since the Iran war began, trimming daily volumes by 7.6 million barrels to 38.4 mbpd. The decline reflects the near‑closure of the Strait of Hormuz and limited offsetting exports from other...
Australian S&P/ASX 200 Trims Early Losses to 8,941.40 Amid Miner Weakness and Tech Gains
The S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.06% to 8,941.40, trimming early losses after two days of decline. Weakness in iron‑ore and energy stocks was partly offset by gains in gold miners and technology firms, underscoring a tactical shift among regional investors.
Fronius Releases Microgrid Interconnect Device EBLU
Fronius introduced the Essential Backup Load Unit (EBLU), a micro‑grid interconnect device that works with its GEN24 Plus hybrid inverter. The unit automatically disconnects the home from the utility grid during outages, allowing solar and battery storage to supply essential loads...
Sweden Starts 200‑Unit Bidirectional EV Charger Pilot to Boost Grid Flexibility
Vattenfall, Energy Bank and Volkswagen have launched a trial of 200 bidirectional electric‑vehicle chargers across Sweden. The chargers can both charge cars and feed electricity back into the grid, offering a potential new income source for owners and added flexibility...
Perovskite Panels Pilot Boost Solar Efficiency to 30%
Are perovskite solar panels finally becoming real? https://t.co/2fxNgPsIpv Tandem Solar is starting pilot manufacturing of perovskite glass coverings for silicon PV cells (in Fremont, CA) that boost total efficiency from about 20-22% to ~30%. That's a +36-50% output per square meter. They're still...
Crude Surges On Renewed Hormuz Fears
Oil and gas markets surged on April 20 as renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz threatened to choke a quarter of global energy flows. Brent crude jumped 5.6% to about $95.50 a barrel and WTI rose 6.9% to $89.61,...
Futures Settle: Natural Gas Extends Quiet Winning Streak as LNG, Cool Temps Boost Demand
Natural‑gas futures posted a fourth straight session of modest gains as the market balanced comfortable supply with supportive demand cues. Midwest storage inventories remain below seasonal norms, heightening sensitivity to weather‑driven price moves ahead of the refill period. LNG feed‑gas...
Energy Grid Startup Gets $26 Million Fundraise
Critical Loop, a Long Beach‑based energy firm, closed a $26 million Series A round led by Conifer Infrastructure Partners and Hanover, with participation from Better Ventures, Climate Capital, Cyrus Ventures and Adapt Nation Capital. The capital will fund its mobile microgrid solution that...
PowerUQ Extension Added to Terabase PlantPredict Modeling Platform
PowerUQ has partnered with Terabase Energy to embed its Monte Carlo‑based uncertainty engine into the PlantPredict solar‑energy modeling platform. The new extension lets owners, financiers, engineers and asset managers run millions of generation scenarios without leaving their cloud workflow. By quantifying...
Golden Pass LNG Nears First Export as QatarEnergy Vessel Berths in Texas
Golden Pass LNG in Sabine Pass, Texas, is poised to load its first cargo after a QatarEnergy LNG carrier docked at the terminal’s berth. The facility’s feed gas supply averages 0.31 billion cubic feet per day, enabling liquefaction to commence....
New York Congressman’s Legislation Would Allow Tax Deductions on Utility Bills
U.S. Rep. Josh Riley (D‑Ithaca) introduced the “No Tax on Utility Bills Act,” a bipartisan bill that would let taxpayers deduct the taxes and state‑mandated surcharges embedded in gas and electric bills. The legislation would apply to both residential and...
Europe Could Run Out of Jet Fuel in Six Weeks
The International Energy Agency warns that Europe could exhaust its jet‑fuel supplies within six weeks as the Iran‑Houthi conflict tightens the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 75% of the continent’s net oil imports come from the Middle East, and the disruption...
Daily Energy Report
EU LNG imports surged to a record 10.17 million tons in March 2026, a 10% month‑on‑month increase. The United States dominated the supply mix, providing 55.7% of all EU LNG cargoes, while Russia’s share slipped to 17.9% ahead of a planned ban....
Secures FCC Conditional Approval to Deploy Autonomous Drones for U.S. Electricity Grids
sees.ai has secured conditional approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to operate its centrally controlled autonomous drones for close‑quarter inspection of high‑voltage electricity infrastructure. The approval, granted under the FCC’s new Conditional Approval pathway, validates the company’s security and...
LNG Demand Seen Rising on European Cold Snap, but Asian Weakness Keeps Gains in Check
A brief cold snap across Northwest Europe is expected to boost LNG demand over the next two weeks, offsetting the otherwise mild weather patterns in the United States that are dampening domestic gas consumption. While the European uptick adds upward...
Oil Flows Through Hormuz Won’t Normalize Until July
Rystad Energy says it will take until July for roughly normal flows through the Strait of Hormuz "Our analysis shows that it would take until July for oil flows to normalize to some 80-90% of pre-war production levels, and another 1-2...
EU Carbon Border Tariff Is Reshaping Industrial Trade Flows
The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered its pricing phase on Jan. 1, 2026, imposing certificates on imports of iron‑steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, hydrogen and electricity. Obligations are calculated from embedded emissions, market of origin and EU ETS prices, with default...
China Restarting Massive Coal-to-Gas Project After Decade-Long Pause
Chinese state‑owned China Datang Corp. is restarting its $3.7 billion Fuxin coal‑to‑gas project, originally halted in 2014, with a planned online date in October 2026. The revival is driven by a surplus of domestic coal and recent disruptions to Middle‑East gas...
Why EPC Firms Are Key to Nuclear Growth
Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms are becoming central to the anticipated nuclear renaissance, prompting a wave of M&A activity. Recent deals—Natura Resources acquiring Shepherd Power, Studsvik buying Kärnfull Next, and Energy Capital Partners re‑acquiring EnergySolutions—secure the full nuclear value...
Molecules vs Electrons: Energy System Outpacing Old One
The Energy Revolution in Two Words: Molecules vs Electrons What an energy transition looks like in real time: the steady expansion of a new global energy system that grows faster than the one it is replacing. #energytransition https://markhamhislop.substack.com/p/the-energy-revolution-in-two-words
Interconnection Queues Inflate Data Center Growth, yet Few Build
Many of the headlines on data center growth are driven by GWs in power grid interconnection queues. But these queues are highly speculative. People enter a project into the queue to reserve a spot in line, even if they don't...
Bison XPress Startup Redirects Bakken Natural Gas to Cheyenne Hub, Reshapes Regional Spreads
Federal regulators have approved TC Energy Corp.'s Bison XPress expansion, enabling the project to begin full service. The startup adds roughly 300 MMcf/d (300,000 Dth/d) of incremental natural‑gas takeaway capacity from the gas‑rich Bakken Shale. By routing the new flow toward the Cheyenne...
LNG Canada Nearing Full Capacity as Iran War Squeezes Global Supply
LNG Canada is set to operate at full capacity in April, loading about 15 cargoes per month. The plant’s 14.6 mtpa output will primarily serve Asian buyers as global LNG supplies tighten due to the Iran conflict. Rising demand for North...
Energy Politics Shift: War, Policy, Affordability Explored
Today on Volts: There sure is a lot going on! Instead of a nerdy deep dive, today I go broad, talking current events with @yayitsrob of @heatmapnews: the Iran War, its effects on Trump's energy policy, the lessons of the...
Mexico Revises DG Rules to Include Energy Storage
Mexico updates distributed generation rules to formally integrate energy storage #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/kKZT6sQuaX
C&C Marine and Repair Celebrates Keel Laying for New Hybrid Escort Tug Quartet
C&C Marine and Repair held a keel‑laying ceremony in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, to launch a quartet of advanced hybrid escort tugs for Green Tug Towing, which will service Woodside Energy’s new LNG terminal. The new series joins an earlier four‑tug...
Exporting Surplus Won’t Lower Pump Prices
Exporting the zero excess we have is not going to be helping prices at the pump.
Shadow Fleet Still Moves Despite US Trade Halt Claim
“While the US military says it has turned around over 20 vessels and ‘completely halted’ Iranian trade, Lloyd’s List Intelligence shows a steady flow of shadow fleet traffic in and out of the Middle East Gulf” Personally, I trust @TankerTrackers https://t.co/Uu0qgzUlPk
EU to Widen Iran Sanctions to Those Who Block Hormuz
The European Union announced it will broaden its Iran sanctions regime to target individuals and entities that block the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s self‑imposed closure of the strait has cut roughly one‑fifth of global oil and LNG supplies, disrupting markets....
Did the JCPOA Transfer Hormuz Control to Iran?
Hey, folks, remind me—did the JCPOA cede any go-forward control of the Strait of Hormuz to Tehran? https://t.co/ioeUNlmi56
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Russian Tuapse Oil Refinery, Killing One
Ukraine continues to target Russian oil facilities. Last night, a Ukrainian drone hit an oil refinery in Tuapse, Russia, resulting in significant damage. Reuters reports that at least one person was killed. https://t.co/uMGk8uMXm0
As Cuba’s Grid Fails, Solar Power Becomes a Lifeline
The Trump administration’s 2026 fuel blockade has crippled Cuba’s oil‑dependent grid, leading to daily blackouts that exceed 20 hours and a humanitarian crisis in hospitals and streets. In response, Cuba’s renewable share jumped to 10% in 2025, driven by a...
Stocks Must Remain Strong to Shield Crude From Gas Slide
Stocks May Need to Stay Up for Crude Oil Not to Follow US Natural Gas Down https://t.co/TLsVGd92SK #crudeoil @BBGIntelligence
US Sanctions Waiver Fuels Russian Oil Gains Amid Iran Conflict
Why Russia is the big winner from the US-Iran war US sanctions waiver boosts Russian oil revenues https://t.co/uGny0kDGDL @DeutscheWelle
Van Oord Completes Baltic Power Foundations
Van Oord has finished installing all monopile foundations and transition pieces for the Baltic Power offshore wind farm in Poland, a project slated for up to 1.2 GW capacity. The work involved 78 monopiles and 76 transition pieces, primarily using the...
Refinery Fire Erupts Before Modi Inauguration, Confirming Hanke's Theory
Today, a fire broke out at the Pachpadra refinery in Rajasthan, India. The blaze comes just one day before PM Modi was set to inaugurate the project. Just more confirmation of Hanke's Schoolboy Theory of History: It's just one damn thing after...
American LNG Revolution Rises: Woodside Cranes at Lake Charles
PHOTO OF THE DAY: The build up of the American LNG revolution. The cranes at the Woodside project under construction near Lake Charles, Louisiana, seen at sunrise a few days ago. https://t.co/QlyMzh0C8s
Whistleblower Challenges Donut Lab’s Solid‑State Battery Claims
Lauri Peltola, chief commercial officer at Nordic Nano, filed a criminal complaint accusing Donut Lab of overstating its solid‑state battery’s energy density and lifespan. The allegation, backed by internal emails, questions the company’s readiness for mass production and puts its...
Oil Drops Post‑war, Gasoline Lagging Behind, Says Weatherall
"Oil prices have fallen from their peak after weeks of war have choked off the Persian Gulf, but gasoline prices are likely to descend more slowly. One of the reasons is Alex Weatherall." Very good lede and story @lydiadepillis https://t.co/xBuWzYaRt5
Iraq’s SOMO Secures Modest Oil Trucking Contracts
Iraq trucking oil to market. "SOMO awarded contracts to supply about 650,000 metric tons of fuel oil per month from April to June to be trucked overland via Syria." Still modest flows, though—that's only ~150-160 kbpd vs ~3,600 kbpd of pre-war Gulf...
Schneider Electric Teams with Deloitte on AI‑Enabled Energy Management Solutions
Schneider Electric has partnered with Deloitte to roll out AI‑driven energy management solutions for industrial operations. The collaboration blends Schneider’s hardware and software platform with Deloitte’s consulting expertise, aiming to cut energy waste and boost sustainability for large manufacturers.
Defense Supplier Pitches Green Hydrogen For Military Electrofuels
Rheinmetall unveiled its "Giga PtX" plan to install several hundred 50‑MW green‑hydrogen micro‑grids across Europe, creating modular facilities that can synthesize 5,000‑7,000 tonnes of drop‑in e‑fuel per site each year. The initiative, backed by partnerships with German PtL specialist INERATEC...
EPA Pushes Narrower Wetland Definition, Threatening Protections for Millions of Acres
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a rule that would narrow the legal definition of “waters of the United States,” potentially removing federal Clean Water Act protection from countless wetlands. The proposal builds on the 2023 Sackett v. EPA decision and...
U.S. Extends Russian Oil Wind-Down License Despite Earlier Pledge to Let It Expire
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 134B on April 17, extending the sanctions wind‑down authorization for Russian‑origin crude and products loaded before that date until May 16, 2026. The license permits necessary services—shipping, insurance, bunkering—for those cargoes, but does...
All Energy Commodities Set for Massive Gains
Hard to see how #uranium #naturalgas #oil #coal aren't all going to massively benefit from this.
Fusion Founders and Investors Clash Over IPO Timing and Side‑Business Strategies
TAE Technologies and General Fusion announced high‑profile mergers that could bring $200 million and $335 million respectively, sparking a debate among founders, investors, and scientists about whether the fusion sector is moving to market too soon and whether ancillary revenue streams distract...
IEA and Nigeria Strengthen Ties Amid Global Energy Crisis
Excellent meeting with Nigerian Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo We discussed the international energy crisis & I thanked him for Nigeria's exports of jet fuel to markets facing difficult times & efforts to supply more. We also agreed to take a new step...
Florida Gasoline Prices Dip Below $4 per Gallon Amid Regional Decline
Florida's average gasoline price fell to $3.99 per gallon on April 20, slipping below the $4 mark for the first time in weeks. The dip, driven by double‑digit weekly declines and regional price spreads, offers temporary relief to drivers but...