Today's Energy Pulse
Scania pilots megawatt‑scale V2G for heavy‑duty electric trucks
Scania demonstrated one of the first vehicle‑to‑grid systems for heavy‑duty electric trucks using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS). The pilot showed bi‑directional power flow, allowing trucks parked at depots to feed electricity back to the grid, with real‑time communication between the truck, charger and energy‑management platform enabling dynamic charging and discharging. The test marks a step toward integrating large‑capacity EVs into grid balancing.
Also developing:
Middle East Oil Pricing Is Cracking Under Pressure
The Strait of Hormuz shutdown has crippled the Platts Dubai benchmark, forcing Platts to cut its deliverable basket from five grades to just Murban and Oman, a roughly 40% reduction in pricing coverage. Thin liquidity and concentrated trading, highlighted by TotalEnergies' $4 billion spend on Dubai partials in March, have left the benchmark vulnerable to price manipulation. As physical flows remain constrained, market participants are shifting price discovery to Murban Futures on ICE Futures Abu Dhabi, which offer continuous, exchange‑based pricing. The evolving dynamics reflect broader supply‑side shifts and refinery upgrades that are reshaping Middle East oil pricing.
Improving Competitiveness or Meeting Climate Targets: The Draghi Dilemma
EU policymakers, urged by Draghi, are weighing a €5 billion‑per‑year ($5.5 billion) subsidy package for energy‑intensive industries across the Netherlands, Germany and France. A recent CPB‑PBL study using the GREENR model shows that cost‑reducing subsidies improve industrial competitiveness but increase EU emissions,...
Prediction Markets on Hormuz Strait and June Brent Futures: 6:30PM ET
Prediction‑market platform Kalshi shows the probability of normal traffic through the Strait of Hormuz by May 15 slipping to 37 %, down from earlier optimism. The market also priced a 5.9 % jump in June Brent crude futures, reflecting heightened geopolitical tension. The...
OR Launches Self-Service Fuel Pilot
PTT Oil and Retail Business (OR) has begun a market test of self‑service fuel stations, offering a 0.40 baht per litre discount (about $0.011) for drivers who refuel without an attendant. The pilot, launched in early April, currently covers 11 stations...
Petrol Station Night Curfew Considered for Motorists
Thailand’s cabinet is weighing a nightly curfew on petrol stations, limiting sales from 10 pm to 5 am. The move, announced by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, seeks to heighten public awareness of tight oil supplies and soaring prices while avoiding disruption for essential...
Natural Gas Key to Growth
Natural gas remains a cornerstone of Thailand’s energy mix, supplying about 60% of electricity and accounting for 70% of domestic gas sources. State oil giant PTT Plc aims to become a global‑scale LNG trader, targeting 10 million tonnes of trade by...
Oil and Gas Jump After US Seizure of Iranian Ship Imperils Talks
U.S. Navy forces seized an Iranian vessel, prompting Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz again over accusations of a U.S. blockade. The move sparked a sharp rally in energy markets, with Brent crude jumping up to 7.9% and European...
Iran's Hormuz Takeover Spikes Oil Risk, Boosts Gold Demand
🇮🇷 Iran Intel Brief | Pre-Asia ─────── Iran seizes control of the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil shipments and elevating energy market risks. US Navy intercepts and disables Iranian cargo ship Touska, prompting Tehran to vow retaliation that could spike oil prices. Iran...
China's 11 M Bpd Crude Imports Dominated by Gulf
11 million barrels a day and most of it from the Gulf… Source: Visual Capitalist http://visualcapitalist.com/chinas-crude-oil-imports-by-country/
India Adds a New Nuke To Its Fleet
India’s 500 MW sodium‑cooled reactor at Kalpakkam reached criticality in April 2026, marking the first operational thorium‑focused plant in the country. The project, overseen by the government‑run Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, is a cornerstone of a broader strategy to...
We Need Reduction, Not Total Ban on Fossil Fuels
I’m so confused on how people can conflate “we need to reduce our dependence and use on fossil fuels” with me saying “BAN ALL FOSSIL FUELS” There is a lot of nuance and we will always need fossil fuels. The goal...
Australia’s Fuel Shock Should Trigger a Wider Re-Evaluation of Energy Alternatives
Australia is experiencing a sharp fuel shock as petrol and diesel prices surged to around A$260‑$324 per litre (≈$170‑$215 USD). The spike has pressured the east‑coast gas market, which is tightening ahead of winter, prompting a federal response. Analysts argue...
These US States Are Suspending The Gas Tax To Fight Surging Prices
Rising fuel costs driven by the Iran conflict have prompted several states to temporarily suspend their gasoline taxes. Indiana approved a 30‑day suspension in early April, while Georgia halted its tax until May 19, and Utah plans a July cut. Lawmakers...
U.S. Sets 2026 Oil and Gas Lease Sale in Alaska’s Arctic Coastal Plain
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced a lease sale for June 5, 2026 covering 1.56 million acres in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain. Federal law requires at least 400,000 acres per sale and multiple auctions through 2035, making this the...
Wall Street Just Sent Oil Stocks a Brutal Message After Iran’s Move
U.S. equities surged on April 17 after Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz would remain open, easing fears of a supply shock. Brent slipped to about $88.90 a barrel and U.S. crude to $83.08, prompting a rapid sell‑off in oil‑related stocks....
H.I.G. Capital Acquires Inventus Power to Grow Global Battery Portfolio
H.I.G. Capital announced that an affiliate has completed the acquisition of Inventus Power, a global lithium‑ion battery maker. The deal adds manufacturing sites in the U.S., Mexico, China and Brazil to H.I.G.’s $74 bn alternative‑investment platform, underscoring private‑equity appetite for clean‑energy...
Lithium Rush: Nations and Corporations Scramble for the White Gold as EV Demand Soars
China, the United States, Europe and South American producers are locked in a race to secure lithium as global battery demand climbs to over $150 bn. Production is projected to hit 290,000 t in 2025, while China is set to control roughly...
Vroom, Baby, Vroom: Energy Shock Puts Aussie Graphite in the Box Seat
Australia’s Leliyn Graphite Project, owned by Kingsland Minerals, contains 14.2 Mt of graphite – the country’s largest known deposit – positioning the nation to supply the fast‑growing EV battery market. While global demand for battery‑grade graphite is rising, prices remain muted...
Swiss Datacenter Efficiency Association Debuts Global First Energy‑Use Calculator
The Swiss Datacenter Efficiency Association (SDEA) launched the world’s first calculator that quantifies a data centre’s total energy, water and carbon footprint. The tool, recognized at Data Centre World London, seeks to standardise reporting for an industry that consumes roughly...
Merz Sets Crisis Talks to Tackle Energy Price Impact on Germany
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced he will convene the National Security Council to address the escalating global energy crisis and its impact on Germany. He highlighted the need to secure supplies of gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel as prices surge to...
IMF Cuts 2026 Global Growth Forecast to 3.1% Amid Middle East Oil Shock
The International Monetary Fund reduced its 2026 global growth projection to 3.1% from 3.3%, citing a sharp oil‑price shock from the Middle East war. The downgrade comes with a higher inflation outlook and a range of downside scenarios that could...
U.S. Coal Retirements Reach 15‑Year Low as Hydropower Outlook Improves
The U.S. power sector retired just 2.6 GW of coal‑fired capacity in 2025, the lowest annual total since 2010, even as the Energy Information Administration projects a 5% jump in hydropower output for 2026. Meanwhile, Massachusetts regulators fined the Pittsfield peaker...
This Fuel Crisis Could Last for a While. It’s Time for a New Approach to Fuel Use – End It
Australia faces a fuel crisis as the federal government slashes fuel excise, spending roughly $1.7 billion USD over three months to lower petrol and diesel prices. State responses have been piecemeal—Victoria and Tasmania offered temporary public‑transport fare cuts, while other states...
Monday: Oil & US$ to Rise as Strait Closes Again
The episode examines the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz after Iran attacked two vessels, sparking a rebound in oil prices and heightened geopolitical risk. ANZ economists explain that while oil may climb $1 per barrel in Asian trade,...
Robots Are Quietly Building the Future of Renewable Energy
Robots are rapidly transforming renewable energy construction and operations by automating tasks from site surveying to turbine maintenance. In California, Maximo’s 3‑meter robots installed 100 MW of solar at double the traditional speed, while Civ Robotics’ CivDot marks 3,000 layout points...
Finance Ministry May Review MOOWR Benefits for Battery Storage Imports
India's finance ministry is set to consult the power and renewable energy ministries about the future of MOOWR customs‑warehousing benefits for imported battery storage systems. The scheme currently defers about 44 % of customs duty and 12 % GST, cutting upfront costs...
200 Bidirectional EV Chargers To Be Used In Trial
Sweden’s state‑owned utility Vattenfall, together with Energy Bank and Volkswagen, will deploy 200 bidirectional electric‑vehicle chargers as a pilot. The chargers can both charge EVs and discharge stored energy back to the grid, creating a distributed virtual power plant. If...
Climate Advocates Propose Solutions that Safeguard Oil Flow
What’s interesting about this is the climate cult didn’t close the Strait of Hormuz and attack major energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf. It is notable though that people worried about climate change have proposed solutions that simultaneously mitigate against...
Commodity Forecasts Falter: Dated Brent Predictions Missed
Would love to hear from all the folks who just days ago told us that Dated Brent can only go up and the gap to futures will inexorably widen. But of course today all you hear is crickets. We all...
Travel Experts Warn Summer Vacationers of Higher Prices and Flight Uncertainty
Travel experts say summer vacationers should brace for rising ticket prices, reduced flight availability and greater schedule disruptions as the jet‑fuel market tightens amid the ongoing Iran war, prompting travelers to adjust budgets and consider alternative plans.
India’s March Crude Oil Imports Lowest in 5 Years as West Asia Conflict Chokes Key Transit Route
India’s crude oil imports fell to 18.9 million tonnes in March, the lowest level in five years, as the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted about 30 % of cargoes that normally transit the route. Imports dropped 2.6 % month‑on‑month and...
EU to Launch Raw Materials Mechanism Diversification Round via Webinar
The European Commission announced a webinar for 23 April 2026 to introduce the first diversification round of its Raw Materials Mechanism. The voluntary, market‑based platform will focus on 17 strategic raw materials, with priority on rare earths, battery and defence inputs, aiming...
Mangrove Lithium Opens North America’s First Electrochemical Refinery in British Columbia
Mangrove Lithium inaugurated a 1,000‑tonne‑per‑year electrochemical lithium‑hydroxide refinery in Delta, British Columbia, the first of its kind in North America. The plant, capable of supplying enough material for roughly 25,000 electric vehicles, is positioned to reduce Canada’s reliance on overseas...
Utilities' $713 Billion Digital Push Opens New Consulting Frontiers
Utilities are set to invest $713 billion in grid digitalization over the next six years, a wave that is creating massive opportunities for management consultants to guide strategy, financing and implementation. The shift is spurred by renewable growth, EV charging and...
Strait of Hormuz Threat Peaks Amid Blockade Duel
The latest JMIC Strait of Hormuz Advisory is out. Threat level between 🔴 Critical and 🟡 Moderate across the region, but bordering on 💩 OH CRAP for the Strait. 33 incidents with shipping since March 1. Iran and the US still dueling blockades. 19...
European Gas Futures Jump 11% Despite Lower Overall Prices
European natural gas futures rise 11% after Iran closed Hormuz (again) 📈📈 No LNG shipment has been exported from the region since the war in Iran began in late-Feb Still, prices are down from the highs last month. This is partly due...
Iran‑Israel‑US War Cuts Over $50 Bn of Oil Output, Raising Global Stagflation Risks
The Iran‑Israel‑US war has removed more than 500 million barrels of crude and condensate from the market, erasing roughly $50 bn in revenue. The loss threatens to push import‑dependent economies into stagflation as oil prices surge and trade balances deteriorate.
Oil Spikes 6.5% Amid Iran‑U.S. Ship Attacks
Oil prices jump 6.5% after Iran and U.S. attack ships as tensions escalate over Strait of Hormuz: https://t.co/aZcReIm6Eb
Oil Spikes, Stocks Tumble Amid Weekend Escalations
JUST IN: Oil prices surged as stocks plunged after a weekend of escalations, signaling another Green Dot Sunday.
Prime Infrastructure Plants Tapped to Supply Power After Outages
The Philippines Department of Energy enlisted three Prime Infrastructure‑owned natural‑gas plants to bolster Luzon’s grid after forced outages forced a yellow alert. Prime CoreGen, which acquired the plants from First Gen in 2025, ran its 1,000 MW Sta. Rita, 450 MW San Gabriel and 97 MW...
EU Cross‑border Tender Powers First Operational Solar Project
First solar project backed by EU’s cross-border tender starts operating #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/0yRno2hqGi https://t.co/ixjGAOT9Vk
US LNG Dominance Secured by Hormuz Tensions and Sanctions
US LNG Dominance Set to Continue for Years, Strengthened by the Hormuz Crisis, Australia’s Left-Leaning Government, and Sanctions on Russian LNG LNG has emerged as one of the key pillars of U.S. national security and a powerful foreign policy tool. All...
Graphene Oxide Nanofluids Cool Solar Modules Efficiently
Cooling solar modules with nanofluids based on graphene oxide, Mxene #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/KiDtc1yi4D
Propose Hormuz Convention to Regulate and Tax Shipping
My take on the Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz on @MarioNawfal: "Ideally, there should be something like the Montreux Convention of 1936 that settled the Dardanelles and allowed Turkey to manage the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles and charge fees...
Trump, Iran, Hormuz: Energy Crisis Sparks Recession Fears
🔥Join us today (For X Subscribers only): Trump, Iran & Hormuz: The Energy Crisis & Global Recession? Link: https://t.co/GurEWBb9NO Today, Sunday, 4:00 PM US ET, 3:00 PM US CT.
China’s Hormuz Veto: Strategic Masterstroke in War
Why China's Veto on Hormuz Is the Smartest Move of This Entire War / Professor Jiang ... https://t.co/7bLiA5djLB
China Vows to Weaponize Oil Embargo Against US
American strategists: “We are going to cut off China’s oil, thereby wrecking China.” China’s response? Geopolitical/oil politics version of Good Will Hunting: “Give us the wrench…because f*ck them. That’s why.”
MyNu Energy Debuts Mobile Solar‑Battery Storage Solution
MyNu Energy launches mobile solar and battery energy storage system #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/HCmxEXi1ta
Hormuz Disruption Could Push Oil Above $130, Trigger Demand Collapse
MS: Tail Risks Would Drive Oil Into Demand Destruction Territory A prolonged disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would require oil prices to rise into demand destruction territory, historically above of $130 Distribution of Inflation-Adjusted Oil Prices https://t.co/Hw1dB85crz
Middle East Conflict Fuels 2026 Battery Boom
The war in the Middle East has accelerated lifted demand for alternatives to volatile fossil fuels, setting 2026 up to be the year of the battery https://t.co/vUdkHiRZdO