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:
Closed? Open? Closed? Why Is Iran Changing Course on the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran abruptly re‑imposed shipping restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz just hours after announcing it was fully open to commercial vessels. Chinese analysts interpret the move as a leverage tactic ahead of a looming cease‑fire deadline and potential talks with the United States. The rapid flip‑flop underscores Tehran’s strategy to create bargaining power on broader regional issues, including its nuclear negotiations and the US‑Israel stance. Observers warn the volatility could disrupt global oil flows and heighten geopolitical risk.
Low-Cost Community Solar Keeps Growing Despite Tide Of Negative Federal Policy
Community solar in the United States surpassed the 10‑gigawatt milestone in 2025 and now boasts an 8‑gigawatt development pipeline, despite a hostile federal policy shift. Dimension Energy, a fast‑growing player, closed a $650 million financing round to build 132 megawatts of projects...
Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Refineries Hours After US Waives Sanctions on Moscow’s Oil
Ukraine’s drone forces struck two major oil refineries in the Samara region, a terminal in Krasnodar, the Baltic port of Vysotsk and a depot in Sevastopol overnight. The attacks came hours after the U.S. Treasury issued a second waiver allowing...
Leaked Supreme Court Memos Reveal Why Court Stayed Clean Power Plan (Setting Important "Shadow Docket" Precedent in the Process)
Leaked internal Supreme Court memos reveal why the justices granted a stay of the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan, citing fears of billions in irreversible utility compliance costs and the need for robust judicial review. The chief justice and conservative...
MB Energy Secures Permit for Ammonia Import Terminal in Hamburg
MB Energy received a permit to build and operate an ammonia import terminal at the Blumensand tank site in the Port of Hamburg, creating Germany’s first large‑scale ammonia hub. The facility is planned to handle up to 600,000 metric tonnes...
Scientists Directly Observe Muonic Molecules, Validating Fusion Theory
A multinational research team headed by Professor Tadayuki Takahashi of the University of Tokyo has directly observed muonic molecules in resonance states, confirming long‑standing theoretical predictions. The breakthrough, published in Science Advances, uses a superconducting transition‑edge sensor to resolve x‑ray...
Fed Governor Waller Warns Middle East War Could Push Inflation Higher and Stall Rate Cuts
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller told a university audience that the ongoing Middle East war, which has spiked global energy prices, could embed higher inflation and make a near‑term rate cut unlikely. He linked the geopolitical shock to the Fed’s...
Reopening Strait of Hormuz Would Ease Oil Crisis but Only So Much
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy, remains under "strict" Iranian control despite talk of reopening. Even a full opening would require weeks before Persian Gulf oil and gas reach international markets, leaving supply tight. Prices for...
Mangrove Systems Acquires Grain Ecosystem Assets to Expand Biochar MRV Platform
Mangrove Systems has purchased select operating assets from Grain Ecosystem, adding a cohort of North American biochar operators to its MRV platform. The deal consolidates a fragmented market, giving Mangrove broader data coverage and stronger positioning in the fast‑growing carbon‑removal...
Texas Upstream Employment Declines, Hiring Demand Remains Strong, TIPRO Says
Texas upstream employment slipped by 900 jobs between January and February 2026, with losses in both oil and natural‑gas extraction and support activities. Despite the dip, the state posted 8,554 unique oil and gas job openings in February, keeping it...
Energy NL Names New Board, Chair to Guide Newfoundland Offshore Energy Industry
Energy NL announced a refreshed board of directors after its annual meeting in St. John’s. Brad Forsey, director of business development at The Cahill Group, was named chair for a one‑year term, with Stephanie Maloney as vice‑chair. Six new directors...
Oil Majors Face Setback in $5 Billion Kashagan Environmental Fine Appeal
Kazakhstan’s Astana court upheld a 2.356 trillion‑tenge ($5 bn) environmental fine against the North Caspian Operating Co., the consortium that runs the Kashagan oil field. The penalty is tied to a broader $166 bn international arbitration involving revenue losses, alleged corruption, and additional...
Fitch Warns Iran-Israel War Spikes Energy Costs, Tightens Financing for Emerging Markets
Fitch Ratings warned on April 17 that the Iran‑Israel war is adding fresh pressure on emerging market sovereigns, pushing the net balance of outlooks to negative for the first time since the conflict began. Higher energy import costs, fiscal subsidy...
Philippines Revives Liguasan Marsh Drilling Push Amid Energy Crisis
Bangsamoro leaders are urging renewed oil and gas exploration in the 288,000‑hectare Liguasan Marsh, citing a potential 202 million barrels of crude and 6 billion cubic feet of gas as a lifeline for the Philippines’ energy‑import dependent economy. The move pits regional...
Australian Team Demonstrates First Quantum Battery Using Nanomaterials
Scientists from CSIRO, the University of Melbourne and RMIT have built and tested the world’s first proof‑of‑concept quantum battery. The prototype uses nanomaterial‑based quantum effects to charge in a single “super‑absorption” event, hinting at ultra‑fast charging for future devices. The...
Massive Ship Breakouts Signal Rising Tension in Hormuz
🚨STRAIT OF HORMUZ🚨 Lots of action on 17-18 Apr 1️⃣Cruiseship Celestyal Discovery Breaks Out 2️⃣Large formation of ships head to Strait to depart the Gulf but Divert 3️⃣Wave of tankers breakout 4️⃣Cargo Ships follow but they are turned around; possibly fired upon 5️⃣Cruiseships breakout via southern...
Scalable Aluminum‐Doped Zinc Oxide Transparent Electrodes via Spatial ALD for High‐Efficiency Perovskite Modules
Researchers used spatial atomic layer deposition (ALD) to create aluminum‑doped zinc oxide (AZO) transparent electrodes with atomic‑level dopant control. By tuning the Al:Zn cycle ratio to 2.4‑4.2% Al, the films achieved a sheet resistance of 3.3 Ω/sq, 90% optical transmittance and...
Ukraine Strikes Two Russian Refineries, Baltic Sea Port
Ukrainian drone forces struck two oil refineries in Russia’s Samara region and set fire to the Vysotsk port terminal in the Leningrad region, according to local governors and Ukrainian officials. The attacks are part of a broader campaign that has...
Energy Index Surges 45% YTD, Still Trails Gold
Has the Gold Stud vs. Energy Dud Pattern Changed? The Bloomberg Energy Spot Subindex (BCOMENSP) has been robust year to date, gaining about 45%, getting it to breakeven from 2005. Will the Iran war sustain higher prices, or follow the pattern...
33 Saudi Crude Tankers en Route From West to Asia
In addition, there are currently 33 oil tankers at sea — mostly VLCCs — carrying Saudi crude from Western ports to Asian countries.
Magyar Says Druzhba Oil Flows Could Resume Next Week
Hungarian Prime Minister‑designate Peter Magyar announced that oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline could resume next week, ending a months‑long shutdown caused by a Russian drone strike in January. The restart hinges on discussions between MOL chief Zsolt Hernadi and...
Iran Tightens Hormuz Control as Trump Threatens Bombing
With the US refusing to lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has responded. Iran will now maintain “strict control” over the Strait. With that, Trump has thrown more fuel on the fire: “We’ll have to start dropping bombs again.” https://t.co/ZrwqjtoLFw
Winter Oil's -5% Slide Is a Significant Move
Heard some folks assert that later-dated oil wasn't down as much as the prompt. Well, of course.. you'll almost NEVER see 6-month and beyond contracts change as much as the front month. In reality, -5% on winter oil is a large move....
EQT Warns of Exit Risks for Alternative Energy Assets Held by PE
EQT AB warns that private‑equity firms are hitting a wall when trying to exit clean‑energy developers and operators, which have ballooned from 1‑2 GW to as much as 8 GW of assets. Traditional buyers can no longer absorb such scale, and IPOs...
Puerto Rico Greenlights Aggregated Residential Storage Pilot
Puerto Rico approves aggregated residential energy storage motion from Tesla, Sunrun, and SunStrong #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/TI9aIg2i25
China’s Electrification Shields It From Oil Price Shocks
China's electrification bet is paying off. Electricity now accounts for 30% of its energy consumption - 50% higher than US or Europe. With 1/3 of global renewable energy capacity installed, China is structurally more insulated from rising oil prices than most...
Comesa Okays Green Hydrogen Energy Plan
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) approved a 2026 Action Plan and Green Hydrogen Roadmap to diversify its power mix and address chronic supply gaps. The plan establishes a regional Centre of Excellence on Green Hydrogen to...
Iran Shuts Strait Despite Markets Being Closed
Weird for the Iranians to close the Strait again today. Don't they know financial markets are closed? https://t.co/FumsjlfJjH
Fixing Oil Needs Money, Time, Not Just Opinions
To repair the oil industry you need 💰 and time. Epic discussion with @Rory_Johnston on Facts vs Feelings. https://t.co/I7Ba5juC0L
Larry Kudlow Hosts April 16 Roundtable on Market Rally Amid Hormuz Blockade Concerns
Larry Kudlow anchored a Fox Business roundtable on Thursday, April 16, focusing on a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, its ripple effects on global oil supplies, and a concurrent rally in U.S. equity markets. The 41‑minute episode featured...
China Shifts to Pipelines After Hormuz Crisis
Watch this space. One of the main outcomes of the Hormuz crisis is Chinese focus on pipelines.
Trump's Iran Blockade Tests Strategy Ahead of Xi Summit
Trump naval blockade of Iran ports—who provide oil to China. Will and how will the Iran war and blockade play in his meeting with Xi? Strategy vs reactionary.
Strait of Hormuz Reopening Eases Oil Shock but Plastics and Fertilizer Costs Stay High
Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is fully open for commercial traffic, prompting an 8% drop in global oil prices. At the same time, polyethylene resin prices have nearly doubled and fertilizer costs stay elevated, tightening supply chains for plastics,...
Conservatives Expand Refineries, Liberals Shut Them, Fuel Prices Soar
This might as well be a chart of conservative vs liberal politics. Several Pacific nations like South Korea opened vast new efficient refineries while liberal nations and states like Australia and California closed them. And it’s not just gas prices. High...
Iran Attacks Tanker, Re‑closes Strait of Hormuz
Busy and chaotic morning in the Strait of Hormuz > handful of ships make it across the Strait this morning > then at least one Indian tanker reports it was attacked by Iran, forced to turn back > Iran declares the Strait is...
EU Jet Fuel Imports From Nigeria and the U.S. Jump in April as Middle East Supplies Falter
European airlines have accelerated jet‑fuel imports from Nigeria and the United States in April, seeking to offset a sharp drop in Middle‑East deliveries after the Strait of Hormuz closure. The shift comes as the International Energy Agency warns Europe may...
Brent Dips Below $100 as Hormuz Conflict Wanes
Dated Brent (white) yesterday fell below $100 for the first time in over a month. There's conflicting headlines on the Strait of Hormuz, but the direction of travel is clear: this war is basically over. Both sides - for different...
Futures Shift Risk; Physical Oil Now Scarce
Futures markets transfer price risk & price expectations months to years ahead Physical barrels price scarcity now Paper supply is unlimited. Physical supply isn’t. Any questions? https://t.co/STPJkffl5A #Oil #EnergyMarkets #CrudeOil #Commodities #Trading
High Oil Prices, Explained by an Expert
Gasbuddy’s petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan explains the surge in U.S. gasoline prices, citing tighter refinery margins, geopolitical supply constraints, and lingering pandemic demand rebounds. He argues that President Trump’s rhetoric oversimplifies the market, ignoring the complex interplay of crude costs,...
Iran Shuts Hormuz Strait, Threatening Global Oil Flow
‼️ HAPPENING NOW: Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz again after US refuses to end blockade. Global oil supply route could be at risk again https://t.co/yrGUN6Izcw
Iran-Israel War Sends Asian Nations Rethinking LNG Expansion as Prices Double
The Iran‑Israel conflict has driven LNG prices in Asia up more than 100% and pushed imports to six‑year lows, prompting governments from India to Bangladesh to scale back or delay new liquefied natural gas projects. Analysts warn the shock could...
Bolivia Drafts New Hydrocarbons Law to Lure Foreign Oil and Gas Investment
Bolivia's government, led by President Rodrigo Paz, has finalized a draft hydrocarbons law designed to attract foreign investors and revive its oil and gas sector. The proposal promises competitive fiscal terms, streamlined contracts and a stronger role for state‑owned YPFB,...
Iran Reopens Hormuz, Ten-Year Treasury Yield Falls to One-Month Low
Iran's announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is open for commercial traffic pushed the benchmark 10‑year Treasury yield down 6.3 basis points to 4.246%, its lowest in a month. The move lifted bond prices, buoyed equities and reignited debate over...
Geelong Refinery Fire Deepens Australia's Fuel Crunch
A fire at the Geelong oil refinery has halted production, intensifying an already tight fuel market in Australia. The incident comes as the government’s recent measures—underwritten shipments, tax cuts and reserve releases—were beginning to lower gasoline prices by more than...
Iran Vows to Keep Hormuz Closed Amid US Port Blockade
Iran has rowed back on its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that it would continue to block transit through the hugely important waterway as long as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
3 ETFs to Benefit From Oil Price Surge Without Direct Investment
Oil prices have surged, prompting investors to seek indirect exposure through specialized ETFs. The Invesco Dynamic Oil & Gas Services ETF (PXJ) delivered roughly 40% YTD return with a 2.26% dividend yield, while the iShares U.S. Oil Equipment & Services...
Chile's Renewable Surge Overtakes Fossil Power
In just over a decade, Chile went from no utility-scale wind or solar at all to having more electricity from these sources than from all fossil fuels combined: 2000: wind+solar provided 0% of Chile's electricity, fossil fuels 45% 2025: wind+solar 36%, fossil...
Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Again
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, placing the waterway under strict military management. The move follows Tehran’s accusation that the United States continues to restrict Iranian ports and impede freedom of navigation....
Iran Says that Strait of Hormuz Is Closed Once Again, Situation Returns to Previous State
Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz will revert to strict control, effectively re‑closing the waterway after a brief, limited reopening. Tehran blames the United States for not guaranteeing full freedom of navigation, demanding vessel approvals for any transit. Shipping...
CPC to Leave Domestic Gasoline, Diesel Prices Unchanged for Next Week
Taiwan’s state‑run oil supplier CPC Corp. will keep its recommended retail gasoline prices at NT$32.4, NT$33.9 and NT$35.9 per litre and premium diesel at NT$31.0 per litre for the week of April 22‑26. This marks the third straight week of...