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:
Trump Extends Sanctions Exemption on Some Russian Oil as High Gas Prices Persist
The Treasury Department announced a one‑month extension of the sanctions exemption for certain Russian crude, now running through May 16, 2026. The move comes just two days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the waiver would not be renewed, and follows Iran’s declaration that the Strait of Hormuz is open to commercial traffic. The exemption is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to temper soaring gasoline prices by allowing legal purchases of blacklisted Russian oil. The policy shift reflects heightened sensitivity to energy market volatility sparked by the Middle‑East conflict.
California's Community Solar Bill Blocks New Projects
California community solar proposal ‘virtually ensures’ no new projects #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/qcxE2RCSpl
Alarm Flooding During Power Restoration
When power returns to a plant, SCADA and DCS systems often experience an abrupt surge of alarms as field devices, controllers and communication networks restart simultaneously. Abnormal startup values, network reconnection delays, and unfiltered alarm configurations cause hundreds of alerts...
Black Hills Energy Secures Power Deal with Meta for Wyoming Data Center
Black Hills Energy announced a power‑supply partnership with Meta for a new data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The utility will use its Large Power Contract Service tariff to deliver customized, potentially renewable energy, a move that could double its data‑center...
Swiss Datacenter Efficiency Association Wins Global Award for Pollution‑Tracking Tool
The Swiss Datacenter Efficiency Association (SDEA) received an international award for its new tool that quantifies data‑center emissions. The recognition comes as Swiss data centres consume roughly 7% of national electricity and are projected to double their share by 2030,...
Supreme Court Sends $745 Million Chevron Verdict Back to Federal Court
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rejected a Louisiana state‑court verdict that awarded Plaquemines Parish $745 million from Chevron and ExxonMobil, ruling the dispute must be heard in federal court under the federal officer removal statute. The decision reshapes venue strategy for...
Solar Specialist Expands with 27 New Projects After EnergySky Acquisition
Small solar and battery specialist adds another 27 projects as it buys up competitor #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/WAMH24iKIV https://t.co/PbgmeESrQB
IoT Advances Make Solar Water Cooling Commercially Viable
Internet-of-Things could bring solar module water cooling closer to commercial viability #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/2fLmWs7pqf
Why China Is Urgently Looking to North Africa as the Energy Crisis Rolls On
China is accelerating its North African investments as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, turning long‑term Belt and Road projects into urgent energy‑security measures. Beijing is committing billions to infrastructure, including a $4.7 bn El Hamdania megaport in Algeria, a $6.5 bn...
Ships Avoid Hormuz Despite Trump's Claim of Openness
Trump says Hormuz is open. He lies a lot. When ships approach the Strait and then turn back en masse, believe the data, not the liar. #Hormuz #Oil #Iran #Shipping #Geopolitics
Wood & Co to Deploy 145MW BESS in Nordic Markets
Investor Wood & Co engages partners to put 145MW of BESS into Nordic electricity markets #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/ofG9ikzw83
Mangrove Lithium Opens North America’s First Commercial Electrochemical Lithium Refinery
Mangrove Lithium commissioned a 1,000‑tonne‑per‑year electrochemical lithium refining plant in Delta, British Columbia, the first commercial facility of its kind in North America. The plant can produce battery‑grade lithium for roughly 25,000 electric vehicles annually, signaling a shift toward a...
XCharge Launches First European EV Charger Assembly Plant in Spain
XCharge has opened a 3,000‑square‑meter assembly line in Silla, Valencia, marking its first European manufacturing footprint. The plant will begin full‑scale production of the GridLink battery‑integrated fast charger in 2027, strengthening local supply chains and supporting Spain’s EV market growth.
Crusoe Starts Building 900 MW AI Factory in Abilene for Microsoft
Neocloud provider Crusoe has broken ground on a 900 MW AI infrastructure campus in Abilene, Texas, dedicated to Microsoft. The site will eventually reach 2.1 GW, with the first building slated for mid‑2027, and is expected to generate thousands of construction jobs...
IEA Warns Data‑Center Power Use Jumped 17% in 2025, Could Double by 2030
The International Energy Agency released a report showing global data‑center electricity demand surged 17% in 2025 and could double by 2030, driven by massive AI‑infrastructure investment. The agency warns that grid constraints, supply‑chain bottlenecks and rising electricity costs could threaten...
Pacific Island Leaders Demand Real Finance for Fossil‑Fuel‑Free Transition
At a ministerial dialogue in Port Vila, Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) leaders demanded unencumbered climate finance to achieve their 100% renewable energy goals. Tuvalu’s climate minister and Palau’s environment minister warned that without real money, the islands risk...
IMF Warns Europe’s 2026 Growth Slips to 1.1% Amid Energy‑Driven Supply Shock
The International Monetary Fund’s April 2026 Regional Economic Outlook projects Euro‑area GDP growth at just 1.1% for the year, citing a fresh energy‑driven supply shock tied to the Middle‑East conflict. The shock is expected to push inflation higher and force...
Jinko ESS Inks 1.1 GWh Partnership to Fast‑track Large‑scale Storage in China
Jinko ESS has signed a two‑year strategic framework agreement with an undisclosed partner to develop 1.1 GWh of energy‑storage capacity in Shaanxi Province. The deal leverages Jinko’s full‑stack battery technology to accelerate large‑scale and C&I projects, supporting China’s dual‑carbon targets and...
Shock Therapy: War Forces Oil-Addicted Asia to Finally Go Green
The Iran war’s disruption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz has forced oil‑dependent Asian economies to accelerate renewable adoption, especially solar. In Thailand, soaring electricity bills and a new 200,000‑baht (≈US$6,240) tax deduction have triggered a flood of...
Crude Prices Shift; Everything Else Stays Unchanged
Nothing fundamentally changed today… … except the price of crude, which is a pretty important thing.
Battery Storage Surge Fuels Global Energy Security
Stunning growth of battery storage puts it at centre of global energy security needs, for cars and for grids #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/JQDm2qARdW https://t.co/fJNmnFvMKY
"Energy Dominance" In Action
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has tightened global oil supplies, prompting buyers to turn to alternative sources. U.S. crude exports jumped to 5.2 million bpd, the highest level in seven months, while net imports fell to a record‑low 66,000 bpd, nearly...
Marcos Suspends LPG, Kerosene Excise Taxes for 3 Months
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 114, suspending excise taxes on LPG and kerosene for three months, effective immediately. The suspension applies except when LPG is used for petrochemicals or motive power and when kerosene serves aviation fuel....
US Nuclear Industry Set for Revival Amid Energy Surge
JUST IN: The US nuclear sector is poised for a revival as energy demands surge.
US Researchers Achieve 24.3% Efficiency with Copper‑Contacted TOPCon Cell
U.S. scientists build copper-contacted TOPCon solar cell with 24.3% efficiency #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/GKPxxSeXDV https://t.co/iuc8RgVcJj
TotalEnergies Turns Heads With Net-Zero Plan Step-Back
TotalEnergies, once hailed as an energy‑transition leader, announced it can no longer adopt its net‑zero transition plan. The company had previously set aggressive targets, including a 60% reduction in net‑carbon intensity by 2030 and a 2050 net‑zero goal, earning strong...
Strait of Hormuz: Conflicting Claims Leave Everyone Guessing
The Strait of Hormuz situation is impossible to follow. Is it open? Is it closed? Iran threatens to close it. The US threatens to open it. Wait, now the US says it will close it. Now Iran says it's open....
Traders Wager $760M on Oil Dip Before Hormuz Reopening
"...around 20 minutes before Iran's foreign minister announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was open" Traders place $760 million bet on falling oil ahead of Hormuz announcement https://t.co/CGzgaSsWa9
Oil Company Violated Court Order by Restarting Santa Barbara Pipeline, Judge Finds
A Santa Barbara Superior Court judge found Sable Offshore Corp. in contempt for restarting the Santa Ynez and Las Flores offshore pipelines after a Trump administration order, violating a federal consent decree and a preliminary injunction. The pipelines had been...
Tighter FEOC Rules Heighten Solar Tax Credit Risks
Solar developers face high-stakes tax credit risks as FEOC rules tighten #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/8lZmxwH24k
Sweden’s Helsingborg Leads with Ultra‑Cheap Dynamic Power
Sweden is simply so next level Helsingborg 📍 #alwaysbecharging #MOREPLUGS ⚡️⚡️⚡️ #einride photos: Thorsten Bunz € 0,50/kWh by the time you read this early afternoon :) #dynamicpricing #monta https://t.co/LMcEHrNLRs
Crude Prices Deflate as Hormuz Hopes Gain Momentum
Oil markets fell sharply on Friday after U.S. and Iranian officials announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Physical spot prices and futures contracts both tumbled, reflecting traders' optimism that resumed Middle‑East shipments will narrow the current supply gap....
Clarifying Conflicting Iran War Deal Reports with Hochstein
Today was a head-spinning day trying to understand conflicting reports about whether a deal had been struck to end the Iran war & reopen the Strait of Hormuz. I sat down this afternoon with @amoshochstein to talk through what we...
BESS Attractiveness for M&A Explored at Energy Summit
VIDEO – Energy Storage Summit 2026: How attractive is BESS for M&A? #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/AAtsgcK6vP
US States Eye Fuel Tax Relief to Curb Pain at the Pump
Rising gasoline prices, driven by the Middle East energy crisis, have spurred state leaders across the U.S. to explore fuel‑tax relief measures aimed at easing consumer costs. Governors and legislators are debating temporary suspensions or reductions of gasoline excise taxes,...
Iran Conflict Destabilizes Eastern Mediterranean Gas Sector
The Iran war has disrupted Eastern Mediterranean gas production, exports, and development, threatened regional energy infrastructure, and increased political and investment uncertainty. /1
State Threatens to Intervene over EV Charging Tariffs
State to “step in” if regulator and network fail to remove EV charging “handbrakes and sort out tariffs #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/TnXmAWWV3C https://t.co/qdFWboEvmI
Enconfund Revs up Energy Projects
Thailand’s Energy Conservation and Promotion Fund (Enconfund) is shifting from pure research support to commercial‑scale deployment, targeting projects like waste‑to‑oil and green hydrogen. The fund, financed by a 0.05 baht per litre levy, holds roughly 10 bn baht ($300 M) and spends 5‑9 bn...
FANCO EAGL-1 SMR Regulatory Engagement Advances Construction Pathway in US Nuclear Project
First American Nuclear has submitted a pre‑application regulatory engagement plan to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for its EAGL‑1 small modular reactor, marking the first formal step toward a construction permit. The fast‑spectrum, liquid‑metal SMR targets about 240 MW electrical output per...
North America Just Got Its First New Kind of Lithium Refinery
Mangrove Lithium has inaugurated North America’s first commercial electrochemical lithium refinery in Delta, British Columbia, capable of processing 1,000 tonnes of lithium annually. The facility, dubbed the Single Stack Plant, can supply battery‑grade lithium for roughly 25,000 electric vehicles each...
Oil Prices, Apr. 17, 2026
Energy Intelligence, in partnership with Refinitiv, published its daily oil‑price snapshot for April 17, 2026. The report aggregates international spot and futures prices for crude benchmarks and refined petroleum products. It serves as a real‑time barometer for market participants tracking...
The Bigger Energy Lesson Behind Iran’s Control Over the Strait of Hormuz
Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is open to commercial traffic, prompting a sharp dip in oil prices and a modest rally in equity markets. The reopening, however, does not erase the underlying geopolitical risk that the strait can be...
Skilled Labor Shortage Threatens US Gas, Data Center Build-Out
A persistent shortage of skilled tradespeople is now spilling beyond the Gulf Coast LNG sector into pipelines, power generation and data‑center construction across the United States. Employers report that the dwindling pool of welders, electricians and pipefitters is inflating labor...
Energy 'Sovereignty' Drives Mexico's Rethink on Gas Fracking
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum signaled a policy shift by allowing unconventional shale‑gas development near the U.S. border, reversing the strict bans imposed by her predecessor. The move aims to boost domestic gas production and lessen Mexico’s reliance on imported U.S....
Birchcliff CEO Upbeat Despite Canadian, Global Gas Market Woes
Birchcliff Energy’s CEO Chris Carlsen remained optimistic at the BMO CAPP Energy Symposium despite weak domestic gas prices and global market turbulence. The Calgary‑based Montney producer highlighted its role in the Rockies LNG consortium, which backs the 2.1 bcf/d Ksi Lisims export project....
Trinidad's LNG Export Renaissance Finds New Momentum
Trinidad and Tobago is preparing a new tranche of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for export to the Atlantic Basin, targeting delivery before 2030. The initiative stems from a complex asset swap between ExxonMobil and Shell, two of the world’s largest...
Market View: West Texas Gas Prices Plunge Well Below Zero
West Texas natural‑gas spot prices plunged well below zero as abundant Permian production collided with a maintenance shutdown on a key Southwest pipeline. The bottleneck forced the market to pay shippers to move gas, driving prices into negative territory for...
Oil Industry Reality Checked Against Landman Scenes
We recorded two episodes today about the general state of the oil industry and half the questions were me asking about various scenes in Landman and asking how realistic they were
Polymarket Odds of Hormuz Strait Traffic Normalizing by End of May Spike to 73%
Polymarket’s prediction market showed odds climbing to 73% that Strait of Hormuz traffic will return to normal by the end of May, after a brief peak of 82% following Iran’s announcement of a temporary reopening. The cease‑fire deal prompted a...
New Tech Cuts Silver Use in TOPCon Cells Tenfold
New tech reduces silver use in TOPCon solar cells by a factor of 10 #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/bWZdpaj0ge