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:
Strait of Hormuz Closure Creates Complexity for Global Energy Storage Markets
The US‑Israel war with Iran led Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, choking the world’s primary oil conduit and pushing gasoline prices in the United States to about $4.06 per gallon. While the battery‑storage sector has not felt a direct supply shock, soaring oil and gas prices are widening power‑price spreads, especially in Asian and European markets that rely on oil‑linked gas. Shipping disruptions are inflating costs for copper, cobalt, nickel and sulfur, key inputs for batteries. Analysts see both short‑term project delays and a stronger long‑term case for renewables and storage as countries chase energy independence.
The Solar Support Gap: Why Do Pro-Solar Citizens Reject Local Projects?
University of Rhode Island researchers examined why voters who support solar energy opposed a utility‑scale solar project in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. An exit‑poll revealed that 28.9% of pro‑solar respondents voted against the 2019 referendum, creating an individual support gap....
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger Signs Legislation Mandating 20.78GW of Energy Storage
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed HB 895 and SB 448, mandating 20.78 GW of energy‑storage capacity across the Commonwealth. Appalachian Power must deliver 780 MW of short‑duration and 520 MW of long‑duration storage by 2040‑2045, while Dominion Energy is tasked with 16 GW short‑duration and 3.48 GW...
Colombia Approves Guidelines for Integrating Energy Storage Into Electricity System
Colombia issued Decree 0393 to establish public‑policy guidelines for integrating energy‑storage systems (ESS) into both the National Interconnected System and isolated zones. The decree sets deployment criteria, market participation rules, and a remuneration framework, recognizing storage for frequency regulation, voltage...
Underpriced Inflation Risk: 2021 Gas Surge From Refill Delay
Still think this is an underpriced inflation risk, not due to the ME situation per se, though it doesn't help. In 2021, gas prices rose strongly too in the latter part of the year on the eve of the...
Sun‑Tracking Solar Panels Boost Yield, Yet Add Cost
Solar panels that automatically track the sun sound like a clear upgrade. More exposure. Higher efficiency. Better output throughout the day. And in many cases, that’s true. Tracking systems can significantly increase energy yield compared to fixed installations, especially in regions with strong, consistent sunlight. But...
Trafigura Signs $1bn Oil-Backed Financing Deal with Gabon to Boost Liquidity
Global commodities trader Trafigura has signed a $1 billion oil‑backed financing agreement with the Republic of Gabon, providing upfront liquidity in exchange for the country's profit‑oil over seven years. The deal makes Trafigura the exclusive buyer of Gabon's post‑cost crude, with...
Crude Rally May Echo 2022 US Gas Decline
Crude Surge Could Track Falling US Gas Akin to 2022 Big green quarterly candles in Brent crude oil to roughly $120 a barrel have marked peaks and shifts to enduring red reversion since 2008. Has this pattern changed? Full report on the...
Hormuz Strait: Open Yet Dysfunctional
One of the best headlines I have seen so far: 🪔Hormuz: Not Closed — But Not Working from @MaritimeAn
AI Tech Collab Takes on SA’s Energy Distribution Crisis
South African energy tech firm Plentify and developer Balwin Properties have launched an AI‑driven geyser management system using HotBot devices to optimise residential water heating. The controllers, now deployed in over 7,500 homes, adjust heating based on occupancy patterns, solar...
Blockade Targets Iran's Oil Lifeline, Forces Negotiation
Great piece by @PatcohenNYT in today’s @nytimes on what the blockade means for Iran’s economy. Oil exports are the life blood of Iran’s economy, so choking those off is a good inducement for the mullahs to negotiate in earnest and...
Regulatory Uncertainty Forces EDP to Pause US Wind Projects
EDP has paused three US wind projects due to limited policy visibility under the Trump administration, underscoring how regulatory uncertainty is weighing on renewable energy investment decisions https://t.co/1ASvMpOcjN
PV Module Prices Continue to Rise Unabated
Photovoltaic module prices climbed for the fourth month in a row, rising 5.5% between March and April 2026, with all‑black modules posting the steepest gains. The increase occurs despite falling polysilicon costs and the removal of Chinese export tax credits,...
DRC Moves to Secure Fuel Supply From Dangote Refinery Amid Global Market Pressures
Democratic Republic of Congo is evaluating fuel imports from Nigeria’s Dangote refinery to diversify its petroleum supply and boost energy security. Deputy Prime Minister Daniel Mukoko met Aliko Dangote and United Bank for Africa officials to discuss direct supply agreements and financing...
Unlocking Wind Turbine Longevity with Smarter Lubrication
The wind power market is set to reach 3,207 GW of installed capacity by 2035, driving demand for more reliable turbine operation. Effective lubrication is critical, as drivetrain failures can quickly halt production, especially in offshore and remote sites. Mobil introduced...
A Hybrid Solid‐State Battery with a Panoramic‐Scale Stack of Bulk Electrodes and a Thin‐Film Electrolyte
Researchers have created a hybrid all‑solid‑state battery that combines a thin‑film electrolyte with a bulk anode and a thick cathode sheet. The sputtered Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 film, 2.5 µm thick, achieves room‑temperature conductivity of 1.91 × 10⁻² mS cm⁻¹. The densified anode, pressed to 9 % porosity, pairs...
Transocean Lands Drillship Deal Worth $158m
Switzerland‑based offshore driller Transocean announced it has won a five‑well contract for its Deepwater Asgard drillship in the Eastern Mediterranean. The 390‑day campaign, slated to begin in Q4 2026, is valued at roughly $158 million in backlog, not counting mobilisation fees. The...
Rystad Says Energy Repair Costs From War Could Hit $58B
Rystad Energy says repair and restoration of Gulf energy infrastructure could total $58 billion, with oil and gas assets alone accounting for up to $50 billion and a median estimate of $46 billion. The analysis, updated after an initial $25 billion figure, highlights Iran...
Revisiting the Photoelectric Conversion Mechanism in Hydrothermally Deposited Sb2(S,Se)3 Solar Cells
Researchers have uncovered a new photoelectric conversion mechanism in hydrothermally deposited Sb2(S,Se)3 solar cells. Annealing drives selenium into the CdS buffer, forming a gradient‑bandgap Cd(S,Se) layer that, together with Sb2(S,Se)3, creates a V‑shaped mixed absorber. This structure separates electron‑hole pairs...
Fire at Viva Energy's Corio Refinery Threatens 10% of Australia's Fuel Supply
A major fire at Viva Energy's Corio refinery in Geelong has halted production on two petrol units, jeopardizing roughly 10% of the nation's fuel supply. Energy Minister Chris Bowen and refinery CEO Scott Wyatt warned of possible shortfalls while firefighting...
RWE to Provide 65% of Network Rail’s Non-Traction Electricity From Wind Farm
Network Rail has signed a corporate power purchase agreement with German energy firm RWE to source 65% of its non‑traction electricity from the 576 MW Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm in Wales. The deal will deliver 300 GWh of renewable power annually for...
Kiwa PVEL Updates Module Testing Programme, Aims to Tackle Glass Breakage, Frame Failures and Hail Damage
Kiwa PVEL has revamped its Production Qualification Program to include test‑to‑failure protocols for static mechanical load and hail testing, aiming to identify the maximum stress solar modules can endure. The updated hail test now evaluates five modules per round, focusing on...
AI System Removes Coding Barrier in Search for Stable Energy Materials
A new AI tool called StableOx‑Cat lets researchers discover stable metal‑oxide electrocatalysts using everyday language instead of code. The system pairs a large‑language model with physics‑based calculations to evaluate material stability across pH and electrical‑potential conditions. By grounding its predictions...
Schwab Forecasts $5.8 T Global Grid Upgrade Surge Fueled by AI Power Demand
Charles Schwab’s latest report warns that AI‑driven data centers will push U.S. electricity demand from 147 TWh in 2023 to over 606 TWh by 2030, sparking a projected $5.8 trillion global spend on grid upgrades through 2035. The analysis spotlights a $1 trillion U.S....
Supreme Court Rules Offshore Wind Farm Survey Costs Ineligible for Tax Relief
The UK Supreme Court ruled unanimously that environmental survey costs incurred by Ørsted for four offshore wind farms cannot be claimed as capital allowances. The decision means these expenses are ineligible for tax relief, raising the effective cost of development....
The ‘God Squad’ Just Voted to Allow Drilling Near 10 National Park Sites. Here’s Why That Puts Public Lands at...
On March 31 the Endangered Species Committee—often called the “God Squad”—voted to exempt oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico from the Endangered Species Act, allowing drilling near ten national park sites. The decision bypassed mandatory public hearings and...
Citadel CEO Ken Griffin Warns a Six‑to‑twelve‑month Hormuz Shutdown Would Trigger a Global Recession
Citadel founder Ken Griffin told the Semafor World Economic conference that a six‑to‑12‑month closure of the Strait of Hormuz would make a global recession unavoidable. He linked the risk to oil prices above $100 a barrel and the chokepoint’s role...
Solar Procurement Is Changing as Geopolitics ‘Redefines Risk’
Solar buyers in Europe are shifting procurement focus from pure cost to security, ESG compliance, and cyber‑risk mitigation, as highlighted at the SolarPLUS Europe conference in Milan. Geopolitical tensions—such as the Strait of Hormuz blockade and China’s polysilicon consolidation—are creating...
Bloom Energy's 24% Jump Triggers Clean‑Power ETF Surge After Oracle Fuel‑Cell Deal
Bloom Energy surged about 24% after Oracle signed a 2.8 GW fuel‑cell agreement, sending the SPDR S&P Kensho Clean Power ETF up 4.1% and boosting nuclear and smart‑grid ETFs. Solar‑focused funds fell as First Solar missed earnings and a pending polysilicon...
Middle East War Spikes Oil Prices, Straining Emerging Market Budgets and Fuel Subsidies
The war in the Middle East has triggered the biggest oil‑supply disruption in history, sending Brent up over 60% and forcing Jamaica’s government to abandon a $4.50‑per‑litre fuel cap, a move that could cost the island $80 million in lost revenue....
Europe’s Power‑Grid Bottlenecks Threaten Electrification Targets
Europe’s electrification agenda is hitting a wall as grid infrastructure lags behind demand. In the Netherlands, more than 15,000 companies sit on waiting lists for connections, underscoring a continent‑wide bottleneck that could stall policy goals worth trillions of euros.
TaiLan New Energy Launches Embodied AI Solid-State Battery Solution, First Batch Delivered
TaiLan New Energy unveiled its "Safe+" solid‑state battery solution for embodied AI robots, delivering the first batch of packs to leading Chinese robotics firms for multi‑scenario testing. The hybrid solid‑liquid cells operate from –40°C to 80°C and sustain 1C discharge...
Nippon Express and Nikon Sign SAF Agreement
Japanese logistics firm Nippon Express and camera maker Nikon have renewed a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) agreement for air cargo shipments, marking the second consecutive year of collaboration. The deal leverages Nippon’s NX‑GREEN SAF program to issue CO₂‑reduction certificates for...
CFTC Probes Suspicious Oil Futures Trades Ahead of Trump’s Iran Policy Shift
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has launched a probe into oil futures contracts traded on CME Group and Intercontinental Exchange platforms, alleging the trades were timed ahead of President Donald Trump’s policy shift on the Iran war. Regulators have...
Energy Leads YTD Gains; Health and Staples Lag
the strongest YTD sector is energy $XLE +24.7% and it sits right beside health $XLV & staples $XLP as being below the 50-day average...
New 300 Home Development Becomes 'World's Largest' Zero Bills Neighbourhood
Octopus Energy has teamed with housebuilder Prosperity Group to create a 300‑home development in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, branded as the world’s largest Zero Bills neighbourhood. The scheme guarantees residents no electricity or gas charges for ten years, backed by integrated renewable generation...
Maine Legislature Passes First‑In‑Nation Temporary Ban on New Data Centers
The Maine Legislature approved LD 307, a temporary moratorium on new data centers consuming 20 MW or more of electricity until November 2027, and sent the bill to Governor Janet Mills. Proponents say the pause lets the state study power and water impacts,...
Philippines Registers Solar Module Maker Targeting EU Export Market
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has registered Genuine Renewable Energy and Eco‑Friendly Energy Network Corp. (GREEENC) as an ecozone enterprise to produce photovoltaic (PV) modules for export, primarily to the European Union. GREEENC will invest about PHP 370 million ($6.16 million) in...
This Long Beach Startup Says It Has a Patch for California's Power Problems
Long Beach‑based Critical Loop secured $26 million in new funding, bringing its total to $49 million, to accelerate deployment of battery‑and‑grid‑management systems that deliver power in days rather than years. The startup’s controller instantly switches between the public grid, on‑site batteries, solar...
Aussie Refinery Reduces Production After Fire
A significant fire at Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery in Victoria forced the plant, which processes 120,000 barrels per day, to operate at reduced rates, mainly affecting gasoline and aviation‑gasoline output. The refinery supplies over 50% of Victoria’s fuel and about...
Commission Approves Bulgarian, German and Slovenian State Aid Schemes Providing Temporary Electricity Price Relief for Energy-Intensive Companies
On 13 April 2026 the European Commission cleared state‑aid programmes in Bulgaria, Germany and Slovenia that subsidise electricity for energy‑intensive firms. The schemes total roughly $4.6 billion – €334 million ($364 m) for Bulgaria, €3.8 billion ($4.14 b) for Germany and €90 million ($98 m) for Slovenia – and...
Three Scenarios for Energy, Central Banks, Rates and FX Markets
ING outlines three energy‑price scenarios tied to the Middle East cease‑fire outlook. In a base case, Brent crude steadies at $90‑100 per barrel and the euro trades around 1.18‑1.20 by year‑end. A moderate disruption pushes Brent above $100 and lifts...
Energy Market Outlook Hinges on the Middle East
Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain largely cut off, tightening the physical market and creating a $30‑per‑barrel premium for dated Brent over futures. About 13 million barrels per day are offline, prompting demand‑destruction measures in Asia and likely elsewhere....
Listing the Risks Behind (Unpredicted) Solar Oversupply and the Resulting Extreme Low Prices
Solar capacity in the EU is growing at roughly 60 GW per year, creating frequent midday oversupply that can push electricity prices into negative territory. When actual generation exceeds day‑ahead forecasts by several gigawatts, markets have seen four‑digit negative prices, as...
AI Robot Accelerates Solar Panel Installation Safely
#AI-Powered #Robot Revolutionizes Solar Panel Installation with Speed, Precision, and Safety via @ZappyZappy7 #AI #Robotics #EmergingTech #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/d9jZS1jtju
North Star Bolsters Leadership Team to Support Offshore Wind Growth
North Star, the UK‑based shipowner and offshore wind service provider, has added three senior executives: Duncan Palmer as its first Chief Human Resources Officer, Joanna Lang as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, and Kenneth Coughlan as Chief Technology Officer. The appointments are...
Zambia Secures $1.5bn Energy Investment to Expand Power Generation Capacity
Zambia has secured a US $1.5 billion investment from China Machinery Engineering Corporation to build a 900‑megawatt power mix of coal, solar and wind plants. The deal is part of a broader push to raise the nation’s installed capacity to 10 GW by...
Iran War Sparks 'Fundamental Energy Transition' In Seoul Toward Renewables: Energy Minister
South Korea’s energy minister says the Iran war is accelerating the country’s shift from oil to renewables. Seoul has pledged 100 GW of renewable capacity by 2030, up from the current 37 GW and a 9% share of electricity in 2025. The...
Oil Prices Holding Firm
Oil prices are stabilizing after a sharp pullback from war‑driven panic levels, with Brent sliding from a recent high of $111.80 to a 28‑day low of $90.40. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a 0.9 million‑barrel draw in commercial crude inventories...
Plaid Cymru Says Renewables Plan Would Benefit Welsh Communities
Plaid Cymru unveiled a "renewable revolution" manifesto promising a National Energy Strategy, a Renewable Energy Sector Deal and a state‑owned energy company to boost community ownership of wind, tidal and other green assets. The plan aims to accelerate Wales toward...