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:
Russia and Cuba
Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Moscow will keep delivering oil and humanitarian aid to Cuba, following a recent shipment of roughly 700,000 barrels of crude. The pledge was made during Lavrov’s visit to China and underscores the long‑standing alliance between the two nations. Meanwhile, the Trump administration warned Congress that Cuba may have sent up to 5,000 fighters to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. Analysts also note that a $8‑$20 billion investment could make Cuba the Caribbean’s first fully renewable‑powered grid, challenging the U.S. energy blockade.
Trump’s Waiver Of Jones Act Fails To Cool Oil Prices
President Trump issued a 60‑day Jones Act waiver hoping to shave a few cents off U.S. fuel costs, but oil prices remain elevated as global supply disruptions and rising crude costs dominate. Brent fell 4.2% to $95.09 per barrel and...
Alberta Landowners Furious over Ignored Pipeline Reclamation Law
Alberta Landowners Mad as H*ll About No Pipeline Reclamations AB has 440,000 kms of pipelines. The law says they have to be reclaimed. ABGov/AER says, nope. Landowners are mad. Mark Dorin explains why. #ableg #abpoli https://youtu.be/49_0k2gY-UY
Oklo Soars In Big News Week For Nuclear Energy Stocks
Oklo announced a board refresh, adding four new directors and moving its chief technology officer into an advisory role as it gears up for a new growth phase. The SPAC‑listed SMR developer’s shares surged 11% to $65, breaking above its...
U.S. Grid-Scale Battery Production to Support 100% of Renewable Generating Capacity
The United States has rapidly built grid‑scale battery manufacturing capacity, reaching roughly 70 GWh of finished storage systems in 2025—enough to meet the entire storage demand of wind and solar generation. Companies such as Fluence, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, SK On and...
Iran Offers Free Passage Through Hormuz If US Deals
Reuters: "Iran could consider allowing ships to sail freely through the Oman side of the Strait of Hormuz without risk of attack as part of proposals it has offered in negotiations with the United States if a deal is clinched...
Iran Can Withstand Two Months without Oil Exports
Iran can sustain its current oil output of roughly 3.5 million barrels per day for about two months if exports are halted, according to consultancy FGE NextantECA. The U.S. blockade that began on April 13 blocks an estimated 2 million bpd from reaching China,...
Space‑Based Solar Power: The Next Clean Energy Frontier
What if the future of clean energy isn’t on Earth… but in orbit? ☀️⚡ The sun sets. The wind stops. Demand doesn’t. On April 21, during SF Climate Week, we’re bringing together the people building the future of space-based solar power and...
Report: OCI TerraSus Of Malaysia And SpaceX In Talks For Polysilicon Supply
OCI TerraSus, the Malaysian arm of South Korea's OCI Holdings, is reportedly in multi‑year talks with SpaceX to supply high‑purity solar‑grade polysilicon. The material is essential for both solar panels and the semiconductor components SpaceX plans to develop as it...
Question Time: Ceasefire, Oil, Rates, & the Economy (VIDEO)
Alhambra Research’s latest video examines how emerging ceasefire negotiations in the Middle East could relieve oil supply tensions, while Brent crude dipped 1.2% to around $84 a barrel. The discussion also covers the Federal Reserve’s hint at pausing rate hikes,...
Transmission Line to Ukraine Nuclear Plant Fixed After Disruption
The 330 kV transmission line feeding Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been restored, allowing the six‑reactor complex to resume normal grid connection. Operators confirmed all systems are nominal and radiation remains at background levels. The plant, which generates roughly 5,700 MW—about...
Abandoned $9bn+ VC Summer Nuclear Plant in South Carolina Scheduled for Restart Construction
South Carolina’s state‑owned utility Santee Cooper announced that the stalled VC Summer nuclear plant is moving back into a feasibility phase, with Brookfield Asset Management proposing a $2.7 billion buyout to complete the two half‑built reactors. The deal would keep Santee...
Trump Expects The High Gas Prices He Caused To Stick Around Even If He Ends The War He Started
President Trump told Fox News that gasoline and diesel prices are likely to remain elevated through the upcoming midterm elections, even if the Iran conflict he helped ignite ends. The war has already added roughly $17 billion to U.S. drivers’ fuel...
Green Stocks: Global Stock Index RENIXX Rises Against the Market Trend to a Yearly High – up 17 Percent Year-to-Date
The RENIXX renewable‑energy index surged to 1,324 points on 14 April 2026, its highest level since August 2023, marking a 17% gain year‑to‑date and outpacing the broader market. The breakout was sparked by Bloom Energy’s expanded partnership with Oracle, which will deploy up...
Belgium Shuts Down All Nuclear Power Plants for Seven Months
Belgium will shut down its remaining two nuclear reactors, Doel 4 and Tihange 3, from 1 April to 1 November 2026 for extensive modernization. The outage will repeat in the summers of 2027 and 2028, totaling 21 months of downtime. The plants, each about 1.09 GW, are...
Maryland Regulators Weigh Investor-Owned Utilities’ Flexible Load Proposals
Maryland’s investor‑owned utilities have filed proposals to aggregate up to 440 MW of flexible‑load resources, including thermostats, batteries and bidirectional EV charging, to support virtual power plants and demand‑side management pilots. The DRIVE Act, signed in 2024, requires utilities to develop...
$100 Billion Stolen: How Smuggled Oil Funds the Chaos During the Hormuz Blockade
Oil smuggling generates more than $100 billion in annual losses, creating a shadow economy that fuels criminal syndicates, militant groups, and sanctioned regimes. The illicit trade relies on low‑tech tactics—pipeline taps, ship‑to‑ship transfers, AIS spoofing—combined with sophisticated laundering through third‑country refiners....
LUMA Installs 20 Transformers to Strengthen Puerto Rico's Power Grid
LUMA Energy installed 20 new transformers across Puerto Rico, enhancing capacity and voltage regulation for roughly 78,000 customers in the eastern and Bayamón regions. The Bayamón TC Substation upgrade fortifies a key northern transmission hub, while the Fajardo unit replaces...
ComEd’s Plan to Protect Key Assets With Resilience
ComEd partnered with Polywater for a May 4 webinar to outline a new resilience strategy aimed at protecting critical transmission and substation assets. The session emphasized shifting from generic to performance‑based specifications to harden infrastructure and curb unnecessary outages. Speakers Mike...
U.S. Distributed Solar Capacity Grows by 6.8 GW in 2025 as Maine Leads on per Capita Basis
The Institute for Local Self‑Reliance reports that U.S. distributed solar installations surged by 6.8 GW in 2025, representing roughly one‑fifth of all new solar capacity. California contributed the bulk with 2 GW, while New York added 1.2 GW and Maine a surprising 1.1 GW. Maine...
Petrochemicals Lie at Core of Demand Destruction
The International Energy Agency says petrochemical feedstock demand fell by 1.5 million barrels per day in Q2 2026, driven by war‑related outages in the Middle East and costly run cuts across Asia. Gulf‑region plants face reduced operating rates and damaged export routes,...
US Ambassador Meets Oil Minister Puri over Expanding Energy Purchases
U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor met with Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to discuss expanding American energy supplies to New Delhi. The talks come as India has accelerated imports of U.S. LPG and LNG following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Both...
US CENTCOM Says Blockade of Iranian Ports Halts 90% of Sea Trade
U.S. Central Command announced that its naval blockade of Iran’s ports is fully operational, halting virtually all sea‑borne trade within 36 hours. The move, backed by more than 10,000 troops and dozens of warships, threatens a key conduit for world...
Distributed Power Beats Gas Peakers for Data Centers
Today on Volts: I talk with my old friend Jigar Shah about the headlong rush to build data centers, the lunacy of building a bunch of behind-the-meter gas-fired power plants to run them, the benefits of distributed capacity & greater...
JinkoSolar Launches Integrated PV‑plus‑ESS System to Power AI Data Centers 24/7
JinkoSolar and its subsidiary Jinko ESS announced a fully integrated photovoltaic‑plus‑energy‑storage solution built for artificial‑intelligence data centers. The system, showcased at the 14th Energy Storage International Conference, combines SunTera batteries with AI‑dedicated PV modules and includes a 25 MW/200 MWh pilot at...
Episode 442: Poland Bets on LNG and Tariff Reform to Strengthen CEE Gas Hub Status
Poland’s gas transmission operator, Gas System, is positioning the country as a central hub for Central and Eastern European (CEE) gas supplies by expanding LNG import capacity, unifying tariffs, and strengthening cross‑border corridors such as the Baltic Sea and Amber...
Aiding Piped Gas Push
The Israel‑Iran conflict disrupted global fuel flows, prompting an LPG shortage in India. The government issued the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order 2026, mandating a 25% boost in LPG output and a 25‑day inter‑booking period to curb hoarding, while...
Microsoft Sets 2030 Carbon‑Negative Roadmap Amid AI‑Driven Emissions Surge
Microsoft unveiled a detailed roadmap to become carbon‑negative by 2030 while pausing new carbon‑removal credit purchases. The plan comes as AI‑driven data‑center emissions rose 23.4% in 2024, creating tension between growth ambitions and climate goals.
Mark Mills: Strait of Hormuz and Global Trade
War between the United States‑Israel coalition and Iran has forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint between Oman and Iran. The strait handles roughly 15 million barrels of crude oil each day, along with sizable volumes...
Is America on the Verge of a Nuclear Renaissance?
The Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act, signed in 2019, finally saw the NRC issue its implementing rule in 2026 after a seven‑year delay, stalling many proposed reactors. The lag has eroded utility confidence and allowed competing clean‑energy sources to...
Oil Prices Coming Down, But for a Worrisome Reason
The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that "demand destruction" is now unfolding as oil prices soar to record levels. The recent partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global oil shipments, has tightened supply and...
Environmental Disaster Looming From Renewables
The article argues that the 25‑year, $10 trillion push for wind and solar power represents a strategic misstep. It claims that despite massive public and private spending, the outcomes have been politically divisive and economically disappointing. The piece frames renewables as...
OKLO’s Pipeline and Cash Boost Hope Despite Execution Risk
Someone on Reddit asked "is there any hope for $OKLO ?" It's up 9% today Quick fundamental check: - 14 GW signed customer pipeline (Switch, Meta, Equinix) - $1.23B cash with minimal debt - Board just got overhauled with nuclear/energy veterans - Pre-revenue but funded through...
Bangladesh to Build 442 MW Solar Farm Adjacent to Coal Plant
Bangladesh plans 442 MW solar facility near coal power plant #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/XnTyYpz6g6
New Documents Add to Doubt Over Trump’s Deal With TotalEnergies
A newly released Interior Department decision shows the agency intends to pay TotalEnergies $133 million from the federal Judgment Fund to settle the cancellation of the Carolina Long Bay offshore wind lease. The document, dated April 9, 2026, contradicts earlier statements that the...
Buy Oil Majors at February Low Prices
Purchases of international oil majors that are trading at their early February levels when Brent was <$70 strike me as 'money good' $XOM $CVX $COP
US Blockade Stalls Traffic in Strait of Hormuz
Data Shows the U.S. Blockade Is Halting Ships in the Strait of Hormuz #energysky -- via Heatmap News https://t.co/7A8cHmSJiQ https://t.co/uXlypTvEWt
Prepaid Leases Emerge as Residential Solar Customer Pathway to Accessing Federal Tax Credits
The residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) has expired, prompting installers to adopt prepaid lease models that leverage the commercial Section 48 Investment Tax Credit. In a prepaid lease, the solar provider owns the system, claims the 30 percent commercial credit, and passes...
US Oil Exporters Profit From War, Alongside Russia, Iran
US oil and gas exporters are among the war’s winners (along with Russia and Iran).
Fortescue Launches World's Largest Off‑grid 4‑5 GWh Battery
Fortescue fast-tracks ‘world’s largest off-grid system’ with 4-5GWh battery storage in Australia #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/05BV52AniW
Discover Your Battery’s End‑of‑Life Value
What will your batteries be worth at end of life? Workshop: The Battery Value Equation London, 2 June https://t.co/uP8lIQAT77
High Gas Prices May Spur Blame on Record Exports
Not saying it is right, but if prices at the pump don't drop further, it won't be long before consumers begin to blame "record exports." Surplus and $4.00 gas don't fit comfortably next to each other in our mind.
Canadian Oil CEOs Reject Carbon Tax, Seek Investment
No one talks down the value proposition for Canadian oil and gas more than Canadian oil and gas leaders.
Old FERC Rule Limits Data Center Cost Recovery
I have two new pieces on transmission pricing for data centers. I explain that a 1990s FERC policy intended to spur competitive markets is being understood to prevent utilities from charging data centers for their full costs of service.
European Physical Oil Market Shows Tentative Easing, Brent Below $120
Tentative signs -- with a lot of emphasis on tentative-- of easing in the European physical oil market. Dated Brent is falling below $120, and lots of offer today on the key trading window (compared to overwhelming bids in...
U.S. Blockade Fuels Iran’s Shipping Disruption Strategy
The U.S. blockade is helping Iran Iran’s play: disrupt shipping, break the system. U.S. response: disrupt shipping even more. That’s not counter-strategy—it’s reinforcement. #Oil #Energy #Geopolitics https://t.co/Kz2aYw9QG3
Industry Highlights $6.5B Solar Waste Opportunity Amid Politics
“This is a $6.5 billion opportunity:” Industry claps back at toxic political fear-mongering on solar waste #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/ROFCOP4mYU https://t.co/gzxLpbgXHX
European Wholesale Power Stabilizes at Pre‑war Levels
European wholesale power is back to pre-war levels. Germany 1-year forward is at ~€88 per MWh, almost at par with the 2025 annual average of €87.3 per MWh. French and Great Britain power prices have given up most of the gains...
UGL Progresses 2.1 GWh Neoen Battery Project in Australia
UGL advances construction on 2.1GWh of battery storage for Neoen across two Australian states #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/c5dlRLHS5m
U.S. Community Solar Hits 10 GW Amid Contraction
U.S. community solar passes 10 GW milestone despite market contraction #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/h4GQQW3z4p