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:
German, South African Organisations Launch Project to Support Workers in the Energy Transition
German foundation Friedrich‑Ebert‑Stiftung South Africa and the Sam Tambani Research Institute launched the Strengthening Workers’ Active Participation (SWAP) project to help coal‑dependent communities negotiate a just transition to renewables. The two‑year initiative, funded with about €1.05 million (≈ $1.13 million), will operate in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu‑Natal, regions that supply over 70% of South Africa’s power. SWAP will train roughly 1,030 workers, community members and officials, with a focus on gender‑balanced participation and trade‑union capacity‑building. The programme aims to create a replicable blueprint that could guide other African nations through similar energy shifts.
Demand for Colombia LNG Shipments Set to Surge
Colombia’s power sector is gearing up for a sharp increase in LNG imports as an El Niño‑driven dry season threatens its hydropower‑dependent grid. Imports, currently 210 million cubic feet per day, are expected to climb to the SPEC terminal’s full 475 mcf/d capacity...
The Very Wild, Very Real Plan To Build AI Data Centers In The Ocean - EP 65 Garth Sheldon-Coulson
In this episode, Ashley Vance talks with Garth Sheldon‑Coulson, co‑founder and CEO of Pantalassa, about their revolutionary ocean‑based energy system that harvests wave power using simple, self‑propelled nodes deployed in the open sea. The nodes act like hollow, balloon‑like structures...
High Crude Oil Prices: 3 Integrated Energy Stocks to Bet on Right Away
Rising crude prices above $90 a barrel are boosting earnings for integrated oil majors, positioning Exxon Mobil, Chevron and BP as the sector’s top picks. The Zacks Oil & Gas Integrated International industry ranks #3, placing it in the top 1%...
Bunker Fuel Shortages Loom After US Counter Blocks Strait of Hormuz
US naval counter‑operations have effectively blocked commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting the primary route for bunker fuel shipments to Asia. Analysts warn that within two to three months container lines could encounter a global shortage of low‑sulfur...
Minnesota Community Solar Garden Program Officially Named for House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman
Minnesota lawmakers renamed the state’s pioneering community solar garden (CSG) program after former House Speaker Melissa Hortman, honoring her role in shaping the 2013 legislation. Governor Tim Walz signed the bill with bipartisan support, cementing her legacy in renewable‑energy policy....
Explainer: The Pivot West and the Veto that Could Stop It
Saudi Arabia is redirecting a significant share of its crude output toward Europe, reducing shipments to Asian markets as European refiners seek to replace Russian supplies. The shift, estimated at roughly two million barrels per day, reflects higher spot prices...
Parlez-Vous Oil Trader?
The Blindspot premium article introduces key oil‑market concepts—backwardation, physical differentials, and time spreads—and explains what they mean for traders. Backwardation describes a market where near‑term contracts trade above distant futures, indicating tight short‑term supply. Physical differentials capture price gaps between...
Pollution Release at Chevron’s Richmond Refinery Was Triggered by a Bird
On Jan. 9, a power outage at Chevron’s Richmond refinery forced an eight‑hour flaring event that released over 3,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide. The outage was triggered when a raptor contacted a PG&E transmission line, causing a short circuit and loss...
UAE Firm to Enrich Fleet with Two LNG Carriers by 2027, First Vessel Deal Now in the Bag
Dubai‑based BGN has entered a joint venture with Capital Clean Energy Carriers to charter the 174,000 cbm LNG carrier Amore Mio I for ten years, with an option to extend six more years. The vessel, slated for delivery in early 2027, marks BGN’s...
Batteries Included: Amazon Makes Record Haul of Hybrid Renewable PPAs to Power Australian AI Push
Amazon Australia announced nine new power‑purchase agreements covering 430 MW and roughly A$2.8 billion ($1.85 billion). Eight of the contracts feature battery storage, including three utility‑scale solar‑battery hybrids—the first such deals Amazon has signed outside the United States. The additions bring Amazon’s Australian...
The Mobility House to Offer Free Electricity for V2G Customers
The Mobility House will let owners of V2G‑capable electric cars charge at home for free, offsetting costs by using the vehicle batteries as grid storage and selling electricity during peak periods. The program launches this quarter for the Renault 5, with...
UAC Starts Large-Scale Hydrogen Storage Production in China
UMOE Advanced Composites (UAC) has begun industrial production of large‑capacity Type IV glass‑fibre hydrogen storage cylinders at its new 12,000 m² Jiaxing plant in Zhejiang, China. The facility, which can produce up to 20,000‑24,000 composite cylinders per year, triples the company’s global...
Why Regulated Utilities Lose More on Uneconomic Power Plants
RMI’s new analysis finds that rate‑regulated utilities, which can pass fuel costs to customers, keep coal and gas plants running even when market prices make them uneconomic, generating $23 billion in gross losses since 2015. Although they own about 78% of...
China’s CATL to Invest US$4.4 Billion in Mining Arm to Secure EV Battery Supply Chain
China’s battery leader CATL is earmarking 30 bn yuan (≈$4.4 bn) to launch a mining subsidiary that will consolidate existing assets and chase new mineral projects worldwide, securing raw‑material supply for its EV batteries and energy‑storage systems. The move follows a Q1...
Govt Enhances C3, C4 Allocation for Pharma, Packaging Chemical Sectors to 1,000 Tonnes/Day
India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has increased the daily allocation of C3 (propane) and C4 (butanes/butenes) streams to 1,000 tonnes for critical sectors such as pharmaceuticals, packaging and polymers. The boost represents a 25% rise from the initial...
Colorado Legislature Sends ‘Advanced Transmission Technology’ Bill to Governor
Colorado lawmakers approved the Grid Optimization Act (HB 1081), directing the state public utilities commission to require Xcel’s Public Service Co., Black Hills Energy and Tri‑State to evaluate advanced transmission technologies in their biennial 10‑year transmission plans. The legislation defines...
Bills Containing Plug-In Solar Provisions Pass in Maryland and Colorado
Maryland and Colorado advanced plug‑in solar bills to their governors within 24 hours, joining Utah, Maine and Virginia in the emerging portable‑solar movement. Maryland’s HB 1532 permits residential customers to connect up to 1,200‑watt devices without utility fees, while Colorado’s...
US Officials Claim China Is ‘Hoarding’ Oil. What Does the Data Say?
U.S. Treasury officials accused China of hoarding oil amid the US‑Israeli‑Iran conflict, but customs data shows China’s crude imports actually slipped 2.8% in March 2026 after an 8.9% year‑on‑year rise in the first quarter. Port inventory indices fell in early...
BASF and TSR Group Collaborate on Battery Recycling
BASF and the TSR Group announced a partnership to integrate battery‑dismantling, safe discharge, and black‑mass processing across Europe. TSR will contribute its network of more than 190 licensed waste‑management sites, while BASF adds its Schwarzheide recycling plant that produces black...
UK Energy Strategy 'Unsustainable' - Manufacturer
KGD managing director Ed Pitt warned that the UK’s energy strategy is unsustainable, noting his firm spends about £250,000 (≈ $317,500) annually on electricity and gas. The warning follows an IMF downgrade of UK growth to 0.8% as the Iran war...
IMF Says War Should Spur Faster Adoption of Renewable Energy
At the World Economic Outlook launch, IMF chief economist Pierre‑Olivier Gourcinas warned that the war in the Middle East should accelerate the shift toward renewable energy to protect economies from energy shocks. He compared the current oil shortfall to the...
Markets Near Record Highs as Peace Prospects Brighten
🚨 IRAN. CHINA. OIL. STOCKS. 2 MINUTES. Markets are near record highs but the US-Iran ceasefire is still up in the air, China is watching every move, and oil prices are creeping up. Here's what it all means for your portfolio 👇 📌...
Strait Reopen Unlikely; Production Recovery Years Away
"The strait could reopen quickly "It won't, but it could," says @gbrew24 "Unwinding production cuts, though, will take weeks if not longer" I'd say re-starting production will take months to years. There's physical & reservoir damage But mostly world demand is down &...
India Vows Maritime Supply‑Chain Resilience at Japan‑Hosted AZEC Plus Summit
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced at the Japan‑convened AZEC Plus summit that New Delhi will work with like‑minded partners to secure maritime transit and build supply‑chain resilience. The pledge comes as attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait...
Fermi’s IPO Hype Fades as AI Power Plans Stall
Last October, Fermi Inc. was sizzling. It raised $746 million in an IPO and was planning to build 11 GW of power generation for AI data centers. But Fermi’s sizzle has turned to fizzle. (Article linked below in comments.) My...
India’s EV Push Still Hinges on Chinese Supply Chains
Battery and EV manufacturing are more dependent on China than ever despite billions in investment under the Make in India initiative Yes, innovative Chinese companies like BYD, CATL, and REE/magnet producers... https://t.co/CmFd1U4boY
Amid the Hormuz Crisis, Indonesia Rewrites Its Energy Playbook
Indonesia’s government responded to the Strait of Hormuz disruption with a two‑pronged strategy: domestic fuel subsidies and demand controls were kept steady while the president launched an intensive diplomatic tour of Japan, South Korea and Russia. The visits produced concrete...
EVs Could Slash $600 B Yearly Import Costs
"Replacing oil imports for road transport with EVs could save importers over $600 billion a year – the single largest lever any country has to cut its import bill." https://t.co/wrSnkZ0bKk
Google Secures 1 GW Power‑Distribution Licence for Vizag Data‑Center in India
Google has been granted a 1‑gigawatt power‑distribution licence by Indian regulators for a new data‑center complex in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh. The approval enables the tech giant to source and manage electricity directly, underscoring its push for renewable‑heavy infrastructure in emerging...
How Other Countries Are Responding to Surging Oil Prices - and Why Spain Is in a Good Position
Rising oil prices triggered by the Iran‑Houthi conflict have prompted a patchwork of policy responses across Europe. The United Kingdom, grappling with high debt, has resisted new fuel‑duty cuts beyond a £5 bn ($6.3 bn) annual program, while Germany introduced a two‑month...
Oil Prices Slip Below $99 as Iran‑U.S. Talks Boost Market Optimism
Brent crude slipped 0.4% to under $99 a barrel after Reuters reported renewed U.S.–Iran negotiations, sparking optimism that the Gulf conflict could ease. The price drop lifted risk‑off assets, with gold up 0.7% and broader commodity markets watching for further...
Cutting Qatar and UAE LNG Rewinds Market Five Years
Removing Qatar and UAE LNG supplies from the global market is like winding back the clock to the same supply levels as 2021, a 5-year setback. https://t.co/zj6XaND0zQ
Standard Bank Supports Financial Close of Mulilo’s Middlepunt Solar PV Project
Standard Bank has helped Mulilo Energy secure financial close for the Middlepunt Solar PV project, the first REIPPPP Bid Window 7 venture to do so. The bank acted as co‑mandated lead arranger, providing senior and subordinated debt totaling roughly $137.8 million. Once...
Maine to Put Brakes on Big Data Centers as AI Expansion Collides with Power Limits
Maine is set to become the first U.S. state to impose a statewide moratorium on large data center construction, barring permits for facilities that draw 20 megawatts or more until roughly October 2027. The bill, which still requires Governor Janet Mills' signature,...
CCS Exploration Drilling Ops Cleared for Launch Offshore Japan
Japan’s Metropolitan CCS joint venture—partnered by Inpex Corp. and Kanto Natural Gas Development—has received approval from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to commence offshore exploratory drilling off Kujukuri in Chiba Prefecture. The first well, Kujukuri‑Oki A, is slated to...
Ronald Stein: Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz Force Us to Reconsider the Material Benefits of Fossil Fuels
The article argues that recent tensions in the Strait of Hormuz expose a critical blind spot in climate policy: the material dependence of modern civilization on fossil‑fuel feedstocks, not just electricity generation. It highlights that over 6,000 everyday products—from plastics...
China’s $4.5 Billion Headache: The Niger-Benin Pipeline and the Limits of Non-Interference
In February 2026 China warned its citizens after rebel attacks on the CNPC‑operated Niger‑Benin pipeline, a $4.5 billion project designed to lift Niger’s oil output to 90,000 barrels per day and recover a $400 million loan. The 1,950‑km line, linking Niger’s Agadem...
Peace Talks Cut Oil Prices, War Premium Vanishes
$USO $WTI crude dropped from $104 to $93 on Apr 14 as peace talks advanced and the IEA slashed its oil demand outlook — expecting an 80kb/d contraction this year. War premium evaporating in real time. https://t.co/2vKFARGwFk
Broker’s Call: ACME Solar (Buy)
ACME Solar is projected to more than double its operational capacity from 2,540 MW in FY 25 to 6,270 MW by FY 28, driven by firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE) projects. The broker values the stock at a target price of ₹363 (≈ $4.4),...
Sangam India Secures Hybrid Renewable Energy Supply for Rajasthan Manufacturing Units
CleanMax Enviro Energy Solutions and Sangam India have signed an agreement to supply hybrid renewable power to Sangam’s five Rajasthan textile plants. The deal provides 30 MWp of solar, 20 MW of wind and a 2 MWh battery storage system to deliver continuous...
Why The Oil and Gas Industry Needs Supply Chain Control Towers
The oil and gas sector is confronting unprecedented supply‑chain volatility after Middle‑East conflicts shut the Strait of Hormuz and forced tanker reroutes around the Cape of Good Hope. Legacy, fragmented data systems leave operators blind to real‑time inventory and equipment...
CleanTechnica Exclusive: Slim, Design-Focused Jackery Fridgeguard Leaks Ahead of Launch
Jackery is set to launch the Fridgeguard, a ultra‑slim, design‑centric battery that backs up refrigerators and other critical home appliances. The unit can mount vertically, horizontally, or on a wall, and features a paint‑free, VOC‑free recyclable enclosure. Jackery touts "intelligent...
EU Allows Fuel, Fertilizer Price Flexibility Amid Iran Conflict
EU to give members leeway on fuel, fertilizer prices amid Iran war https://t.co/vDWd0WFUXl via @johnainger @AlbertoNardelli https://t.co/GeUMkkLivE
THIS ISN'T YOUR FATHER'S OIL SHOCK: The 4 Pillars of U.S. Energy Resilience & Why the U.S. Can and Is...
The United States is now far more resilient to oil price spikes than during the 1970s stagflation era. A multi‑decade shift—driven by the shale revolution, lower energy intensity, and a smaller share of gasoline in household budgets—means the economy can...
Petrobras Invests $450 Million in World’s Largest Seismic Monitoring Project
Petrobras and its partners Shell, TotalEnergies, CNPC and CNOOC are spending roughly $450 million on what they call the world’s largest deep‑water seismic monitoring program in Brazil’s Mero pre‑salt field. The first phase, completed in March, laid 460 km of optical‑sensor cables...
How the US-Israel War on Iran Is Affecting African Economies
The US‑Israel blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has choked a key oil and fertilizer corridor, driving fuel prices up 30‑70% across Africa and as high as 150% in Somalia. East African and some North African nations that depend on...
Nomadic Drones Boost Grid Resilience with Self‑Charging Autonomy
Nomadic #Drones Revolutionize Grid Resilience with #Autonomous, Self-Recharging Inspection Systems via @WevolverApp #EmergingTech #Innovation #Technology #Tech https://t.co/ajeMbxIykP
Equinor to Exit RE Producer Scatec
Equinor sold an 8.07% stake in renewable‑power producer Scatec for NOK 1.6 billion (about $169 million), cutting its holding to 8.05% and entering a 90‑day lock‑up on the remaining shares. The transaction makes Norway’s sovereign‑pension manager Folketrygdfondet the largest Scatec shareholder with 9.6%...
Samsung Heavy Industries Handpicks GTT for LNG Vessel’s Tank Design
Samsung Heavy Industries selected French specialist Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) to design the cryogenic tanks for a new 174,000 cubic‑meter LNG carrier. The vessel will use GTT’s Mark III Flex membrane containment system and is scheduled for delivery in 2029. The contract, booked in Q1 2026,...