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:
Ruffer Investment Company Reports Sharp Volatility After US‑Israeli Attack on Iran
Ruffer Investment Company said its March 2026 performance was dominated by the US‑Israeli strike on Iran, which sent crude oil up more than 60% in the month and 94% for the quarter while equities, bonds and even gold fell sharply. The fund’s hedges mitigated losses, and the board continued a $133 million share repurchase program.
Danish Giant Delivers Gigascale Battery to Grid
Danish giant sells giga-scale battery as project readies to hit the grid #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/EXmu0gneVh https://t.co/wFxd1ttud3
India Adds Record 64,895 MW Power Capacity in a Year, 52,095 MW Renewable
India commissioned a record 64,895 MW of power capacity in one year, including 52,095 MW from renewable sources. The expansion, highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's energy agenda, marks a major step toward the country's climate and energy‑security goals.
Control Empresarial Sells 200,000 PBF Energy Shares, Highlighting Downstream Pressure
Mexico‑based asset manager Control Empresarial sold 200,000 PBF Energy shares for an average $46.50, trimming its stake as the refining sector grapples with volatile oil prices linked to the Iran conflict. The transaction leaves the firm with roughly 19.3 million...
Cala Debuts Smart Heat‑Pump Water Heater, Aiming to Disrupt Home Energy Market
Cala, the first startup to enter the heat‑pump water heater (HPWH) space, launched its smart HPWH late last year. The product combines predictive controls, real‑time data integration and thermal‑storage capabilities to maximize efficiency for electrified homes. Founder Michael Rigney says...
Which Countries Are Most Vulnerable as US Imposes Its Own Blockade in Persian Gulf?
The United States has begun a unilateral blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about energy‑supply disruptions. Nomura’s analysis flags Asian importers such as Thailand, India, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as European economies like Germany, Italy and...
Q&A: As Thailand Bets on EVs, What Will Happen to the Spent Batteries?
Thailand is accelerating its electric‑vehicle agenda, with Chinese automakers like BYD opening a 150,000‑vehicle plant and the government targeting 30 % zero‑emission vehicle production by 2030. The rapid rollout will generate roughly 200,000 tonnes of spent EV batteries by 2033 and 2.5 million tonnes...
Trump Officials Pledge Swift Completion of Controversial Gas Pipeline
The Trump administration is fast‑tracking a $1 billion, 23‑mile underwater natural gas pipeline that will run beneath Raritan Bay, linking New Jersey and New York Harbor. At a Brooklyn groundbreaking, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin pledged swift completion despite...
Find The Lego: How Indonesia Can Turn Diesel Generator Retirement Into A Scalable Program
Indonesia’s state utility PLN announced a plan to replace diesel generators at 741 remote sites with solar‑plus‑battery systems. The diesel fleet currently supplies about 2.3 TWh a year, consuming roughly 0.7 billion litres of fuel and costing $700‑$820 million annually. Replacing it would...
2026-04-15: US-Iran Blockade and Fragile Talks Raise Trade, Energy, and Market Risks for India
The United States launched a naval blockade and mine‑clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz on April 15, targeting Iran‑linked seaborne trade while preserving a narrow corridor for non‑Iranian vessels. On the first day, six merchant ships were forced to...
'Green Cliffs of Dover': Port of Dover Becomes First UK Port to Reach Net Zero Emissions
The Port of Dover announced it reached net‑zero emissions for its Scope 1 and 2 activities in 2023, becoming the first UK port to do so. The milestone arrives five years before any other British port’s target and 25 years ahead of...
Australia’s Diesel Problem Is Bigger than You Think
Australia is the world’s most diesel‑dependent economy, using 7.7 barrels per person in 2024 – about 80% more than the United States and eight times China’s level. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) reports diesel makes up roughly 9% of...
European Industrial Leaders Aim to Accelerate Clean Hydrogen
The European Resilience Alliance for Clean Hydrogen & Derivatives (ERA) was launched in the European Parliament on April 14, bringing together 11 leading industrial CEOs to coordinate Europe’s clean‑hydrogen strategy. ERA will act as a unified voice to policymakers and align...
SOLARAMA – Big Proof From Aptera and Big Savings for Solar + EV Drivers
Aptera’s chief executive demonstrated that his solar‑powered vehicle produced more electricity in a day than the solar array on his Illinois home. The test showed the car’s integrated panels can generate enough energy to fully recharge its 100‑mile range battery...
US Drone Powers Up Power Lines, Boosts Grid Innovation
I was walking around @PlugandPlayTC in Silicon Valley today and saw this drone while meeting with someone else. Turns out he built a drone to hook to power lines to charge up. And then does a variety of things for the...
New Lithium Finds Slash Battery Costs, Accelerate 100% Renewable Shift
With the discovery of 30% more world lithium resources in one year, battery-electric vehicle and stationary battery storage prices should continue to drop rapidly, facilitating world electrification and the inevitable transition to 100% WindWaterSolar across all energy sectors.
Benchmark Diesel Price Ends Its 12-Week Streak of Increases
The U.S. DOE/EIA benchmark diesel price slipped 3.5 cents to $5.608 per gallon on Monday, ending a 12‑week run of weekly increases that had lifted the index $2.184 per gallon in total. On the same day, ultra‑low‑sulfur diesel futures on...
Commentary: ASEAN’s Energy Crisis Is Not About Energy
The Hormuz Strait blockade, triggered by U.S. military action against Iran, has halted the primary oil corridor for Southeast Asia, exposing ASEAN’s inability to influence the crisis. Member states have responded with price freezes, subsidies, work‑from‑home mandates, and temporary coal...
US Will Not Renew Iran Crude Sanctions Waiver
The U.S. Treasury announced it will let the temporary waiver permitting purchases of seaborne Iranian crude lapse on April 19, ending the short‑term relief granted on March 20. The waiver was originally meant to cushion Gulf oil supplies amid the U.S.–Iran conflict....
15 Charts that Explain Why the Strait of Hormuz Shutdown Matters for the Global Economy
The United States announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on April 12, effectively shutting down one of the world’s most vital commodity corridors. The closure halts exports of crude oil, LNG, jet fuel, diesel, ammonia, sulfur, helium and...
NAACP Sues xAI over Data Center Pollution
The NAACP has filed a federal lawsuit against Elon Musk's xAI and its subsidiary MZX Tech, alleging that the companies operate 27 unpermitted methane gas turbines to power the Colossus 2 data center in South Memphis. The suit seeks a Clean...
“Flash Talks on Iran, Oil, and OPEC” (UW Madison, Thursday, 4:30-6)
On April 16, 2024, the University of Wisconsin‑Madison Law School hosted a flash‑talk series titled “Flash Talks on Iran, Oil, and OPEC.” Sponsored by the Global Legal Studies Center, the two‑hour session featured political science and economics scholars Steven Brooke,...
Free Nuclear From Irrational Policies to Triple Output
A total of 38 countries have now signed a pledge to triple global nuclear energy by 2050. I have argued for years that countries should unleash nuclear power by removing the irrational policies holding it back. But the way to unleash...
Ionna Is Teaming Up With Circle K To Boost Its EV Charging Network
Ionna, a consortium of eight automakers, announced a partnership with convenience‑store chain Circle K to install high‑powered EV chargers at more than 350 locations across the United States. The deal also transfers Circle K’s existing network of 378 charging ports at 93...
Diesel Stockpile Agreement Aims to Improve Fuel Resilience Across Regional WA
The Western Australian government has signed a deal with independent supplier Cambridge Gulf to secure at least 4 million litres of diesel for storage in Wyndham, bolstering fuel resilience in the Kimberley region. The diesel will be 100 percent state‑owned and held...
2026 IS THE PERFECT STORM: How Constrained Oil Supply, Record Commodity Demand, Rising Budget Deficits, & a Dovish Fed Are...
The article warns that 2026 is a “perfect storm” for hard assets as constrained oil supply, surging commodity demand, expanding US deficits, and a dovish Federal Reserve converge. Iran’s new toll‑gate strategy in the Strait of Hormuz creates a structural...
Accurate Oil Bottom Forecast Highlights Demand Overestimation
We essentially nailed the exact bottom in our coverage at @RealVision and Nowcast IQ, largely thanks to our nowcasting, which showed that conditions had stabilized and, in some cases, were already beginning to improve. Oil futures are now already below pre-blockade...
Iran Conflict Fuels Massive Commodity Price Surges
Since the start of the Iran war... Sulfur: +67% Jet Fuel: +66% Urea: +51% Diesel: +50% Heating Oil: +40% WTI Crude Oil: +37% European Natural Gas: +34% Gasoline: +32% Fertilizer: +31% Brent Crude Oil: +31% Coal: +14% Palm Oil: +10% Iron Ore: +7% Rice: +4% S&P 500: +1% $VIX: -8%
U.S. Navy Enforces Blockade of Iranian Ports, Raising Oil Prices and Threatening Gulf Shipping
The U.S. military started a blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas on Monday, prompting Tehran to threaten retaliation across the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Oil prices jumped 7‑8%, while commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz...
Microsoft’s New Data Centers Out‑emit 15 Smallest Nations
Fun new @stand.earth research just out. Microsoft's three new massive hashtag#Petrotech fossil-fuelled data centres will: - Increase Microsoft's emissions 160% - Have higher emissions than power sectors of each of Greece, Ireland, Sri Lanka, New Zealand... - Have higher emissions than the...
Households Could Get Free Electricity for Doing Washing on Sunny Weekends
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has launched the Demand Flexibility Scheme, letting households and businesses with smart meters earn free or discounted electricity for running appliances during periods of excess renewable supply, such as sunny weekends. Approved by Ofgem,...
Uzbekistan Secures $6.08 Billion Deal to Build 160,000‑Tonne SAF Hub
Uzbekistan and Allied Biofuels FE LLC signed a $6.08 billion agreement in Perth to construct a large‑scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) complex in the Khorezm region. The facility will produce more than 160,000 tonnes of SAF a year, along with e‑SAF...
May Rollover Anchors WTI Futures, Masking Underlying Supply Risks
The May WTI crude oil futures contract is entering a rollover with an $8 backwardation spread, temporarily anchoring front‑month prices and obscuring underlying supply concerns. Analysts warn that once the rollover clears, prices could snap back toward physical market fundamentals,...
Oracle Secures Up to 2.8 GW of Bloom Energy Fuel‑Cell Power for AI Data Centers
Oracle announced an expanded agreement to purchase up to 2.8 GW of fuel‑cell electricity from Bloom Energy for its AI‑focused data centers, adding to an existing 1.2 GW contract. The deal highlights a shift toward rapid, low‑carbon power solutions as AI workloads...
Iranian Strikes Knock Out 17% of Qatar LNG Capacity, Threatening Global Supply
Iran’s recent missile attacks damaged two of QatarEnergy’s LNG trains and a GTL plant, eliminating about 17% of the nation’s liquefied natural gas capacity. The outage removes 12.8 million tonnes per year of LNG for three to five years and forces...
Canada Faces Critical Energy Decisions, Says Expert
Canada at an Energy Crossroads - with Michael Liebreich Global energy expert Miichael Liebreich was in Ottawa last month talking to think tanks and policymakers about Canada's energy future. Fascinating insights, as always. #cdnpoli https://youtu.be/hE7NRMhgcwk
Jet Fuel Shortage Looms for Year After Middle East Disruption
Even if the ceasefire holds, we are looking at a months-long shortage of jet fuel on a global basis, most heavily focused on the Southeast and Northeast Asian zone. The Kuwaiti, Iraqi and Saudi [medium-heavy sour] crudes that are favored in...
Meloni Says It's 'Too Early' To Tap Russian Gas
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said it is too early to consider re‑importing Russian gas, despite soaring energy prices driven by the Iran conflict. She emphasized that economic pressure on Russia remains Europe’s strongest lever for a peace settlement in Ukraine,...
Coal-to-Liquids: Costly, Unscalable, and Fundamentally Obsolete
Coal-to-liquids has been a failed technology for almost 100 years @LucanusLonginus It was too expensive & unscalable in a world of abundance It looks even more ridiculous in the Mad Max scenario we approach unless we come to our senses...
Greece Adds 1.9 GW Solar Capacity in 2025
Greece installs 1.9 GW of PV capacity in 2025 #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/t1PLkvG9dI
Gulf Medium‑Sour Crude Fuels West Coast Pipeline Gap
The oil that the USA imports from the Gulf is overwhelmingly medium sour, much of which ships to the West Coast which lacks pipeline access to domestic or Canadian oil. More featured on today's Chartbook Top Links in the comment...
Market Milestones Shouldn't Distract From Strait Tensions
If the Dow hits 50,000 again, do we lose our right to talk about the Strait of Hormuz?
New Global Panel on Universal Energy Abundance Launched
Excited to launch a new partnership betw @ColumbiaUEnergy & @RockefellerFdn to create the High-Level Panel on Universal Energy Abundance, chaired by fmr Chile Pres Michelle Bachelet, w 17 senior leaders. For more check out convo w @rajshah👇 More details: https://t.co/57Msgn6wP9
Vietnam's GG Power Launches 5 GWh BESS Plant, Backed by Government
Vietnam’s GG Power opens 5GWh BESS factory, government emphasises support for local supply chain #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/jJekahGYpp
Aroma Solar Opens 1.2 GW Module Factory in India
Aroma Solar launches 1.2 GW module factory in India #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/T1YSjCLQtj
Aviation Leaders Chart Progress on Decarbonising Skies
This year's Sustainable Skies World Summit in Farnborough saw the aviation industry come together to debate the latest progress in decarbonising aviation - report #avgeek https://t.co/opeF1FeYTc https://t.co/0wBBHSf3J2
Denmark Hits 92% Clean Power, Exports Surplus
"But the wind doesn't always blow" Denmark just hit 92% low-carbon electricity in 2025, with 0 lumps of coal burned for 3 straight months While Big Oil's victims stay hijacked by volatile prices, the Danes are exporting clean energy to their neighbors https://t.co/mMtu3lU8ne...
Homes Can Lend Electricity to AI Data Centers
Your house could loan power to AI data centers with new Span product #energysky -- via Solar Power World: https://t.co/c02apEnncI
Energy Data Suffers From Painfully Short Time Series
It will never stop being depressing that we have such short time series for important energy data. This is all the data that's available in one series. Thanks for very little, @StatCan_eng. https://t.co/aohxEtK5sC
Calls to Revive National Energy Program with Added Cleaning Reserves
There's always at least one who wants a return to the National Energy Program, except with the addition of whatever "cleaning reserves" are.