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:
Asia Market Sense Initial Thoughts: Trump Says US Will Block the Hormuz Straits;... That Just Makes Matters Worse
President Trump warned Iran that the United States would block the Strait of Hormuz if tolls were imposed, sending oil prices above $100 a barrel amid the ongoing Iran‑U.S. conflict. The geopolitical shock has spurred a wave of policy responses, including Australia’s A$5 bn ($3.5 bn) pledge with the U.S. for critical mineral projects and Japan’s contemplation of yen‑supportive measures as the BoJ weighs a rate hike. South Korea faces a rising debt‑to‑GDP ratio projected to reach 60% by 2030, prompting a 6 trn‑won ($4.0 bn) SME support program, while Taiwan’s TSMC reported record first‑quarter sales of NT$1.13 trn ($35.8 bn) driven by AI demand. The newsletter also highlights a packed data calendar across Asia and the CSRC’s move to streamline financing and M&A processes in China.
Stochastic Bullish Crossover Signals Crude Spike, SPX at Risk
#Oil: A bullish Stochastic crossover is forming, typically preceding multi-day spikes in #CL_F. The recovery of the 20DMA is concerning for #SPX bulls. The key weekly level is $101.4; if lost, the SPX could spike again. Otherwise, expect pressure on...
India’s Solar Capacity Hits 150 GW, Installations Surge 87%
India has now passed 150GWs of solar, with annual installations increasing a whopping 87% this year.
Powering Australia’s Next Phase of Decarbonisation: Why Long-Duration Storage Must Lead
Western Australia has launched an expression of interest for a 500 MWh vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) project, positioning long‑duration storage at the heart of its decarbonisation agenda. CEO James Costello of EORA Energy argues that VRFBs, with discharge times exceeding...
Asia-Pacific Oil Prices Break $100 Barrier Again
As expected, oil prices are surging higher in Asia-Pacific trading, with both Brent and WTI quoted above $100 a barrel again. #markets #economy #oil #energy
Hormuz Blockade, Australia Acts to Secure Urea
After US‑Iran peace talks collapsed, President Trump announced a full naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, heightening fears of oil and commodity disruptions. In response, Australia created a government‑industry working group to protect its urea supply, noting that roughly...
American Madman Blockades Hormuz and Aussie Economy
President Donald Trump announced that the United States Navy will immediately begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz after peace talks with Iran collapsed in Islamabad. The move would halt all ship traffic through the narrow waterway, effectively cutting off Iran’s...
Price Tracker: Oil, Fuel Monitor for Apr. 13
The Philippine Department of Energy announced a sharp rollback of retail fuel prices for the week of April 14‑20, 2026. Diesel is set to fall by ₱20.89 per litre (about $0.38), gasoline by ₱4.43 ($0.08) and kerosene by ₱8.50 ($0.15)....
Psalm Enters Talks for Agus-Pulangi Rehabilitation
Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp (PSALM) is negotiating with one of four bidders to rehabilitate the aging Agus‑Pulangi hydropower complex. The project, initially budgeted at about $350 million, aims to restore the facility’s full 1,000 MW capacity, up from the...
Oil Prices Rise After the US Says It Would Block Iranian Ports
The United States announced a blockade of Iranian ports starting Monday, sending U.S. crude up 8% to $104.24 per barrel and Brent 7% to $102.29. The move follows Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly 20%...
Stock-Market Futures Drop, Oil Surges Above $100 After Failed Talks Betwe...
U.S. and Iran failed to reach an agreement over the Strait of Hormuz, prompting President Donald Trump to threaten a naval blockade. Oil prices rebounded above $100 per barrel as the geopolitical risk premium widened. Futures on the Dow, S&P 500...
Trump Says Petrol Prices May Remain High Through November Midterm Election
President Donald Trump warned that U.S. gasoline prices, which have been above $4 per gallon in April, could stay elevated through the November midterm elections. He announced a U.S. Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to deter ships paying...
Zero-Emission Drone News From Ukraine: Flying Fuel Cells & Green Hydrogen
Ukraine’s drone maker Skyeton has moved its Raybird reconnaissance UAV from gasoline power to a hydrogen‑fuel‑cell hybrid, achieving combat‑ready flights of over 10 hours. The hybrid system operates across a –35 °C to +55 °C temperature span, matching the internal‑combustion version while...
A Major U.S. Gasoline Production Hub Is in Such a Severe Drought that Its Refineries May Be Hobbled. ‘We Are...
A prolonged seven‑year drought has driven Corpus Christi’s water reservoirs to historic lows, threatening both residential supply and the city’s oil‑refining complex that produces about 5% of U.S. gasoline. City officials warn that without significant rain or new water sources,...
Live: Markets on Edge, Oil Set to Rise on US Gulf Blockade Threats
Wall Street’s brief relief rally stalled on Friday as US‑Iran peace talks collapsed, leaving the S&P 500 down 0.1%, the Dow down 0.6% and the Nasdaq up 0.4%. European markets outperformed, with the Eurostoxx 600 gaining 0.4% and Japan’s index rising over...
US Vows Impartial Hormuz Blockade, Protects Non‑Iranian Navigation
More restrained than Trump’s blanket Hormuz blockade announced this morning. CENTCOM: “The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of...
How the Iran War Is Disrupting Gulf Economies: 5 Key Effects
The Iran‑U.S./Israel war has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, cutting global oil flows by roughly 8 million barrels per day and driving war‑risk insurance premiums up to 1,000 %. Gulf Cooperation Council economies are confronting steep GDP declines—up to 14 % in...
Your Say: Week Beginning April 13
A reader points out that Australia’s 15.7 million passenger‑vehicle fleet dwarfs the modest goal of 120,000 new electric‑vehicle (EV) sales per year over the next six years. Even a rapid uptake would barely dent the overall fleet, prompting a call for...
Boreal Orders 20 Electric Hydrofoil Ferries to Transform Norway’s Fjord Travel
Norwegian transport operator Boreal has placed an order for 20 Candela P‑12 electric hydrofoil ferries, aiming to replace diesel vessels on fjord routes. The fast‑charging, 25‑knot craft promise 40‑nautical‑mile range and up to 80% lower energy use, marking a major...
India Unveils Incentive Plan to Process Lithium and Nickel Domestically
India's mining secretary Piyush Goyal said the government is finalising an incentive scheme to encourage domestic lithium and nickel processing. The move targets import dependence for electric‑vehicle batteries and seeks to build local refining capacity, a policy first reported by...
Hormuz Offset Claims Exaggerated, Real Capacity Far Lower
Bunch of people have asked so to answer directly: these Hormuz offset numbers are entirely bunk. Absolutely fair to be optimistic about the war ending and Hormuz reopening, but it’s fundamentally flawed to say we’re offset the Hormuz supply loss and...
Screen‑traded Crude No Longer Reliable Price Gauge
Tough news flow to start the overnight session, but I don’t think screen-traded crude is a useful indicator right now. Pretty much all asset classes have internalized the fact that a barrel delivered in a barrel in futures pricing are...
Senators Push CFTC to Probe $500M‑$950M Oil Futures Trades Linked to Trump Announcements
U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Sheldon Whitehouse have asked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to investigate $500 million and $950 million oil futures bets that were placed minutes before President Trump announced potential cease‑fires in the Iran conflict. The senators allege possible...
Long‑duration Storage Key to Australia’s Decarbonisation
Powering Australia’s next phase of decarbonisation: Why long-duration storage must lead #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/iarNa9N4IO
US Hormuz Blockade Sparks Surge in Oil, Gas Prices
US military says it’ll begin a Hormuz blockade at 10am ET Monday. Oil prices +8%, NatGas +13% early Monday in Asia. Also, vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz shows the “highest” volumes since the war began (“highest” is of course...
Black Hills Energy to Power Meta’s Wyoming Data Center with Renewable Electricity
Black Hills Energy announced a partnership with Meta to provide renewable electricity for the tech giant's new data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The utility will use its Large Power Contract Service tariff to deliver customized, low‑carbon power, while its data‑center...
Tehran’s Hormuz Blockade Outlasts Trump’s Fleeting Economic Leverage
Markets vs Blockade Guess who wins? A hormuz blockade bets on the only thing Trump doesn't have--time, writes @OpenSquareCap The global economy gives Trump a week or two Tehran can wait longer #Hormuz #EnergyWar #Geopolitics #Oil
Middle East Energy Infrastructure Damage Survey Revealed
Surveying the Middle East’s energy infrastructure damage (from FT Alphaville Robin Wigglesworth). More on this in the Chartbook Top Links today. https://t.co/IH3jh7JsL4
Saudi Arabia Gets More Oil Flowing as US Blocks Strait of Hormuz. What You Need to Know About Iran Today
US President Donald Trump announced a unilateral blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after Iran refused nuclear assurances in talks held in Islamabad. The move comes as Saudi Arabia’s East‑West pipeline, damaged earlier by an Iranian strike, has returned to...
Trump's Iran Oil Blockade Threatens Global Supply, Economy
Quoted alongside @reziemba in this @WSJ writeup on the implications of Trump’s threatened blockade of Iranian oil exports and what it means for the oil supply—and global economic—outlook. https://t.co/ndEafAkcaG
US only Restricts Iranian‑origin Cargo, Not Whole Strait
So the US isn't actually blockading the Strait of Hormuz. Just the small fraction of oil and other cargo that comes from Iranian ports. https://t.co/uWubDRslxe
Mookhey Quietly Orders Stocktake of NSW Council Fuel Supplies
New South Wales Treasurer Daniel Mookhey has initiated a soft audit of diesel fuel reserves held by state councils. The move comes as councils grapple with rising diesel costs and supply uncertainty that threaten essential services such as waste collection....
Australian EV Surge Won’t Lift Lithium Prices Soon
Australian electric vehicle boom won’t drive higher lithium prices in the near term: Wood Mackenzie https://t.co/D6uz3IGI8N
European Gas Spikes on Trump Threat, Yet Below Last Month
European natural gas prices jump after Trump threatened to blockade Hormuz 📈📈 Prices rose 18% in early Asia trading (The trading day expanded to 21 hours, from 10 hours, on Monday) Still, down from the highs of last month. Drop in Asian...
Europe Expands Gas and Power Trading to 21 Hours, Doubling Market Window
European gas and power markets will move to a permanent 21‑hour trading day next week, more than doubling the current 10‑hour window. The change comes as Middle‑East conflict drives gas prices nearly 40% above pre‑war levels, forcing traders to rethink...
Oil Climbs Past $105 as US Blocks Iranian Ports
Oil prices surge above $105 as U.S. Navy to blockade Iran’s ports after peace talks fail: https://t.co/lRknunNbMI
Hormuz Closure Threatens Petrodollar for First Time in 50 Years
No deal this weekend. The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed Oil prices are surging again. U.S. about to blockade New @moronomics podcast episode breaks down what this means and why this is the biggest threat to the “petrodollar” in 50 years...
RBOB Gasoline Futures Hover Around $3.20 After Volatile Swing
RBOB gasoline futures tagged $3.40 at the March peak... dropped to $2.90... now $3.20.. chopfest https://t.co/3gXzdFHSvH
WTI Oil Prices Return to March Range
WTI in the middle of the range back to the last week of March https://t.co/UJdTdFVoGT
Iran, Houthis Threaten Two Oil Chokepoints, Spiking Prices
Iran to Trump: we’ll see you & raise you Iran has only to have the Houthis disrupt Bab al-Mandab too writes @GMonroyEnergy Two chokepoints, one overstretched navy, and oil spikes hard So much winning #Oil #Hormuz #RedSea https://t.co/bgBh1UdjUZ
Trump Threatens Strait of Hormuz Blockade After Failed Iran Talks
Trump vows to blockade Strait of Hormuz after Iran peace talks yield no agreement https://t.co/SuVjVwOM8K
Iran Poised to Hit Upstream Oil if Tanker Seized
All eyes on the first Iranian tanker to test Trump’s blockade. Iran has thus far left most upstream oil production assets and export infrastructure untouched, but that’s Tehran’s next obvious escalatory ramp should the US Navy attack/seize an Iranian tanker.
Power Grid, Not Algorithms, Becomes AI Bottleneck
Hyperscalers will spend $700 BILLION on data centers in 2026 alone. Amazon: $200B. Google: $185B. Meta: $135B. AI data centers now represent 70%+ of all new grid interconnection requests in the US. The bottleneck isn't the algorithm anymore. It's the power line.
From Sanctions Relief to Blockade in Three Weeks
I’m old enough to remember when the Trump administration eased US sanctions on Iranian oil. “In essence, we will be using the Iranian barrels against Tehran to keep the price down,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at the time....
Blockade Excludes Non‑Iranian Ports, Allowing Global Oil Access
An important nuance: The blockade doesn't apply to ships that enter or leave non-Iranian ports. So China and everyone else are free to pick up barrels in Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait... unless *Iran* tries to stop them.
Annealing Boosts Efficiency of Copper-Plated Heterojunction Cells
The impact of annealing on copper-plated heterojunction solar cells #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/DM37J5KaRF https://t.co/POFNPoUMby
China's Quiet Push Toward Energy Independence Accelerates
China is the most at risk and oddly silent during all of this chaos 🤔 Solar, nuclear and EV investments are obviously paying off for them. Expect them to redouble their already staggering efforts to be energy independent https://t.co/d92Cg4sy4B
Net‑Zero's True Cost: Inflation Risks Explored with ECB Governor
For this week's episode of @cleaninguppod I sat down with Pierre Wunsch, Governor of the National Bank of Belgium and member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank. What is the real cost of net zero? Is it...
Huge $74.5M Leveraged Oil Short Near $115 Liquidation
Someone has opened a $74,543,000 oil short position with 4x leverage. Liquidation Price: $115.06👀 https://t.co/wQYzazJF4F
Geopolitical Crisis Finally Drives Mass EV Demand
The Strait of Hormuz crisis is doing something a decade of subsidies and mandates struggled to achieve: making millions of people want an EV who previously discounted them. https://t.co/q4BJ7iKHE3