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:
Is the Keystone XL Pipeline Back?
The Bridger Pipeline Expansion proposes a 647‑mile, 36‑inch crude line from the Canadian border through Montana into Wyoming, echoing the route of the defunct Keystone XL. The project would initially move 550,000 barrels per day, with the potential to double capacity to 1.13 million barrels per day. Federal and state agencies are soliciting public comments until May 1, and the Bureau of Land Management will hold several review meetings. Environmental groups argue the line will transport tar‑sands oil, raising climate and spill‑risk concerns.
Abandoned Wells Release Methane 1,000× More than Believed
Non-producing oil and gas wells emit microbial methane at rates approximately 1,000 times higher than previously estimated, highlighting a significant and underrecognized source of greenhouse gas emissions. methane
Oil Prices Rise as Gulf Tankers Remain at Standstill
Oil futures climbed Thursday after a sharp sell‑off on Wednesday when traders reacted to the fragile cease‑fire between the US and Iran in the Gulf. The cease‑fire, brokered by Washington, eased immediate geopolitical risk but left uncertainty over longer‑term supply...
Fuel Prices Are Skyrocketing, But Most Of The Money Isn't Going To Gas Stations
U.S. gasoline prices surged to an average of $4 per gallon in early April 2026, the highest level since 2022, driven largely by geopolitical tensions from the Iran war. Retail stations are seeing tighter margins because they cannot pass wholesale...
Van Oord Completes Low-Noise Monopile Installation
Van Oord successfully installed three monopile foundations at the Hollandse Kust West offshore wind farm using GBM Works' VibroJet® jetting solution together with CAPE Holland's vibro‑lifting tool. The low‑noise method, deployed from Van Oord's new installation vessel Boreas, fluidises dense...
Trump Says Iran Should Not Charge Fees to Tankers Going Through Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump warned Iran on April 9 that any fees imposed on tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz must stop immediately. Iran has hinted at collecting tolls in cryptocurrency despite a fragile two‑week ceasefire announced on April 7. Ship...
From Reactor Designs to Real Projects: SMRs Enter the Execution Era as AI Power Demand Accelerates
The small‑modular reactor (SMR) sector is shifting from design hype to concrete execution, with vendors securing licensing approvals, fuel contracts, supply‑chain partners and financing. In Q1 2026, companies such as X‑energy, GE Hitachi, NuScale, Oklo, Holtec and Rolls‑Royce moved beyond announcements...
Hidden $28 Brent Spread Signals Market Danger
The S&P 500 just posted its 7th straight gain. The Dow turned positive for 2026. Everyone is celebrating the ceasefire. But there's a number hiding in plain sight that should terrify you: physical Brent crude is trading at $124.50 while...
Transgrid Selects 2 GW Battery Capacity for NSW Grid
Australia’s Transgrid shortlists 2 GW of batteries for NSW grid #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/jdM3VsF3AJ
Oil Holds Gain After Attacks Lower Saudi Production Capacity
Saudi Arabia announced that attacks on its energy infrastructure have reduced its oil production capacity by roughly 600,000 barrels per day. The cut pushed Brent crude above $96 a barrel, marking a 1.2% gain on Thursday, while West Texas Intermediate...
Boost Clean Energy, Not Consumption Restrictions
Amen. The way to address climate or energy is not to police consumption, but rather to increase clean energy abundance.
High-Power Chargers Target Heavy Trucks Outside China
Correct take. Outside of China, anyway. We will build chargers at this power output, but they'll be used primarily for heavy trucks.
Unlocking the Hidden Metabolism of Algae to Advance the Promise of Renewable Fuels and Sustainable Biomass
Researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center used isotope‑assisted metabolic flux analysis to map how the green microalga *Chlamydomonas* rewires its central metabolism when supplied with both light and acetate. The mixotrophic cells activate carbon‑conserving pathways, suppress costly processes,...
Europe’s Gas Market Faces a Brutal Storage Refill Season
Europe’s gas market has cooled from March’s three‑year highs, but analysts warn the relief is fleeting. Storage levels sit at just 29% of capacity, well below the 35% benchmark from a year ago, leaving the continent exposed as it races...
Solar Firm to Tackle High Electricity Costs
South Africa’s rising electricity tariffs have spurred the launch of Ipeleng Power Solutions (IPS) in Johannesburg. IPS uses community‑based stokvel pools and broader crowdfunding to finance solar installations for households, small businesses and underserved communities. The models spread costs over...
More Intentional Effort and Coordination Needed to Avert Gas Crisis
South Africa faces a looming gas supply gap as its Mozambique pipeline ages and coal‑fired plants retire, prompting a push for liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and new gas‑to‑power capacity. The Integrated Energy Plan and Integrated Resource Plan call for...
E.P.A. Says It Will End Biden’s Coal Ash Disposal Rules
The Environmental Protection Agency announced it will repeal the 2024 rule that required coal‑ash site inspections and modify longstanding cleanup standards. The rollback eases compliance burdens for the coal sector, which has long opposed the Biden‑era regulation. EPA Administrator Lee...
Saudi Arabia Confirms Iranian Strikes on Key Assets
Saudi officials confirmed that Iranian strikes have damaged the kingdom's East‑West Pipeline, cutting roughly one‑tenth of its throughput. The pipeline is a vital overland route that allows crude to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil shipments....
Oxy Says US Gulf Oil Find Has Tie-Back Potential
Occidental Petroleum announced an oil discovery at its Bandit prospect in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The find is estimated to contain several million barrels of recoverable oil. Oxy says the reservoir can be developed as a subsea tie‑back to...
What the Petrobras Contract Means for Valaris Limited (VAL)’s Future
Valaris Limited announced a 1,064‑day contract extension with Brazil’s Petrobras for its drillship VALARIS DS‑4, adding about $447 million to its backlog and extending work through 2030. The deal reinforces Petrobras as the world’s largest deep‑water demand source and secures steady cash...
Energy ETF Rebounds, Narrowing Gap with SPY
$XLE vs. $SPY - Good to see energy giving back some relative performance.... Wrote a little bit about this two weeks ago if you missed it. https://t.co/p4Mh0JYSAb
Market Watch: US Gas Futures Tumble to 17-Month Low
US natural‑gas futures slipped 5.4 cents on Thursday, settling at $2.67 per MMBtu, the lowest level in 17 months for the prompt‑month contract. The decline followed a larger‑than‑expected weekly build in storage, which analysts at Gelber & Associates said confirms...
Coal Mine Gets Two Year Extension to Keep Supplying State’s Oldest Coal Generator
The NSW Independent Planning Commission approved a two‑year extension for the underground Chain Valley and Mannering coal mines, keeping them operational until the end of 2029 to supply Vales Point Power Station, the state’s oldest coal generator. The extension avoids...
Regulation Crucial: EV Adoption Skyrockets, Otherwise Stagnates
There are only two certainties in life: death and Lomborg spinning anything into anti renewables propaganda. But the EIA has a track record of ridiculously underestimating EVs (which Lomborg knows and which is why he retweets them and not others). Let...
US Budget Proposal Would Advance Energy Policy Priority Shift
The White House released its FY 2027 budget, signaling a decisive pivot toward clean energy. The proposal earmarks roughly $15 billion for renewable‑technology research, expands tax credits for wind and solar through 2032, and trims federal subsidies for oil and gas by...
Trump Repeatedly Pledges Uninterrupted U.S. Oil Flow
🗓️ Trump on April 9th: "... Very soon, crude will beging moving..." 🗓️ Trump on March 3rd: "... No matter what, the United States will ensure the free flow of energy..."
EU-India Deal Boosts Energy Storage Innovation
EU-India trade agreement will propel innovation in energy storage #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/hKN4tIMp0E
The IPO Dilemma for Hydrogen Firms
Zhejiang Lanen Hydrogen Technology, the dominant Chinese maker of hydrogen storage cylinders and trailers, voluntarily halted its A‑share IPO after eight counseling rounds. The decision reflects tighter CSRC profitability scrutiny and the firm’s desire to avoid short‑term R&D cuts. Backed...
Daily Energy Report
An attack on Saudi Arabia's East‑West pipeline knocked out roughly 700,000 barrels per day of throughput, tightening global oil supplies. Meanwhile, U.S. LNG exports surged to a record 43.3 million tonnes in March, driven by new projects and a redirection of...
Keir Starmer: 'I'm Fed Up' With Trump and Putin Affecting UK Energy Costs
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told ITV’s Talking Politics podcast he is "fed up" with UK energy bills swinging wildly because of actions by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He linked the volatility to recent oil‑price spikes...
Colorado PUC Formalizes Xcel Energy Environmental Justice Settlement
Colorado PUC decision codifies environmental justice advocates’ settlement with Xcel Energy #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/m00RA75RuX
Here’s How Much Money Iran Can Make Charging Tolls on One-Fifth of the Wo...
Iran could generate hundreds of millions of dollars each month by imposing a toll on oil tankers that traverse the Strait of Hormuz, provided traffic returns to pre‑conflict levels. The narrow waterway handles roughly one‑fifth of the world’s seaborne crude,...
BYD Teams up with One of the World’s Largest Fast Food Chains to Offer 9 Minute EV Charging
BYD has teamed up with KFC’s parent Yum China to install its Flash‑charging stations at drive‑thru locations, offering a 9‑minute charge that fills an EV from 10% to 97% while customers eat. The service launches with BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao...
Colorado PUC Decision Codifies Environmental Justice Advocates’ Settlement with Xcel Energy
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission approved Xcel Energy’s 2026‑27 Renewable Energy Compliance Plan, incorporating a settlement with the Environmental Justice Coalition. The deal redirects $1.5 million toward income‑qualified programs and boosts incentives for solar and battery installations. It also rolls over...
Oil Prices, Apr. 9, 2026
Oil prices surged on April 9 as a fragile US‑Iran ceasefire failed to quell market nerves, pushing Brent above $85 per barrel while spot prices held steadier. Iranian missile strikes on Saudi oil assets trimmed OPEC‑Plus output by roughly 200,000...
AES Abandons San Diego Battery Project Amid Local Opposition
AES pulls out of San Diego area battery project after local opposition #energysky -- via Canary Media: https://t.co/gaxfAy1ZM1
Live Talk: Iran War Ceasefire's Impact on Oil
Sitting down with @notthreadguy for a live conversation about the Iran War, the "ceasefire", and what it all means for oil. Starting now, tune in!
Iran Attacks on Crucial Saudi Pipeline and Production Facilities Slash Kingdom's Oil Output
Iran attacked Saudi Arabia's strategic East‑West pipeline, knocking out about 700,000 barrels per day of capacity, and simultaneously struck the Manifa and Khurais production complexes, trimming Saudi output by roughly 600,000 barrels per day. The pipeline, which routes crude to...
Natural Gas Spot Prices, Apr. 9, 2026
On April 9, 2026 a cluster of natural‑gas market developments were reported. The EU announced a softening of its methane‑emission regulations to avert a potential supply crunch, while Israel’s Energean signaled the restart of production at the Karish offshore field....
Toronto's Small Share Raises Questions on Cost, Impact
Interestingly, this throws a massive dart at Toronto's proposal. The Toronto CMA is about 1/5th of Canada's population, so it does make one wonder how much Toronto's program is going to cost and/or how little it will be able to...
Crude Climbs as Hormuz Disruptions Persist
Oil prices rose sharply on Thursday as West Texas Intermediate settled at $97.87 and Brent at $95.92, driven by persistent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and a reported 600,000‑barrel‑per‑day cut to Saudi production capacity. Despite a tenuous cease‑fire between...
US Agency Proposes Rolling Back Rules for Safe Disposal of Toxic Coal Ash
The EPA announced a proposal to roll back rules that govern the safe disposal of coal‑ash waste, reversing standards tightened under the Biden administration. The draft would ease groundwater monitoring, limit requirements to line new storage sites, and broaden the...
Renewables Reenvisioned: How Linea Energy Built a 7-GW Renewable Pipeline in Under Two Years
Linea Energy, founded by veteran developer Cassidy DeLine, has assembled a renewable pipeline exceeding 7 GW in under two years. The company leverages proprietary data simulations to front‑load site analysis, acquires mid‑stage projects, and advances projects without early PPAs, reducing risk....
Russelectric, A Siemens Business, Highlights Advantages of Central Paralleling Systems
Russelectric, a Siemens business, promotes centralized paralleling systems as a superior alternative to onboard generator control. By moving synchronization, PLCs, and metering into a dedicated switchgear enclosure, the solution offers hot‑standby redundancy, manual backup and comprehensive event logging. The architecture...
Physical Brent Market Stays Robust; Prompt Oil Premiums Soar
The physical Brent market remains very, very strong, even if Dated Brent has come off from its all-time high reached on Tuesday (down around $15). Physical premia for prompt oil (or as my colleague @AlaricN calls it: “ASAP barrels”) are...
Oil Pares Gains to Close up 1% as Israel Plans Peace Talks with Lebanon
Oil prices closed up about 1% on Thursday, with Brent at $95.92 and WTI at $97.87, but both remained below the $100 barrier for a second day. The market initially spiked over 5% on doubts about the durability of the...
Strait of Hormuz Shipping to Resume in 6‑8 Weeks, Yet 1,000 Vessels Remain Trapped
Hapag‑Lloyd says normal container traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could return in six to eight weeks if the newly‑brokered U.S.–Iran ceasefire holds, even as roughly 1,000 vessels—including six of its own ships—remain stranded. The partial reopening has lifted some...
Coherent Advances Silicon Carbide Thick Epitaxy Capabilities for High-Voltage AI Datacenter and Industrial Power Applications Up to 10kV
Coherent Corp announced new thick silicon‑carbide (SiC) epitaxy platforms on 150 mm and 200 mm wafers that support power devices up to 10 kV, with demonstrated capability beyond that threshold. The technology targets high‑efficiency, high‑power‑density converters for AI‑intensive datacenters and industrial electrification such...
US‑Iran Two‑Week Ceasefire Tested as Israel Escalates in Lebanon, Oil Markets Jolt
The United States and Iran agreed to a two‑week ceasefire on April 8, 2026, but Israel’s massive bombardment of Lebanon and Iran’s threats to close the Strait of Hormuz have already strained the truce. Oil prices surged, dragging down European...
Iran Temporarily Closes Strait of Hormuz, Crude Futures Surge Over 5%
Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh announced a temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Israel of breaching the cease‑fire. The move pushed U.S. crude oil futures more than 5% higher after a 16% plunge the day before, reviving...