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:
Mortenson Acquires Energy Management Controls Firm
Mortenson, the Minneapolis‑based construction giant, has acquired California‑based Nor‑Cal Controls, a specialist in control systems for solar, battery storage and microgrid projects. The deal adds in‑house expertise for interfacing energy assets with the grid, complementing Mortenson’s portfolio of nearly 60 storage projects and hundreds of wind installations. CEO Derek Cunz highlighted growing national power demand as a driver for the acquisition. The move follows a wave of construction M&A aimed at bolstering technology capabilities.
1970s Shah Warned of Oil Stakes in Hormuz
In the 1970s, the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the father of @PahlaviReza, spoke about the Strait of Hormuz…. He was a strong ally of the United States until he was overthrown in 1979 by Ayatollah Khomeini… In this...
Oncor, LCRA TSC File Application to Build 765kV Transmission Line From Schleicher to Bell Counties
Oncor and the Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Services Corporation have submitted a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity to the Public Utility Commission of Texas for a new 765 kV transmission line spanning Schleicher to Bell counties. The line is one...
Emerging Markets Leapfrog Oil, Embrace Energy Tech
Emerging Markets are Leapfrogging Oil and Gas ...just like the Global South leapfrogged landline phones and rapidly adopted cellular at scale. With @KingsmillBond of ember_energy. #uspoli #cdnpoli https://markhamhislop.substack.com/p/emerging-market-are-leapfrogging
Xcel’s Multistate Rate Case Push May Signal New Regulatory Strategy
Xcel Energy is simultaneously filing rate‑case requests in Minnesota, the Dakotas, Colorado and New Mexico, seeking more than $1.3 billion in base‑rate increases. The filings aim to recover capital outlays tied to coal retirements, nuclear extensions, renewable projects, transmission upgrades and...
Attacks Shut Down Key Saudi Energy Facilities, One Killed
🟥🟥🟥Official Source at the Ministry of Energy: Operational Activities Halted at Several Energy Facilities in the Kingdom due to Recent Attacks https://t.co/YhaVlatjkT Riyadh, April 9, 2026, SPA -- An official source at the Ministry of Energy stated that important energy facilities in...
Earnings Shield Markets Amid Major Oil Shock History
The analog chart below shows the major oil events since the 1970’s. The green line (1990 Gulf War) remains the best-case scenario, namely a short war that produces a full roundtrip in crude oil. Even by 1990 standards, the stock market...
Egypt Agrees to Buy Full Output From Cyprus’ Aphrodite Gas Field
Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Co. signed a preliminary agreement to purchase the entire output of Cyprus' Aphrodite offshore gas field once it begins production around 2031. The deal includes a framework to build an offshore transmission system operated by a...
Energy Disruptions Accelerate Canada's Electrification Shift
Pay Attention, Canada: Electrification Surge Reshaping Global Energy Future Thus far, Canadian leaders are taking the wrong lessons from the Iran war. Energy system disruption = faster energy transition to electrification. https://youtu.be/wevqzdFPCMQ
MaverickX Expands PetroX Production with New Eagle Ford Facility in Texas
MaverickX has launched a new 10,000‑sq‑ft production facility in Pleasanton, Texas, to manufacture its PetroX chemical solutions for oil‑field applications. The plant, operating near the Eagle Ford shale, can produce about 14 million liters per year, shortening delivery times and lowering...
ONE-Dyas Boosts North Sea Gas Output to 1 Bcm/Year with Second N05-A Well
ONE‑Dyas has brought a second well online at its N05‑A platform in the North Sea, raising total output to roughly 1 billion cubic metres (Bcm) per year. The development moves the field toward its 2 Bcm/year name‑plate capacity, with peak production expected...
Delta’s 2012 Gamble on an Oil Refinery Is Paying Off — $300 Million Boost
Delta Air Lines’ 2012 purchase of the Trainer oil refinery, once dismissed as risky, is now delivering a sizable financial upside. The refinery supplies a share of the airline’s jet‑fuel needs, allowing Delta to offset higher fuel costs during periods...
Scientists Are Turning Bread Into Fuel. It Could Revolutionize Manufacturing.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have shown that feeding ordinary bread crumbs to unmodified Escherichia coli, together with a biocompatible catalyst, produces hydrogen gas at yields higher than traditional fossil‑fuel hydrogenation. The hybrid chemo‑microbial process demonstrated carbon‑negative life‑cycle emissions,...
EG4 and Outback Power Advantage Programs Bring DIY-Friendly Pre-Paid Battery Leases to Homeowners
Texas‑based EG4 and Outback Power have launched “Advantage” programs that provide homeowners with pre‑paid battery leases. The offerings bundle a hybrid inverter with standardized battery packs and allow either DIY or installer‑led installation to keep costs low. Eligible participants receive...
Travelers See Fewer Flights and Higher Airfares as Jet Fuel Prices Swing
Jet fuel prices have surged to about $209 per barrel, roughly double the level at the start of the war in the Middle East, prompting airlines to raise fares and ancillary fees. U.S. carriers such as Delta and United report...
UMass Study Finds States Approve Most Solar Projects in Under 1 Year
A University of Massachusetts Amherst study of 460 wind and solar projects in 19 states finds most receive permits within roughly a year, with a 90% overall approval rate. Kentucky and Mississippi process applications about five months faster than the...
Oil Prices Edge Higher as Confidence in Cease-Fire Wavers
Oil prices nudged higher on Thursday after a brief dip following a tentative cease‑fire between Iran and the United States. Brent crude settled around $96 a barrel, up roughly 30% since the conflict began, while U.S. WTI hovered near $98,...
Alternatives Standing on Their Own
Conservative critics who once demanded subsidies for renewable energy now observe that solar, wind and other alternatives are becoming financially self‑sufficient. Declining technology costs and improved capacity factors have allowed clean power to compete with fossil fuels on pure market...
Wind/Solar Cost Texans $766M Extra in 17 Hours
Winter Storm Fern forced Texas to import an additional $766 million worth of electricity over a 17‑hour period. The U.S. Department of Energy reported that during the storm’s peak, the state’s thermal fleet—coal, natural gas, nuclear and oil—generated 86 percent of power,...
Scaling Advanced Nuclear: Picking Winners Now
Across the United States, more than 60 advanced nuclear reactor developers are mobilizing billions of dollars in public and private capital to address rapidly rising electricity demand. These next‑generation designs promise carbon‑free baseload power, but scaling them requires a strategic...
Agratas Gigafactory Project Secures £380m in UK Government Funding
Agratas has secured £380 million of UK government funding for its planned gigafactory in Somerset, part of a broader £470 million package aimed at decarbonising road transport. The investment will fund the construction of an EV battery cell plant designed to supply...
UAE Oil Chief Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber: 'The Strait of Hormuz Is Not Open'
UAE oil chief Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said the Strait of Hormuz remains closed despite a U.S.–Iran cease‑fire, noting that Iran still controls ship movements and imposes permits. About one‑fifth of global oil passes through the narrow waterway, and the continued...
Energy Service Contracts Grow as Operators Look to Spread Costs
Energy‑as‑a‑Service (EaaS) and energy‑service companies are experiencing rapid growth as building operators pursue decentralized, resilient power solutions. The U.S. market, valued at $42.7 billion in 2025, is projected to reach $101.2 billion by 2035. Major players such as ABB, Siemens, and Ameresco...
The Strait of Hormuz Is Not Open as Iran Controls Access After Ceasefire, UAE Oil CEO Says
Following a U.S.-Iran cease‑fire, Iran has begun requiring ships to obtain its permission before transiting the Strait of Hormuz, effectively keeping the waterway closed to free navigation, according to ADNOC CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. The restriction affects roughly 20 % of...
As EV Load Grows, Utilities Use Managed Charging to Harness Flexibility, Lower Costs
U.S. utilities are scaling active managed‑charging (V1G) programs to spread electric‑vehicle load and defer costly grid upgrades. Automakers such as GM, Ford and Rivian are partnering with aggregators like EnergyHub, WeaveGrid and Chargescape to automate charging based on real‑time system...
Jet Fuel Supply Disruptions Are Comparable to 9/11 and Could Take Months to Replenish Even if Hormuz Strait Is Reopening,...
IATA chief Willie Walsh warned that jet‑fuel shortages caused by the Iran‑related war will linger for months even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens. Refining capacity in the Middle East has fallen 10‑12%, removing over 2 million barrels per day from...
Rethinking Air Conditioning for a Hotter, More Humid World
Extreme heat and humidity are driving a surge in air‑conditioner use across India and the global South, exposing the inefficiencies of conventional temperature‑only cooling. A two‑day workshop in Ahmedabad, led by CEPT University, RMI and OTS R&D, equipped engineers with...
Iran Energy Shock Tests Limits of Trump’s Vision of US Energy Dominance
President Trump claims U.S. energy dominance despite Iran’s Strait of Hormuz blockade, yet gasoline prices surged to over $4 per gallon, costing households $8.4 billion in a month. The United States, while a net exporter, still imports roughly 6 million barrels of...
Orsted: Middle East Energy Crunch Rejuvenates Europe Offshore Wind Push
Ørsted CEO Rasmus Errboe told Reuters that the Middle East war is accelerating Europe’s drive for energy independence, reviving offshore wind development. Soaring oil and gas prices from the U.S.–Israeli conflict and the Strait of Hormuz blockage have heightened demand...
Strong Climate Champions Crucial for Clean Energy Policy
Bill McKibben highlights the need for strong climate and renewable energy champions in this terrific article on the CA and NY governors races and how GWP20 v GWP100 plays into it Clean energy needs actual champions https://substack.com/redirect/a647db33-72bf-4a23-aafb-bbbb61eef92b
New UNSW Study: Next‑Gen Solar Modules May Degrade Faster
Next-generation solar modules could degrade faster than expected, new UNSW research warns #energysky -- via pv-tech: https://t.co/9MN0k0o50k
Reliance Caps Fuel Sales at $11 per Pump Amid Growing Shortages
Reliance Industries, through its Jio‑BP joint venture, has begun limiting fuel purchases to roughly 1,000 rupees ($11) per customer at more than 2,000 retail pumps across India. The caps are a response to supply strain caused by the ongoing Hormuz...
BMW Targets 2028 for iX5 Hydrogen, Viability Still Unclear
BMW says its iX5 Hydrogen will go into production in 2028, but is there really still life in hydrogen cars? https://t.co/5AFoYPMuyO
Iran's Illegal Strait of Hormuz Hold Undermines U.S. Force
"Continuing Crisis in Strait of Hormuz: Why Iran’s Hold is Illegal and U.S. Military Force Alone Fails" https://t.co/h8YXNFL0Qe
Messy Hormuz Reopening Fuels Shipowners' Profit Surge
The more "messy"/"inefficient" the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz is, the higher shipowners' profits are 🇮🇷🛢️🚢 @ed_fin on "Persian Gulf Traffic Jam" as tanker bull case: Apple🔊https://t.co/qUjYx8adg2 Spotify📽️https://t.co/07NUjj4n74 1/2 https://t.co/yWohqK1at9
Iran's 15‑ship Limit Won't Mean 15 VLCCs
I'm not sure who needs to hear this but Iran's 15-ship daily limit isn't going to be 15 VLCCs each laden with 2 million barrels of oil.
Fervo Energy Secures Major Turbine Deal for Next‑Gen Geothermal
Fervo Energy inks big turbine deal to build more next-gen geothermal #energysky -- via Canary Media: https://t.co/2db2ArIrcM
Oil Prices Near Double, WTI Hits $112, Brent $109
Crude oil finished the week at $112 (WTI) and $109 (Brent), making the current oil shock almost a double. https://t.co/7EKQWyQ7zM
Oil at $115, Backwardation Rises Amid Strait Uncertainty
Crude oil is now trading at $115 (as of Sunday night) while the forward curve has gotten even more backwardated. It’s unclear to me whether the backwardation is a manifestation of optimism over the Strait re-opening or the mechanics of...
Europe Faces Fuel Shortage After Hormuz Shipment Ends
So tomorrow Europe gets its last shipment of oil from the Strait of Hormuz. Based on that timing, if the Strait were to open tomorrow Europe's next oil shipment would come at the end of May. Reports are circulating that...
MOL Delays Hormuz Transits Until Security Clarified
MOL Awaits Safety Clarity Before Resuming Hormuz Transits, CEO Says. When will there be maritime security? What will it look like? https://t.co/iQtmyR7uY2
Tracker PV Arrays Degrade Faster From UV than Fixed‑tilt
UNSW study finds tracker-based PV systems experience higher UV degradation than fixed-tilt arrays #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/5RRbnGXRM0 https://t.co/WmJ664hZBv
EU Warns as Nations Grapple with Soaring Energy Costs
EU sounds the warning bell as countries face soaring energy prices https://t.co/c7S4lxI7D8 via @suzannelynch1 https://t.co/rMfXvLzmAu
Most Solar Projects Get State Approval in Under Year
UMass study finds states approve most solar projects in under 1 year #energysky -- via Solar Power World: https://t.co/XWhvWAXTye
Solar Trackers Boost Output, Might Shorten Panel Lifespan
Solar trackers have changed the game for PV generation. But are they cutting panel life short? #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/g4uWC9JG79 https://t.co/RvthFUcqSx
Oil Demand Must Plunge 11.5 Mmb/D, Risking Economy
Oil demand has to fall, writes @ericnuttall. Put a number on it: ~11.5 mmb/d. Let that sink in. There is no path to that kind of demand destruction without severe economic damage. No escape hatch. Stop buying the rumor. https://t.co/tQOLjUrEEQ
Energy Market Outlook Shared with Harvard Future Leaders
A great pleasure to speak with future leaders at Harvard Kennedy School @Kennedy_School on the current state of energy markets and what it means for the longer-term outlook. Many thanks to @OSullivanMeghan for the invitation https://t.co/ycBiqaKtEE
Oil Supply Becomes Fragile, Disruption Now Easy
Oil isn’t just scarce—it’s fragile. Cheap drones, missiles, and even fear can choke global supply. Disruption is no longer hard—it’s easy. This is a shift toward a more fragmented, insecure energy order. https://t.co/7xfbU20QFT #OilMarkets #Energy #Geopolitics
US Adds 26.6 GW Solar, Renewables Dominate 2025
US adds 26.6 GW of solar in 2025 as renewables dominate #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/uCN0ChKG5d
Iran Ceasefire Sends Prediction Markets Into Turmoil
"contract resolved to "yes" following Tuesday evening's announcements, but its outcome has since been changed to "disputed" given continued disruptions to Hormuz Strait shipments and enduring hostilities" Iran Ceasefire Wreaks Havoc on Prediction Markets https://t.co/uv56XlWTW9