Today's Energy Pulse
Scania pilots vehicle‑to‑grid charging for heavy‑duty electric trucks
Scania demonstrated one of the first vehicle‑to‑grid (V2G) systems for heavy‑duty electric trucks using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS). The pilot showed bi‑directional power flow, letting trucks feed stored electricity back to the grid while parked at depots. Real‑time communication between the truck, charger and energy‑management platform enabled dynamic charging and discharging.
Also developing:
Blocking Pattern Lifts Irradiance From France to Finland While Storms Hit the East
Solcast’s April analysis shows a persistent North Sea high‑pressure ridge generated a pronounced solar irradiance surplus across western and northern Europe, with GHI 13%‑16% above the 2007‑2025 baseline from France to Finland. The same blocking pattern diverted Atlantic storm tracks toward the eastern Mediterranean, creating 3%‑4% deficits in Greece, Turkey and Ukraine. Clear‑sky conditions remained near normal, indicating the anomaly was driven almost entirely by reduced cloud cover. Solcast’s AI‑enhanced satellite data underpins these insights, supporting more than 350 companies that manage over 300 GW of solar assets worldwide.
UK Gives Consent to RWE, Masdar’s 3GW Dogger Bank South Wind Farms
RWE and Abu Dhabi’s Masdar have secured UK planning consent for the 3 GW Dogger Bank South offshore wind projects. The Development Consent Order, signed by Lord Whitehead on behalf of the Energy Secretary, covers two 1.5 GW phases—South East and South...
Waaree Clean Energy Solutions Bags Order to Develop Green Hydrogen Project in Karnataka
Waaree Clean Energy Solutions, a wholly‑owned subsidiary of Waaree Energies, has secured a landmark order to build a multi‑technology green hydrogen hub at TMEIC Industrial Systems’ plant in Tumkur, Karnataka. The project will integrate PEM and alkaline electrolyzers, hydrogen compression,...
Meta and DESRI Add 850 MW of Clean‑Energy PPAs, Growing U.S. Portfolio to 2.5 GW
Meta and DESRI have signed 850 MW of new power‑purchase agreements for solar and battery projects in Oklahoma, Texas and Mississippi, taking their combined U.S. clean‑energy portfolio to roughly 2.5 GW. The deals will trigger construction of about 1,110 MW this year and...
PM Modi’s Abu Dhabi Visit: India, UAE Deepen Energy, Technology Ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brief Abu Dhabi visit resulted in a suite of strategic accords spanning energy, defence, maritime infrastructure and advanced technology. India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd and ADNOC signed a collaboration to expand strategic petroleum reserves and explore...
IOCL Refineries Exceed 100% Capacity Amid Fuel Price Hike, Focus on Green Hydrogen
Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is operating its ten refineries at more than 100% capacity to prevent fuel shortages after a modest ₹3‑per‑litre price hike – roughly $0.04 – on petrol and diesel nationwide. Prices rose to about ₹97.77 ($1.18)...
France Reaches 2,000 MW Offshore Wind Capacity: France Commissions Next Offshore Wind Farm – Dieppe–Le Tréport Nearing Launch
France is accelerating offshore wind development with the Dieppe–Le Tréport project, a 496 MW farm slated for full commissioning in the second half of 2026. More than half of its 62 jacket foundations are already in place, and the export cables...
Fuel Price Hike Offers Limited Relief to OMCs Amid Crude Oil Surge: Experts
The Indian government raised petrol and diesel prices by up to ₹3 per litre on May 15, 2026, as global crude oil hovered around $105‑110 per barrel. Even after the hike, oil marketing companies (OMCs) are still losing roughly ₹1,000 crore (~$120 million) each...
Frontera Energy to Return Up to $470 Million to Shareholders After $750 Million Asset Sale
Frontera Energy Corp announced that shareholders have approved a plan to return up to $470 million after selling its Colombian E&P assets for $750 million in enterprise value. The company posted Q1 2026 net income of $13.1 million and adjusted EBITDA of $28.5 million,...
Catalysis‐Derived Robust Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Stable SiO Anode
Researchers introduced a catalytic interfacial engineering approach that decorates silicon monoxide (SiO) particles with nickel nanoparticles and nitrogen‑doped carbon. The Ni sites catalyze fluorinated electrolyte decomposition, forming a dense LiF‑rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) that tolerates volume change and improves...
CIP Leads the Pack as Korea's Latest Offshore Wind Auction Attracts Bumper Capacity
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) emerged as the frontrunner in South Korea’s latest offshore wind auction, which attracted bids totaling 3.6 GW from nine projects. The auction covers both fixed‑bottom and floating platforms, marking the first time a single developer is active...
German Scientists Explore Whether Solar Power Plants Can Induce Rain in Deserts
German researchers led by the University of Hohenheim will assess whether large‑scale solar farms in coastal deserts can trigger rainfall. Funded by the UAE’s $5 million‑a‑year Rain Enhancement program, the three‑year project will deploy LiDAR at sites like the 3.8 GW Mohammed bin Rashid...
DNO in the Clear for Drilling Ops with Odfjell Drilling-Managed Rig
Norway’s oil and gas producer DNO has secured regulatory approval from Havtil to commence production drilling at the Marulk field in the Norwegian Sea using the Deepsea Yantai semi‑submersible rig managed by Odfjell Drilling. The Marulk field, discovered in 1992 and...
Heterojunction PV Modules with Low Silver Content Tested in World’s Sunniest Region
Chilean firm Atamostec, together with France’s CEA‑Ines, is field‑testing heterojunction (HJT) solar modules with dramatically reduced silver content at the Atacama Desert Solar Platform. The ALPACA project has demonstrated up to 70 % substitution of silver by copper in the cells,...
Fraunhofer ISE Achieves 31.3% Record Solar-to-Hydrogen Efficiency in CPV Electrolysis
Researchers at Fraunhofer ISE have set a new outdoor record for solar‑to‑hydrogen conversion, reaching 31.3% efficiency with a four‑junction micro‑concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) array driving two series‑connected PEM electrolyzers. The CPV module delivered 34.7% solar‑to‑electricity conversion while the electrolyzer operated at...
Study: Coal Pollution Is Making Solar Less Effective
New research by Oxford and UCL shows coal‑plant pollution reduces solar PV output worldwide. Using satellite data on 140,000 installations, the study estimates aerosols cut global solar generation by 5.8% in 2023, equal to 111 TWh—about the output of 18 medium‑size...
Perenco Restarts Davy Gas Production in UK North Sea
Perenco has restarted gas production at the Davy field in the UK North Sea, delivering roughly 14 million standard cubic feet per day after a five‑year shutdown. The revival involved simplifying the 1970s‑era platform, upgrading equipment and installing a wind turbine...
UAE Speeds Up Pipeline Project to Help Bypass Hormuz
The United Arab Emirates has ordered the fast‑track construction of the West‑East oil pipeline, aiming to double its Fujairah export capacity by 2027 and provide a reliable bypass of the Strait of Hormuz. Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin...
Ukraine Can Help Europe Meet Its Battery Material Needs, Experts Say
Ukraine possesses deposits of 25 of the EU’s 34 critical minerals, including the continent’s largest graphite and manganese reserves essential for EV batteries and energy storage. Researchers say a new graphite mine and processing plant near Balakhivka could supply up...
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Daqo, Tongwei, Aiko Solar Post Q1 Losses
Chinese PV makers posted mixed Q1 results as polysilicon and module prices stayed under pressure. Daqo New Energy’s revenue fell 79% to $26 million and it recorded a $111 million loss despite a 75% rise in polysilicon output, while Tongwei posted $1.68 billion...
Energy Bills Keep Rising. These Candidates in Georgia Say They Can Help.
Ten candidates are vying for two Georgia Public Service Commission seats in the May 19 primary, a body that sets rates for Georgia Power, telecoms and natural gas. After voters ousted two Republican incumbents last year, Democrats briefly held a historic...
Hormuz Crisis Could Lead to Constructive Dialogue Between ASEAN and China in the South China Sea
The Iran‑driven Hormuz crisis has crippled oil supplies, prompting the Philippines—currently chairing ASEAN—to seek a reset with China on South China Sea issues. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. opened talks on joint oil and gas exploration as a bargaining chip for...
EnerVenue Piloting ‘30,000-Cycle’ Nickel-Hydrogen BESS in China
EnerVenue is piloting a 150 kWh nickel‑hydrogen battery energy storage system at Towngas' Jintan site in Changzhou, China. The Energy Rack houses 50 aqueous metal cells and is designed for up to three full cycles per day, promising more than 30,000...
Schneider Electric Chair on Geopolitics, AI, Africa’s Growth
Schneider Electric chairman Jean‑Pascal Tricoire told Bloomberg at the Africa CEO Forum that rising geopolitical tensions are prompting a shift toward regionalized supply chains and faster delivery. He said the energy crisis and Africa’s largely non‑fossil population are accelerating electrification,...
The World Is Installing Grid Batteries at a Blistering Pace
In 2025, 112 GW of grid‑scale batteries were installed worldwide, a ten‑fold increase from 2021 and a 48% rise over 2024. China contributed more than half of that capacity, while the United States added 16%. Australia, the United Kingdom and sub‑Saharan...
Petronas Picks Local Tubular Running Services Provider for Next Five Years
Petronas has awarded a five‑year tubular running services contract to Destini Oil Services, the energy arm of Malaysia’s Destini Group. The agreement, effective 30 March 2026 through 29 March 2031, lets Destini deploy its local assets and workforce to deliver cost‑efficient solutions for the...
New Zealand’s Meridian Reports Higher Hydro Storage
Meridian Energy reported a 13.5% jump in April generation to 1,009 GWh, driven by strong hydro output despite weaker wind. National hydro storage rose to 119% of its historical average, with North Island levels soaring to 201% after heavy rains. The...
Strong Policy, Weak Delivery: Statkraft Boss on Where UK and Ireland Fall Short on Renewables
Statkraft is scaling a diversified portfolio of wind, solar, battery and grid‑stability projects across the UK and Ireland, with more than 1 GW of developments in the pipeline. The company has already brought 300 MW of lithium‑ion batteries online in Scotland and...
Turbine Blade Breaks, Falls to Ground at Wind Farm Damaged by Lightning Strike in 2019
A turbine blade snapped and fell to the ground at the 228 MW Lal Lal wind farm in Victoria on May 15, 2026. The failure occurred on turbine Y23 in the Yendon section, prompting an immediate exclusion zone but causing no injuries. This is...
Utility Giant Bets Big on Data Centre Demand with Plans to Build Australia’s Biggest Gas Plant
EnergyAustralia has applied to double the capacity of its Marulan gas‑fired power station to 1.43 GW, converting it to a fast‑start open‑cycle peaking plant. The utility cites a looming gigawatt‑scale gap in New South Wales as coal units retire and data‑centre...
India Commissions Major BESS Projects, Wins Pumped Hydro Contract
INDIA Roundup: ACME Solar, IndiGrid commission Rajasthan & Gujarat BESS projects, GE Vernova wins pumped hydro contract #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/Ny5fg9jMqR
Oil Prices Jump After Trump Says China Agreed to Buy U.S. Crude Following Xi Talks
President Donald Trump announced that China agreed to purchase U.S. crude following his meeting with Xi Jinping, sending Brent crude up 1.49% to $107.30 and WTI up 1.55% to $102.74. Beijing has not confirmed the deal, and officials declined to...
PowerGEM Secures Growth Capital From General Atlantic and Acquires Telos Energy
PowerGEM, a 26‑year‑old grid‑simulation software firm, announced a strategic growth investment from General Atlantic’s BeyondNetZero fund and the purchase of engineering consultancy Telos Energy. The capital boost and acquisition aim to accelerate PowerGEM’s AI‑driven platform for grid reliability and market...
Teekay Tankers Posts $154M Q1 GAAP Profit, Near $1B Cash, Announces $1.25 Dividend
Teekay Tankers (NYSE:TNK) posted a GAAP net income of $154 million and adjusted earnings of $128 million for Q1 2026, lifted its cash balance to almost $1 billion with zero debt, and declared a regular 25‑cent and a special $1 per‑share dividend. Management highlighted...
U.S. SPR Plummets, Half Exported Amid Massive Drawdown
U.S. SPR headed toward historic lows Half is being exported to drain America first EIA projects 170 mmb withdrawal of crude oil from March to October #energy #OOTT #oilandgas #WTI #CrudeOil #fintwit #OPEC #Commodities #commoditiesmarket https://t.co/l3Pt1VDxqG
Banks Are No Longer Financing the Energy Transition on Faith, and Are Declining Deals They Once Would Do
Australian banks are pulling back from financing renewable projects they once backed, shifting from a faith‑based approach to rigorous risk repricing. Heightened price volatility, tighter transmission constraints and a move toward shorter‑tenor PPAs have made revenue modelling more uncertain. Lenders...
Australia Creates Regulator to Oversee Solar, Batteries, EVs
Australia’s growing throng of solar panels, home batteries and electric cars to be managed by new regulator #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/HoKjn9hjWv
Google Locks in 500 MW Texas Solar Deal to Power Data Center Under 15‑year PPA
Google has sealed a 15‑year power purchase agreement with Linea Energy for 500 MW of solar from the Duffy project in Matagorda, Texas. The deal supports the tech giant’s 24/7 carbon‑free ambition and adds to more than 2.7 GW of clean‑energy contracts...
Sweden Unveils $0.9 B Plan to Scale Sustainable Aviation and Maritime Fuels
Sweden’s government has released a national action plan that allocates SEK 10 bn (about $0.9 bn) to accelerate domestic production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and sustainable maritime fuel (SMF). The plan combines green credit guarantees, risk‑sharing tools and pilot auctions to address...
India and China Double Down on Coal Consumption
China accelerated its coal rollout in 2025, commissioning more than 50 large‑scale units—each 1 GW or larger—far outpacing the sub‑20 units typical of the previous decade. The surge reflects a wave of new coal mines coming online, underscoring Beijing’s continued reliance...
Commentary: Nuclear Needs May Shape Serbia’s Geopolitical Future
Serbia lifted its decades‑long ban on nuclear power in November 2024, sparking competition among Russia’s Rosatom, France’s EDF, South Korea’s KHNP and other firms to build the country’s first reactor. The decision is pivotal as Serbia, a net energy importer...
Iran's Kharg Island Loads 1st Tanker in a Week
Iran’s Kharg Island terminal loaded a 500,000‑barrel tanker on May 14, marking the first shipment since May 7 and directly challenging U.S. assertions that Iranian storage is full and loadings have halted. Maritime data firms Windward and TankerTrackers.com report that...
Paying at the Pump: A Timeline of U.S. Gas Prices
U.S. gasoline prices have historically mirrored crude‑oil movements, rising and falling as global supply and demand shift. However, abrupt disruptions—such as geopolitical crises, natural disasters, or pandemics—can cause sharp, short‑term spikes that break the usual trend. The article traces key...
PJM Dumps Wind and Solar
PJM Interconnection announced it will scale back planned wind and solar capacity additions, citing reliability concerns as demand flattens and reserve margins tighten. The shift signals a move toward more dispatchable generation, such as natural‑gas and nuclear, to ensure grid...
Australia Shortlists Renewable Hydrogen Projects for Funding Support
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has shortlisted a group of large‑scale renewable hydrogen projects for Round 2 of its Hydrogen Headstart Program, covering ammonia, alternative fuels and other end‑uses across several states. The federal budget for the program was cut...
Tesla Solar Roof Is on Life Support as It Pivot to Panels
Tesla’s Solar Roof, once touted as a game‑changing residential solar solution, has stalled after installing roughly 3,000 systems—far short of the 1,000‑per‑week target set for 2019. Deployment peaked at 2.5 MW per quarter in Q2 2022 and then fell, with Tesla ceasing...
China TOPCon Solar Prices Stabilize Amid Holiday Slowdown
China TOPCon solar cell prices stabilize as holiday lull slows trading #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/VdfLa3E4rb
Energy Security & Affordability in a New Geopolitical Era: A Future-Proof Post-2030 EU Energy Framework
European civil society and industry are urging the EU to adopt a binding post‑2030 energy framework that accelerates the exit from fossil fuels. The proposal calls for reinforced renewable and energy‑efficiency targets, a new electrification pillar, and stronger enforcement mechanisms,...
Daily Energy Report
Saudi Arabia’s western ports are now exporting an average of 4 million barrels per day (mb/d) of crude, a level that has steadied after recent fluctuations. The crude is moved from eastern fields through the East‑West pipeline, which can handle up...
Record Power Burn Expected This Summer as Coal Retirements and Data Centers Drive Gas Demand
U.S. natural‑gas supply is set to hit a record 117 billion cubic feet per day this summer, while total demand climbs to 108.7 Bcf/d, driven by LNG exports, data‑center load, and a surge in power‑burn. Power‑burn alone is forecast at 40.3 Bcf/d, the...