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:
Northern Lights Adds Third CO2 Carrier to Expand CCS Network
The Northern Lights joint venture has added a third liquefied carbon dioxide carrier, the Northern Phoenix, to its fleet. The vessel will haul captured CO₂ from Yara’s facilities to the Øygarden receiving terminal, where it will be piped to subsea storage. With two ships already operating, the new carrier expands cross‑border transport capacity ahead of the project’s commercial launch. Northern Lights, backed by Equinor, TotalEnergies and Shell, targets full‑scale CO₂ injection by 2025 as part of Norway’s Longship CCS program.
Middle East Gulf Supplies only 8% of U.S. Crude Imports
"Imports from the Middle East Gulf region made up 8% of the 6.2 million b/d of U.S. crude oil imports in 2025" -EIA
Strait of Hormuz Shipping Stalled as Iran Keeps Chokepoint Closed Despite US‑Iran Ceasefire
Iran has kept the Strait of Hormuz shut even after the United States and Tehran agreed to a two‑week ceasefire, leaving oil tankers and other vessels stranded. The impasse is feeding uncertainty in global oil markets and prompting renewed diplomatic...
Honeywell Secures $0 Deal to Digitally Upgrade Dangote Refinery, Doubling Capacity to 1.4M Bpd
Honeywell announced a partnership with Dangote Petroleum Refinery to install its Performance+ Services, digital twins and operator‑training simulators across core units. The deal targets a capacity jump from 650,000 to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2029, while upskilling more than...
SMRs Not Viable Short-Term, Taiwan Must Plan Early: Expert
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are not a short‑term solution for Taiwan’s energy shortfall, according to nuclear‑energy expert Lee Min. He highlighted nuclear power’s stable costs, low carbon output, and fuel security, especially after the May 2025 shutdown of the Maanshan plant’s...
NV Energy Mulls Fossil‑Fuel Expansion to Power Data‑Center Boom
NV Energy warned it could need three times Las Vegas’s current electricity load to serve new data centers, prompting the utility to consider adding fossil‑fuel generation. The move threatens the state’s goal of 50% renewable power by 2030 and highlights...
South Korea’s AI Industrial Policy Meets the Energy Shock
South Korea is confronting a new Middle‑Eastern oil shock while pushing an aggressive artificial‑intelligence industrial strategy first outlined in the mid‑1970s. President Park Chung‑hee’s historic pledge to modernise heavy‑machinery and chemicals sectors now intersects with today’s AI ambitions, creating a...
Methoxyl‐Substitution of Phenylethylammonium Strengthened 2D/3D Heterogeneous Structures for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells with Enhanced Efficiency and Stability
Researchers introduced p‑methoxyphenethylammonium chloride (MeO‑PEACl) into formamidinium‑based perovskite inks, creating a buried two‑dimensional/three‑dimensional (2D/3D) heterostructure in inverted solar cells. The methoxy‑substituted cation reduces solubility, stabilizes the α‑phase during anti‑solvent dripping, and wraps 3D grains with a thin 2D layer. This...
Singapore Installs 504 MW of Solar in 2025
Singapore recorded a record solar rollout in 2025, installing 504 MW of new capacity and bringing cumulative photovoltaic capacity to 2.09 GW. The surge pushed the nation past its original 2030 goal, prompting the Energy Market Authority to raise the target to...
Scoop: Energy Vault Makes a Play for Japan’s Storage Market
Energy Vault announced a binding agreement to acquire a pipeline of Japanese battery projects, adding 350 MW of advanced‑stage and 500 MW of early‑stage storage capacity. The deal marks the Swiss‑engineered firm’s formal entry into Japan, a market praised for its revenue‑stacking...
Fire Survivors Call for Audits of Edison's Wildfire Prevention Spending
Fire survivors are urging California lawmakers to require independent audits of Southern California Edison, PG&E, and San Diego Gas & Electric’s wildfire‑prevention spending after a Times investigation revealed the utilities failed to spend hundreds of millions they claimed were needed....
Voltalia Commissions 148MW Bolobedu Solar Farm in South Africa
Voltalia has commissioned the 148 MW Bolobedu solar farm in Limpopo, South Africa, now delivering power to Rio Tinto’s Richards Bay Minerals under a long‑term corporate power purchase agreement. The plant is expected to generate about 300 GWh per year, enough for roughly 425,000...
Fund Managers Cut Dutch TTF Gas Bullish Stance
INVESTMENT MANAGERS trimmed their bullish position in Europe’s benchmark Dutch TTF gas contract last week for the first time since the war between the United States and Iran started. Fund managers sold the equivalent of 14 terawatt-hours (TWh) of futures...
Voltalia Commissions 148MW Solar PV Plant in South Africa with Rio Tinto Subsidiary PPA
French renewable developer Voltalia has commissioned the 148 MW Bolobedu solar farm in Limpopo, South Africa, marking the country’s first large‑scale PV project built for a private client. The plant is backed by a long‑term corporate power purchase agreement with Rio Tinto’s...
Why Wind Farms and Electricity Pylons Are a Major Issue in the Welsh Government Election
Renewable energy expansion in Wales, especially new wind farms and high‑voltage pylons, has become a flashpoint ahead of the Senedd election on 7 May. Environmental groups and local communities in rural areas are voicing strong opposition, fearing visual impact, land‑use...
China Halves Fuel Price Increase for Second time...China Raises Supply Chain Protection to “National Security” issue...Xi Jinping Backs Service Sector...
China reduced its scheduled domestic fuel‑price increase for the second time, limiting gasoline to a 3.85% rise (about $1.23 per litre) and diesel to 4.2% (around $1.20 per litre), a move aimed at tempering inflation amid volatile Middle‑East oil markets....
4 Oil ETFs Riding the Crude Price Surge: What Investors Should Know
Crude oil futures have surged to multi‑year highs as the Iran‑Russia conflict intensifies, prompting investors to seek oil‑related exposure through exchange‑traded funds. Four ETFs stand out: Breakwave Tanker Shipping (BWET), which tracks oil‑tanker freight rates and is up more than...
India-Bhutan Hydropower Push: Minister Manohar Lal’s 4-Day Visit to Drive Projects, Trade
Union Power Minister Manohar Lal began a four‑day trip to Bhutan to accelerate bilateral hydropower projects, notably the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu‑I and 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu‑II schemes. He will meet senior Bhutanese officials, review project milestones, and discuss expanding cross‑border electricity trade, which...
Global Record Expansion Of Renewable Energy Continues In 2025 - Geopolitical Situation Puts Solar And Wind In Focus
In 2025 global renewable energy capacity grew by 692 GW, reaching 5,149 GW – a 15.5% increase year‑over‑year. Solar photovoltaics added 510.3 GW and wind 158.7 GW, together accounting for 96.8% of net additions. Asia supplied three‑quarters of new capacity, while Africa and the...
VIDEO: European BESS Integration with Chinese Cells Can Be Competitive, Says Maxxen’s Ruben Valiente
Maxxen, a European battery‑energy‑storage‑system integrator, sources its lithium‑ion cells from China’s Hithium while providing local integration services. Managing director Ruben Valiente argues that European players can remain competitive without relying on a price premium, leveraging Chinese cell cost advantages and adding...
Adani Green Energy's Arm Inks Pact with UAE’s Minerva to Develop Renewable Energy Projects in India
Adani Green Energy’s UAE subsidiary, Adani Renewable Energy Middle East Ltd, has entered a joint‑venture with Minerva Holding RSC to develop renewable‑energy projects in India. The partnership is backed by International Holding Company (IHC) Group, the UAE’s largest listed firm...
HK Electric Apologizes After Voltage Dip Traps Lifts
HK Electric has apologised for a voltage dip on Hong Kong Island this morning that lead to up to 100 people being trapped in lifts, and fire alarms ringing out across the island. HK Electric said the interruption was caused by...
UK Government Approves Record 800 MW Solar Plant over Local Opposition
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband granted a Development Consent Order for the 800 MW Springwell Solar Farm, the largest solar installation approved in the United Kingdom to date. The project, developed by Luminous Energy and EDF Power Solutions, will include battery...
Plume Raises €3.3M to Cut Years From Renewable Energy Development Timelines
Plume, a Franco‑American geospatial AI startup, closed a €3.3 million (≈$3.6 million) round led by AENU with participation from Y Combinator, Kima Ventures and others. The company’s platform consolidates more than 150 continuously updated geographic datasets and deploys AI agents that parse unstructured...
Oil Dynasties Roll in the Dollars, Fueling Their Family Offices
The spike in oil prices triggered by the Iran war has dramatically increased the fortunes of families tied to the fossil‑fuel sector. These dynasties are channeling their windfalls into dedicated family offices, seeking to preserve and grow wealth beyond traditional...
Bills to Protect Ratepayers From Data Centers Fail in Georgia Legislature
Georgia’s 2024 legislative session ended without any data‑center bills becoming law, leaving the state’s 2018 tax exemption and utility cost‑allocation rules untouched. Lawmakers considered a range of measures—from a full ban on new facilities to rolling back tax breaks and...
Why High Oil Prices Are Good for Oil Companies — Until They Aren't
Oil prices have surged to $90‑$100 a barrel after the Iran conflict, delivering a multi‑billion‑dollar profit boost for U.S. producers such as ExxonMobil. However, the windfall is tempered by hedging contracts that lock many firms to $57 per barrel and...
Chaevi to Supply EV Chargers to Canada
South Korean EV charger maker Chaevi Company Ltd signed a partnership with Canadian firm Foreseeson Technology to launch its charging network in Canada. The agreement calls for an initial delivery of 100 ultra‑fast 400‑kW stations in 2026, expanding to over...
China Tankers Join Line to Test Hormuz Exit and Iran Truce
Two Cosco‑linked VLCCs and a smaller Chinese tanker are positioned at the Strait of Hormuz, ready to become the first vessels to exit the Persian Gulf under the newly announced US‑Iran cease‑fire. The ships – Cospearl Lake, Yuan Hua Hu...
Negative Electricity Prices Return to France, Germany
Negative hourly electricity prices resurfaced in France and Germany last week, with Germany posting a daily average of -$19.0/MWh and France -$4.2/MWh. Seven major European markets recorded weekly average prices below $116/MWh, the lowest level of the year, while Italy...
Global LPG Conversations
In this episode of Global LPG Conversations, Argus SVP David Appleton and consulting head Jack Greenwood field unanswered questions from a recent webinar, focusing on the market fallout from the April 8 cease‑fire announcement between the US and Iran. They...
Batteries Reshape Solar Pricing in California Market
Aurora Energy Research reports that California’s growing battery fleet is lifting the value of negatively priced solar electricity by up to $42 per megawatt‑hour in the CAISO wholesale market. On March 20, 2026, more than 3 GW of storage assets bought electricity, injecting...
Smart Metering: IoT Technologies, Rollouts and Utility Use Cases
Smart Metering has become a core IoT application, allowing utilities to capture and transmit consumption data in near real time. The technology combines sensors, communication networks such as cellular, LPWAN, and mesh, and cloud‑based analytics platforms, often enhanced with edge...
CIBSE’s Ruth Carter: Net Zero Is a Destination and the Journey Is Decarbonisation
Ruth Carter, CEO of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), says the organization has expanded 20% to 24,000 members in 194 countries while championing building performance, safety and decarbonisation. She highlights embodied carbon as the "sleeping giant," responsible...
Glencore, Taiwan’s CPC Charter Tankers as Hormuz Reopens
Glencore and Taiwan’s state refiner CPC each chartered a VLCC to load Middle Eastern crude for Asia after a cease‑fire halted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The vessels, including Glencore’s Asian Lion, were booked at a Worldscale rate of...
Next-Generation Battery Packs Announced in Microvast–Iveco Group Partnership Expansion
Microvast and Iveco Group have broadened their collaboration to create next‑generation battery packs for a full range of commercial vehicles, from light vans to heavy‑duty trucks. The partnership builds on a 2017 pilot and now includes Gen 1 and Gen 2 packs...
Exmar Names World’s First Ammonia-Powered Gas Carriers
Exmar will take delivery of the world’s first ammonia‑powered gas carriers, the 46,000 cu m vessels Antwerpen and Arlon, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan. The dual‑fuel ships can run on ammonia or conventional fuel and feature shaft generators, SCR systems...
Is Algae The Answer To Carbon Capture? Intrinsic Foundries’ Green Fix For Toxic Waste
Indian startup Intrinsic Foundries, founded in 2023, raised about $1.5 million seed funding to develop algae‑based carbon capture and utilization (CCUS) platforms that turn industrial CO₂ and waste streams into valuable biochemicals. The company’s proprietary 3‑D‑printed photobioreactors replace large ponds, achieving...
Nuclear, Solar, Wind Will End Fossil Fuel Dependence
By the time of the next GE I reckon we will have broken the back of our dependence on fossil fuels. The combination of nuclear, Solar and wind will be the solution. Tidal and hydro are bit players. With battery and...
Energy Security Demands Clean Energy, Not Temporary Relief
Spoke to @trtworld last night on the Hormuz crisis. Relief ≠ resolution. Oil and gas still much above pre-war levels, 172M barrels stranded, and Iran cementing control of the Strait. The clearest lesson: energy security = clean energy. https://t.co/rbUxk8iIdl
OECD Urges Governments to Rapidly Unwind Costly Fuel Duty Cuts
The OECD has called on governments to quickly reverse the fuel duty cuts introduced during the pandemic, arguing they are fiscally unsustainable and undermine climate goals. The organization estimates the cuts cost member states billions of euros in lost revenue...
UAE Oil Chief Calls Hormuz Closure “Control, Not Passage”
UAE senior oil official Sultan Al Jaber denounces the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. “Access is being restricted, conditioned and controlled,” “Conditional passage is not passage. It is control by another name,” he says. https://t.co/TFczKBO4kk
India Seeks Faster Qatar LNG Restart Amid Supply Halt
India's oil minister is heading to Qatar to ask the nation to accelerate the restart of LNG exports and for priority delivery 🇮🇳🤝🇶🇦 Qatar is India’s top LNG supplier (providing 45%). But those deliveries have halted since the Iran war started https://t.co/B7JwVxFnF3
AES Pulls Out of San Diego Area Battery Project After Local Opposition
AES Corp. withdrew its application for the 320 MW Seguro battery project in Escondido, California, after intense local opposition. The site, slated to sit within 1,600 feet of Palomar Medical Center and nearby homes, raised safety concerns following recent lithium‑ion battery fires...
Heat Pumps Eclipse Gas Boilers in Germany, 2025
For the first time ever, heat pumps outsold gas boilers in Germany in 2025. 48% of all new heating systems installed last year were heat pumps. Gas fell to just 39%. A decade ago, heat pumps had a 7% market share....
Ceasefire Holds, Yet Hormuz Shipping Remains Stalled
The good news: attacks have come down markedly (ex Lebanon), and the fragile ceasefire seems to be holding. The bad news: so far, almost no movement of ships in-and-out of the Strait of Hormuz. Several Chinese oil tankers have pre-positioned to...
Japan Mulls Extra 20-Day Worth of Oil Release with Hormuz Passage Unclear
Japan is weighing an extra release of oil reserves equivalent to 20 days of domestic consumption in May, as safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain despite a U.S.-Iran cease‑fire. The government began its largest‑ever stockpile discharge in...
Massive Oil Shut‑ins: ~13 M B/D, Saudi, Iraq Overstated
Missing Qatar with max 0.6 Mb/d shut in But the Iraq figure is too high, more like 3.3 Mb/d Saudi figure also looks high; was 10.5 Mb/d pre-war and 6-7 Mb/d moving to Red Sea
Industrial Heat Pumps Scale Up for Real-World Deployment
Industrial heat pumps are one of the most underrated technologies in the energy transition. They work. They scale. And they’re finally moving from demonstration to deployment. Here’s a 95t heat pump component just traveled l by river to reach BASF’s...
Rising US Gas Prices May Curb Mexico Pipeline Exports
As @OSullivanMeghan and I wrote @ForeignAffairs, with energy being weaponized, countries will seek to curb imports & boost domestic supply. If US gas prices soar, there's a risk pipeline gas to Mexico would be a prime target to restrict exports...