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:
Oil Tumbles Below $100 After Trump Announces Two-Week Ceasefire
Oil fell below $100 a barrel after President Donald Trump announced a two‑week ceasefire with Iran, promising a safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Brent settled at $91.80 and WTI at $92.62, while European diesel dropped 20.8 percent to $1,210.50 per metric ton. The truce could release up to 13 million barrels per day that were previously stranded, easing the supply shock that had driven prices up more than 50 percent in a month. Traders remain cautious as logistics and long‑term risk premiums are still uncertain.
A Phenothiazine‐Derived Organic Cathode for High‐Capacity Aqueous Aluminum Batteries
Researchers introduced a phenothiazine‑derived organic cathode—methylene blue (MB)—for aqueous aluminum batteries. The MB cathode enables reversible co‑insertion of one Al³⁺ ion coordinated with two OTF⁻ anions, cutting the desolvation penalty that hampers inorganic cathodes. It achieves 138.8 mAh g⁻¹ at 50 mA g⁻¹ and...
Faisal Islam: Iran War Pause Is Welcome but the Economic Scars Will Last
The cease‑fire in the Iran‑Israel conflict has eased the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a 15% drop in oil and gas prices and a rally in equity markets. Over the past six weeks, roughly 800 vessels were stranded,...
A Bifunctional Nitrogen‐Doped Electrode with High Catalytic Activity and Stability for Energy‐Efficient V3.5+ Electrolyte Production and High‐Performance Vanadium Redox Flow...
Researchers introduced a surface‑architecting method using polyaniline self‑assembly to create a nitrogen‑doped carbon nanofiber network on graphite felt (NGF). In a flow electrolyzer, the NGF electrode reduced energy consumption per unit conversion by 60.25% relative to untreated felt and 41.63%...
Iran, US Mull Hormuz Toll; Oman Warns Legal Fallout
Iran and the US are considering imposing tolls on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, challenging the UN Law of the Sea's free passage principle. Oman opposes the tolls, raising legal and economic concerns that could impact global maritime norms...
Drone Strikes Saudi East-West Oil Pipeline Pumping Station
“Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline carrying crude from the Gulf to the Red Sea for export has been attacked, the Financial Times reports, citing two unidentified people familiar with the matter.” - pumping station was hit at 1 p.m. local time -...
As War Premiums Hit Groceries, China Deals Give Africa Room to Breathe
The recent disruption of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed Brent crude above $100 per barrel, inflating diesel, fertilizer and food costs in vulnerable African economies. At the same time, China announced zero‑tariff access for imports from 53 African countries,...
Are Canadians Ready for Gas at $2 a Litre and Its Hit to Growth and Risk Assets?
Gasoline prices in Canada have surged above $2 CAD per litre (≈$1.48 USD), the highest level in four years, as global crude climbs to about $110.64 USD per barrel. The spike is eroding household disposable income, especially for debt‑laden Canadians, and pushing businesses...
SCA Secures First 50Hertz Contract for Cable Carousel Systems
Subsea Cable Assets (SCA) won its first framework contract with German transmission operator 50Hertz to supply four cable carousel systems for power‑grid projects. The deal covers engineering, manufacturing, delivery, installation and commissioning, targeting both offshore and onshore high‑voltage infrastructure in...
Malaysian Fuel Prices, April 9 to 15, 2026 – Petrol up 40 Sen, RON95 to RM4.27; Diesel up 70 Sen,...
Malaysia's Ministry of Finance announced weekly fuel price adjustments for April 9‑15, 2026, raising unsubsidised RON95 petrol to RM4.27 per litre (≈ $0.94) and diesel B10/B20 to RM6.72 per litre (≈ $1.48). The premium RON97 also increased by 40 sen to RM5.35...
IEA Tracker Reveals Policies Locking In Fossil Dependence
I hope the IEA can keep this updated - a massive global overview of policies enacted in response to the latest fossil fuel crisis. Terrifying how many of these will help lock in fossil fuel reliance, worsen climate pollution, suck...
Iran’s Hormuz Toll Demand: UNCLOS Violation or Legitimate Right? 10-Point Plan Tests Global Trade Rules
Iran has presented a ten‑point peace proposal that hinges on a two‑week cease‑fire, demanding U.S. acceptance of its control over the Strait of Hormuz and the right to collect transit tolls. The plan also seeks full sanctions relief, nuclear enrichment...
EPA Increases Ethanol Content Of Gasoline
The EPA has issued a 20‑day emergency waiver allowing nationwide sales of E15, a gasoline blend with 15% ethanol, to counter soaring fuel prices that have topped $4 per gallon and $8 in California. Ethanol, primarily derived from corn, is...
☕ Morning Briefing — Wednesday, April 8, 2026
President Donald Trump announced a two‑week pause on U.S. strikes after Iran agreed to limited shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that moves roughly 20% of global oil. The pause sent oil prices lower and gave markets a...
LNG Geopolitics: Ceasefire Fails to Ease Supply Risks
A temporary U.S.-Iran ceasefire has not restored confidence in Gulf LNG production, leaving supply risks elevated. While a few cargoes from Qatar and the UAE may now traverse the Strait of Hormuz, operators remain hesitant to fully restart output. The...
How Getting Landlords Into (Heat Pump) Hot Water Can Get Tenants Out of High Gas Bills
The article proposes a budget‑time lever that would let Australian landlords claim an instant, full depreciation on heat‑pump hot‑water systems, replacing gas units. Gas‑tank hot water costs roughly AU$600 (≈US$396) per year, while an instant‑gas system runs about AU$400 (≈US$264);...
So You Want to Take Iran’s Oil…
Peter Zeihan warns that any U.S. attempt to seize Iran’s oil would be far more complex than President Trump suggests. The country’s two main energy hubs—offshore South Pars gas field and the oil‑rich Khuzestan province—would require either shutting down domestic...
Lenzing Expands Renewable Energy Portfolio
Austrian fibre producer Lenzing has commissioned a 14 MW power‑to‑heat (P2H) facility at its industrial site. The system converts renewable electricity directly into process heat and is fully integrated with the plant’s existing heat network. This installation is positioned as a...
Middle East War: Global Economic Fallout
A two‑week US‑Iran cease‑fire has reopened the Strait of Hormuz, allowing the first two merchant vessels to transit and prompting a sharp drop in oil and gas prices. Iran’s drone strikes on Kuwait’s power, desalination and oil facilities underscore the...
2026 Energy Shock Peaks Far Below Past Records
The scorecard of the (so far) 2026 energy shock: (Peak price set during US-Iran war Feb 28-Apr 7 vs all-time high; in nominal terms) ⛽️ Brent oil: ~19% below 2008 peak 🔥 TTF nat gas: ~79% below 2022 peak 🔌 German power: ~89% below...
Current Electricity Pricing Masks Alternative Energy Benefits
On top of this, we priced electricity in a way that makes it impossible for consumers to enjoy or even notice the (admittedly periodic and sometimes localised) benefits of alternative energy sources.
Rosneft Tamps Down Profit Expectations From Soaring Prices
Rosneft reported an 18.8% drop in 2025 revenue to $105 billion, with EBITDA falling 28% to $27.7 billion and net income plunging 73% to $3.7 billion. The company cited volatile oil prices, a stronger ruble and intensified sanctions as primary headwinds, while higher...
Qatar Ramps Up Workers to Restart LNG Plant
Qatar is mobilizing its workers to resume production at the world’s biggest LNG export plant 🇶🇦 🚨 The improvement in security conditions is allowing limited activity But any return to significant output would require normal transit through Hormuz https://t.co/uh3Aozq1K9
Markets Rally Despite Escalating Middle East Conflict
So the strait of Hormuz is still shut, Iran is shooting missiles at gulf states and Israel, the U.S. is bombing Iranian energy facilities, and the market is up 1000 points over a ‘cease fire.’ Cool cool.
Recent Challenges and Optimization Strategies of Thick Electrodes in High‐Energy‐Density Batteries
The paper reviews the performance and mechanical hurdles of thick electrodes used in high‑energy‑density batteries, highlighting sluggish ion transport, severe polarization, and cracking risks. It consolidates five optimization pathways—tortuosity reduction, pore‑structure engineering, thermodynamic tuning, advanced dry/wet fabrication, and crack‑suppression techniques....
Hormuz Loses Relevance as Rivals Rush Pipeline Bypasses
COLUMN: No matter what the US and Iran agree over the future of Hormuz, the strait’s status will change. But the waterway will never be as critical as it was six weeks ago: Iran's rivals will rush to build more...
Oil Forecasts Collapse; Trump Needs War Ended
I spent recent weeks pushing back on $150 or $200 oil price forecasts. Those are now firmly off the table. Brent futures are down sharply and that's right. There's lots of open questions, but the big picture is that Trump...
Greek and Liberian-Flagged Ships First to Transit Hormuz Since Ceasefire
Greek‑owned bulk carrier NJ Earth and Liberian‑flagged tanker Daytona Beach became the first vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Iran announced a two‑week cease‑fire. The truce permits coordinated safe passage, though Iran’s technical limitations...
Iran Ceasefire Sends Oil Below $100, Stocks Surge
Iran ceasefire news just crushed oil under $100 and stocks are ripping higher. Risk-on mode is back in a big way. We'll be tracking these momentum moves live with the DOTS indicator in 2 hours to catch the best setups....
Normal Tanker Flows in 2‑3 Months; Products 6‑12 Months
If the ceasefire holds, expect 2–3 months before tanker flows and refinery feedstock delivery approach anything like normal, and 6–12 months before refined product markets (jet fuel, diesel, chemicals) fully normalize.
Comment: New SFDR Exclusions Won’t Accelerate Europe’s Energy Transition
The European Commission’s revised Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) proposes a new “transition” product category that would bar 90‑95% of the global energy sector and about 20% of utilities from eligible funds. Senior EFAMA adviser Anyve Arakelijan argues that such...
Ukraine's Drones Aim to Choke Russian Baltic Oil
If Iran can shut down the Strait of Hormuz, why shouldn't Kyiv shut down the Baltic? Kyiv is using drones to hit Russia's two key ports in the Baltic. It spared key infrastructure, but the signal is clear: Ukraine can...
Biofuel Lobby Urges 45Z Rule Amid Tax Credit Uncertainty
Biofuel Groups Push 45Z Rule as Delayed USDA Emissions Tool Clouds Tax Credit Value https://t.co/e4B9eUJeY4
Prague to Roll Out 150 ‘EV-Ready’ Street Lamps for Charging Network
Prague’s city council approved a €4.1 million (≈$4.5 million) project to retrofit 150 streetlights with built‑in electric‑vehicle (EV) charging capability. The “EV‑ready” lamps are part of a broader e‑mobility strategy that anticipates up to 180,000 EVs in the capital by 2030, requiring...
Markets May Ignore Oil Flow Glitches If Outlook Improves
I am fully aware that oil-flows are not normalized tomorrow or next week It is not the point. The market will look through that if the sequential outlook improves Think of e.g. the spring for 2020, where markets improved even before...
Trump's Iran Deal Derails, Obama’s Succeeded
Obama Iran Deal: open Hormuz capped enrichment inspections Trump Iran Deal: Hormuz closed except at Iran's discretion no agreed enrichment limits no agreed inspections This isn't 4D chess It's a train wreck #Iran #Geopolitics #OilMarkets https://t.co/bBvsjN00CZ
DOI Plans to Merge BSEE, BOEM
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced a phased plan to combine the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) into a new Marine Minerals Administration (MMA). The merger is intended to...
Oil Drops, Stocks Surge After US‑Iran Ceasefire
TACO Trade Is Back As Oil Falls, Stocks Rally on US-Iran Ceasefire - Business Insider https://t.co/Vei7jJ8uDy
The World Needs An Alternative To The Hormuz Status Quo
U.S. officials are advancing the India‑Middle East‑Europe Corridor (IMEC) to create a permanent alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. The plan envisions Haifa, Israel, as a Mediterranean export hub linked by pipelines, rail and road to India, bypassing Hormuz, the...
US Missteps, Trump’s Ignorance Cost Hormuz Control
I don't know if Iran earned control of Hormuz @KellyAlspals But US incompetence lost it Trump's ignorance + poor judgment have lost everything this war was supposed to be about And probably a lot more. Rex Tilllerson called it https://t.co/xeXheyddIQ
Oil Slides as US, Iran Agree Two-Week Ceasefire
The United States and Iran have agreed to a two‑week cease‑fire that reopens the Strait of Hormuz, allowing over 800 trapped vessels to resume transit. Crude oil prices plunged about six percent, marking the steepest drop in nearly six years...
‘I’m Not Doing This for Fun, I’m Fully Committed’: HBI Investor on $5.7 Bln Green Steel Push in Brazil
Brazil Iron’s Bahia project is a $5.7 billion effort to produce up to 15 million tonnes per year of hot‑briquetted iron (HBI), positioning Brazil as a major supplier of green steel feedstock. The venture has already invested about $1.7 billion, with 85% of...
Wisconsin Signs $120M Bill to Turn Its Timber Waste Into Jet Fuel
Wisconsin approved a $120 million tax‑incentive package for a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant that will turn timber mill residues and forest by‑products into jet‑grade fuel using gasification and Fischer‑Tropsch processes. The facility is a joint venture between local Johnson Timbers...
US Treasury Faces Deadline on Russian, Iranian Oil Waivers
The US has to answer some questions: Does the US Treasury extend the waiver on Russian oil sales? (the general license expires on Sunday, Apr 11) And more politically charged, does the US Treasury extend the waiver on Iranian oil sales?...
ARPA‑E Announces Record Fusion Funding Amid Trump Cuts
Exclusive via @axios' @AmyAHarder: DOE's ARPA-E will will today unveil record fusion funding even as President Trump seeks to cut other parts of the federal fusion budget. Link in next post. #energy #climate #AI
Floating Solar Helps a 74-Year-Old Vineyard Go Fully Renewable
Nelson Family Vineyards in Mendocino County has achieved 100% renewable power by adding a floating photovoltaic (FPV) system to its irrigation pond, complementing an existing rooftop array. The FPV installation is expected to produce roughly 200,000 kWh annually, covering the winery,...
Understanding the Data Center Building Boom
AI‑driven demand is triggering a data‑center construction boom that could push U.S. electricity consumption to 12% by 2028. Georgia Tech researchers are quantifying the hidden costs—higher power use, water stress, and rising local electricity rates—while proposing solutions such as workload‑scheduling...
Seizing Iran's Oil Requires Invasion, Not Simple Trump Rhetoric
Taking Iran's Oil is far more complicated and dangerous than Trump has made it out to be. We're talking about a humanitarian crisis and a full-blown ground invasion to actually control Iranian production. Full Newsletter: https://t.co/9M4RIr0wDA #crude #geopolitics https://t.co/X25nCUjeYn
Consus Ag Consulting AM Market Brief
A two‑week ceasefire between the United States and Iran was secured, reopening the strategic Straits of Hormuz for vessel traffic. Crude oil prices plunged roughly $20 per barrel in overnight trading, while the U.S. dollar weakened sharply. U.S. equities and...
SEforALL Champions Global Low‑Emission, Climate‑Resilient Development at Vienna Forum
The International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum takes place this week and @SEforALLorg will be taking part in this important event to promote low-emission, climate-resilient development, highlighting what needs to be done around the world. Here's where we will be this...