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:
The Hormuz War Will End
The near‑closure of the Strait of Hormuz has removed roughly 9‑10 million barrels of crude, 5 million barrels of refined products and 20% of global LNG from markets, creating the worst energy shock since the 1973 Arab oil embargo. Existing bypass pipelines – Saudi Arabia’s Petroline and the UAE’s ADCOP – are at capacity and cannot transport refined fuels. The article argues that only a massive, coordinated build‑out of new crude and product pipelines, including a modern corridor from southern Iraq and Kuwait to Turkey, can prevent future crises. It calls on the United States to spearhead financing and diplomatic coordination for these projects.
Wells Fargo Predicts Swift Strait of Hormuz Reopening
They are drunk in fantasyland over at WFG: "The team at the Wells Fargo Investment Institute has a base case that sees a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz occur relatively soon, as well as limited damage to Middle Eastern...
PV‑Hydro Storage Could Drop to $0.022/kWh LCOE
PV-driven hydraulic hydro storage may hit $0.022/kWh LCOE in the U.S. #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/qGvRRcDfXZ
BWXT Initiates NRC Pre-Application Process for HEU Enrichment Facility in Erwin, Tennessee
BWX Technologies (BWXT) has notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of its intent to seek a license for a new highly enriched uranium (HEU) enrichment facility in Erwin, Tennessee. The plant is part of a $1.5 billion Department of Energy contract to...
May WTI Crude Surges to New High, Up 20%
May WTI crude oil futures are now at a new high and up 20% from Friday's low. https://t.co/rqftGvnrgP
Bluetti Unveils 13 kWh EnergyPro Storage System in U.S.
Bluetti launches new EnergyPro 13K energy storage system in the U.S. #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/ockkQGrxOp
US Shale Drillers Expected to Lift Crude Output
U.S. shale drillers are gearing up to increase crude output after a 68% price surge triggered by the Iran‑Israel conflict and Hormuz closure. With West Texas Intermediate trading around $115 per barrel—well above the $62‑$70 profit threshold—companies like Continental Resources...
US Attacks on Iran's Power Grid Trigger Humanitarian Disaster
What will happen if the US destroys Iran’s power plants? I asked @perplexity_ai @GeminiApp & @grok to predict what Tehran will look like a week after. The short answer: a humanitarian disaster. Here are the results. (link is below). https://t.co/b5OSSTTFUV
Australian Solar Output Falls 24% with Autumn Transition
NEM Data Spotlight: Australia’s solar generation drops 24% as autumn transition erodes summer records #energysky -- via pv-tech: https://t.co/5B2Awsm57Q
PV-Driven Hydraulic Hydro Storage May Hit $0.022/kWh LCOE in the U.S.
An international study shows utility‑scale solar PV paired with hydraulic hydro storage (HHS) can achieve a levelized cost of energy as low as $0.022 per kilowatt‑hour in select U.S. regions. The techno‑economic analysis of 936 sites models gigawatt‑hour‑scale systems that...
Bluetti Launches New EnergyPro 13K Energy Storage System in the U.S.
Chinese battery maker Bluetti has introduced the EnergyPro 13K (EP13K) energy storage system for the U.S. market, priced at $7,919. The modular unit delivers 13.2 kW of continuous power and 9.6 kWh of storage out of the box, with the ability to...
NSW Approves 1.5 GWh Solar‑Plus‑Storage Project
NSW IPC approves 1.5GWh solar-plus-storage project in Australia #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/dRvdeAlWEM
Federal Permitting Is ‘Outsized’ Factor in Clean Energy Delays, Cancellations: Crux
A Crux survey of 50 clean‑energy developers found that every respondent had a project materially affected by federal permitting, totaling roughly 11 GW of capacity. More than 80% said they deliberately site projects to sidestep permitting triggers, while 72% prioritize predictability...
Latest DOE/EIA Diesel Benchmark Price Increase Adds Almost 25 Cts
The U.S. DOE/EIA diesel benchmark rose 24.2 cents to $5.643 per gallon, marking the 12th consecutive weekly increase and the highest level since July 2022. Over the 12‑week run the price has added $2.184 per gallon, driven by geopolitical tension...
Tesla Delivery Growth Lifts These EV Battery Suppliers, Report
Tesla’s first‑quarter deliveries rose 6% year‑over‑year, bucking a broader slowdown in China and the U.S. that has dampened global battery demand. The uptick lifted its key battery partners, with Panasonic’s shipments increasing 2.7% to 5.3 GWh, while LG Energy Solutions saw...
Exploring the Upcoming OSDU® Data Platform Standard Version 1.0
The Open Group OSDU Forum is set to launch OSDU Data Platform Standard Version 1.0, a stable subset of the platform’s capabilities that defines consistent API behavior. The standard provides detailed guidelines for services such as secure access, search, and file...
Heterojunction Vs. TOPCon in Perovskite-Silicon Tandem
Australian researchers report that tunnel‑oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) silicon cells have narrowed the open‑circuit voltage (VOC) gap with heterojunction (HJT) cells to less than 10 mV, while maintaining wafer‑tolerance and scalable production. Although TOPCon‑based perovskite‑silicon tandems lag slightly in peak efficiency,...
BP Chair Faces Re-Election Battle After Board Blocks Climate Resolution
BP’s board voted to block a shareholder‑proposed climate resolution that would have tightened the company’s net‑zero commitments and reporting standards. The move has triggered a high‑profile re‑election battle for chair Sir Murray Auchincloss at the upcoming annual general meeting. Activist...
National Diesel Average Rises for the 14th Consecutive Week, Reports Energy Information Administration
The Energy Information Administration reported diesel prices rose to $5.643 per gallon for the week of April 6, marking the 14th consecutive weekly increase and a $2.00 jump from a year ago. The price is up 24.2 cents from the previous...
$51 Million In New EV Charger Funding Available In Michigan
Michigan’s Department of Transportation announced the release of $51 million in discretionary NEVI formula funds to accelerate fast‑charging infrastructure across the state. The money will target gaps on major highways, aiming for a charger roughly every 60 miles and expanding the network...
The Hidden Culprit Behind Rising Gas Utility Bills
Rising gas‑utility bills are now driven primarily by infrastructure costs, not fuel prices. The Building Decarbonization Coalition report finds pipeline replacements accounted for about 70% of customer charges in 2024, while gas itself contributed only 30%. Over the past decade,...
Lebanon's Grid Collapse Fuels Solar Boom
Lebanon is one of the most surprising clean energy stories in the world. Solar went from <1% of electricity in 2020 to nearly 30% by 2024. Not because of policy - because the state grid collapsed and people installed rooftop solar out...
Enverus Launches AI-Based Platform to Support Energy Industry
Enverus unveiled Enverus ONE, an AI‑driven execution platform for the energy sector. The system combines frontier AI models with Enverus’s proprietary Astra energy model to automate workflows across utilities, generators, and developers. It launches with four ready‑to‑use Flows—AFE Evaluation, Current...
GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy Supporting Deployment of SMR in Sweden
GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) has signed a main services agreement with Sweden‑based engineering firm AFRY to support the deployment of its BWRX‑300 small modular reactor (SMR) in Europe. The non‑exclusive collaboration leverages AFRY’s regional expertise to deliver engineering,...
Pilot Initiative to Test Transparent Solar Films in West Africa
UK‑based NextGen Nano announced a £300 million agrivoltaics pilot in West Africa using its PolyPower™ transparent organic solar film. The project will integrate climate‑controlled greenhouse cultivation of nutrient‑dense crops such as amaranth and moringa with on‑site electricity generation to power cooling,...
Mr. Arithmetic Helps Donald Trump on “Taking Iran’s Oil”
Dean Baker’s latest CEPR column dissects former President Donald Trump’s proposal to seize Iran’s oil as a war‑funding mechanism. He highlights that Iran’s proven reserves—roughly 150 billion barrels—translate to over $10 trillion at current market prices, dwarfing any realistic U.S. budgetary need....
A Single Chokepoint Failure Reveals the Fragile Architecture of Africa’s Energy Supply Chain
The abrupt closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of global oil, has halted tanker traffic and left African importers scrambling for fuel. Nations such as Kenya, Ethiopia and Zambia are already experiencing severe shortages and price...
New Pilot Program From kWH Analytics Will Reward Hail-Ready Solar Projects with Lower Insurance Costs
San Francisco‑based kWh Analytics and its insurance arm have launched a pilot with tracker maker Nextpower that rewards solar projects using hail‑ready NX Horizon trackers with lower insurance premiums. The program shares real‑time and historical stow performance data, giving insurers...
ECB Vice Chair’s Decarbonization Push Looks Futile
ECB vice chair taking time out of his day to write about decarbonization sorry europe, you’re never gonna make it https://t.co/DDnNTorRwy
Turning the AC-DC Switch: A Legacy Technology Has Reached Its Limits.
The article argues that the century‑old dominance of alternating current (AC) is reaching its limits as hyperscale data centers, AI workloads, and electrified transportation demand more efficient power delivery. Converting AC to DC multiple times wastes up to 18% of...
Boomtown in Brownsville as Energy and High-Tech Bulk up Texas Investments
Brownsville is undergoing an industrial surge as major energy and high‑tech projects converge at its deep‑water port. Reliance Industries revived the America First Refining Project, a 240‑acre, 100‑percent shale oil refinery slated for construction by 2027, promising roughly 500 high‑pay...
TYG: Can See Durable Growth Over The Coming Decade
Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corp (TYG) received a Buy rating, offering a 12.25% forward distribution yield through leveraged exposure to midstream energy and power infrastructure. The fund’s portfolio is weighted 54.2% toward renewables and power assets, including holdings such as CWEN,...
Gulf Coast Midstream Partners Inks Investment From Black Bay
Gulf Coast Midstream Partners announced a strategic investment from Black Bay Capital to fund the first phase of its Nash Energy Storage Hub. The capital will accelerate construction of a 100 MW battery facility in the Gulf Coast region, positioning GCMP...
Hungary Still Relies on Russian Oil, Unlike Europe
Hungary imports about 90% of its oil from Russia. I can think of at least ONE reason why other European nations no longer do the same...
Why Power Access Is Critical to Data Center Site Locations
Power availability has become the primary driver of data center design, influencing layout, phasing, and cooling strategies from the outset. Lenders now require executed power purchase agreements or firm interconnection commitments before committing capital, turning power certainty into a financing...
Gotion, Green Power Morocco and Chery Launch 2,000‑km Europe‑Africa Electric Freight Corridor
Gotion, Green Power Morocco (GPM) and Chery Heavy Trucks have signed an agreement to build a 2,000‑km electric logistics corridor linking Agadir, Morocco, to Perpignan, France. The partnership will initially deploy 100 heavy‑duty electric trucks and a network of battery‑swapping...
One Million Industrial Vehicles Charged in North America and Beyond by Delta to Advance Electrified Automated Logistics
Delta announced that its MOOV Series charging solutions have powered more than one million industrial vehicles across North America and globally. The portfolio spans 1‑30 kW conductive and inductive systems, including the MOOVair wireless chargers and the modular MOOVbase fast‑charging stations....
Shipping Constraints Mount as US Crude Exports Test Limits
Overseas demand for U.S. crude has surged amid the Iran conflict, pushing export volumes toward record levels. Analysts now argue that practical constraints limit Gulf Coast shipments to under 6 million barrels per day, far below the often‑cited 10 million‑bpd capacity. The...
Fitch Raises Nigeria Inflation to 15.5% as Sub‑Saharan Growth Trimmed to 4.2%
Fitch Solutions upgraded Nigeria's 2026 inflation forecast to 15.5% and nudged its GDP growth to 4.4%, while lowering the aggregate Sub‑Saharan Africa growth projection to 4.2%. The revisions reflect higher global oil prices and the fallout from an extended US‑Iran...
Fervo, Turboden Sign 1.7-GW Turbine Deal for Geothermal Power Plants
Fervo Energy and Turboden America have signed a framework agreement to supply organic Rankine cycle (ORC) turbines for up to 35 GeoBlocks, delivering roughly 1.75 GW of capacity. The deal builds on a prior contract for three 50‑MW units at the...
Strait of Hormuz Closure Sends Oil to $110 a Barrel, Reshapes Energy Markets
The shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s war escalated has lifted Brent crude to about $110 per barrel, delivering windfalls to oil‑rich nations while straining global supply chains. President Donald Trump’s ultimatum and fresh U.S. strikes on Iran’s...
Cuban President Decries U.S. Energy Blockade as Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Cuban President Miguel Díaz‑Canel told Newsweek that the United States' intensified energy blockade is crushing the island’s economy and fueling a humanitarian crisis, while urging diplomatic talks to end the fuel restrictions.
Oil Jumps to Near‑Four‑Year Highs as U.S. Deadline Threatens Strait of Hormuz
Brent and WTI crude surged to their highest levels in nearly four years after President Donald Trump set an 8 p.m. Washington deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Traders priced in a sharp geopolitical risk premium, while Tehran...
UBS Has Alarming News About Oil if the Strait of Hormuz Closes
UBS commodity analyst Giovanni Staunovo warned that a shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz could remove roughly 10 million barrels of crude per day from global markets, adding to an already 90% reduction in flow. The chokepoint normally carries about 20 million...
Bay Area Startup Introduces Flat-Rate, Single-Room Heat Pumps
San Francisco startup Merino Energy launched the Merino Mono, a through‑the‑wall, single‑room heat pump priced at a flat $3,800 including professional installation. The unit installs in under an hour, draws 900 watts from a standard 120‑volt outlet, and serves spaces up to...
IEA: Hormuz Blockade Crisis Exceeds All Past Oil Shocks
PARIS, April 7 (Reuters) - The current oil and gas crisis triggered by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is "more serious than the ones in 1973, 1979 and 2022 together", Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy...
Government Confirms £195m Green Heat Network Funding for England and Wales
The UK government has earmarked £195 million for the Green Heat Network Fund, extending the grant programme to include Wales for the first time. The funding will back new heat‑network projects, upgrades, and integration of renewable sources such as biomass, solar...
US-to-Asia Oil Shipping Costs Hit Record Highs
The cost of shipping oil from the United States to Asia by sea is hitting record highs. https://t.co/c8BCdLPsi8
Current Price of Oil as of April 7, 2026
Oil’s benchmark Brent crude rose to $113.40 a barrel on April 7, 2026, up $2.15 from the previous day and roughly 75% higher than a year ago. The price jumped 33.85% over the past month, reflecting tighter supply and renewed geopolitical...
Oil Prices Rise as Hormuz Stays Shut Ahead of Trump Deadline, Strikes on Iran Intensify
Oil prices jumped as the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, with Brent at $111.16 a barrel and U.S. WTI nearing $116, creating a rare WTI premium over Brent. President Trump gave Iran until midnight GMT to reopen the strait, threatening...