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:
Local Council Seeks Annual $100,000 per Road Maintenance Fee From Wind and Solar Developers
Queensland's Banana Shire council voted to require renewable energy developers to post an annual road‑maintenance guarantee of up to AUD 100,000 (≈ US$66,000) per road used during construction. The amount is held as a security, rolled over if unused, and refunded once the project is complete. The Queensland Renewable Energy Council (QREC) argues that existing wind‑farm codes already obligate developers to manage road impacts, making the new fee potentially redundant. The move follows a series of road‑damage complaints linked to heavy‑haul traffic for wind, solar and battery projects valued at about AUD 40 billion (≈ US$26 billion).
Taiwan Boosts Coal Power as Gas Supply Falters
KING COAL STRIKES AGAIN 🪨🪨🪨 Taiwan will increase coal-fired power generation to bolster energy security, as the war in the Middle East crimps gas supplies The Mailiao coal-fired power plant will ramp up output from its No. 1 and 3 units https://t.co/jXfSAf3HMo
Philippines Speeds up Grid Integration of 1.28 GW Solar
Philippines accelerates grid entry for 1.28 GW of solar #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/U7sIaTbJGK
Home Batteries Get Bigger and Bigger, as Race to Beat Rebate Changes Sparks Last-Ditch Frenzy
Australian households rushed to install larger home batteries before the Cheaper Home Batteries rebate changes, pushing the average system size to a record 40 kWh in March. Registrations hit 1.6 GWh, a 35% jump from February, as the program’s $7.2 bn AUD (≈$4.8 bn...
China Buys Iran's Oil, Sustaining Sanctions‑busting War Funding
How China Helped Iran Cushion the Blow of Sanctions and Fund Its War Machine—Over the past half decade, China has provided Iran with a financial lifeline by buying most of its oil @RoryWSJ @BrianSpegele @austinramzy https://t.co/36s4JdH6hU https://t.co/36s4JdH6hU
Demand Destruction Is Permanent, Decline Is Temporary
I AM GOING TO WEAR MY PROFESSOR'S HAT TONIGHT: ✳️"Demand destruction" is one thing. "Demand decline" is another. ✳️Oil investors don’t talk about “demand destruction.” We talk about “demand decline.” 🔸Destruction = gone forever. 🔸Decline = comes back.
China Started Preparing for an Energy Crisis Long Before the Iran War
China has been quietly building a buffer against energy disruptions for years, stockpiling oil and accelerating renewable projects. Its aggressive shift toward solar, wind, hydro and electric vehicles has already cut domestic demand for refined oil, diesel and gasoline. Simultaneously,...
Iranian Infrastructure Strikes Risk Igniting Regional War
Striking Iranian infrastructure could trigger a major Middle Eastern War, says @MahmoudianArman Trump hits Iran==>Iran “sets the region on fire” Iran attacks power plants, oil refineries & civilian infrastructure in Gulf Arab states ==>they attack Iran. #Iran #Gulf #EnergyCrisis #Geopolitics
Electrify Canada: $182 B Annual Savings, 61% Demand Cut
No, Canada will save $182 billion/year in private energy costs by eliminating the use of fossil fuels for energy, electrifying all energy, and providing the electricity with WindWaterSolar alone (this will also reduce energy needs 61%) https://t.co/hsOANrg3KG Here are the data https://t.co/79QTBYtPSu https://t.co/c3RjxqKhcO @AaronGunn
Sky-High Fuel Prices Will Drive Ship Efficiency Retrofits
U.S. efforts to block the IMO’s Net Zero Framework are unintentionally accelerating maritime sustainability as Middle‑East attacks drive bunker fuel prices to historic highs. The surge in marine fuel costs dramatically shortens the payback horizon for efficiency retrofits, making measures...
IRGC Aims to Block Qatari LNG, Boost US Supply
Ok, I get it, so...the IRGC wants to choke China and help the US LNG industry by preventing Qatari LNG from reaching China. https://t.co/ERTjvf1YSU
Markets Price Today, Not Tomorrow—Explosive Shift Imminent
Markets aren’t pricing what’s coming—they’re pricing what is, says Jeff Currie. And right now, there’s no shortage. But when “later” becomes “now,” the market has to clear. That’s when things get explosive. #Oil #Markets #EnergyCrisis #Geopolitics
JPMorgan Flags $1 Trillion U.S. Grid Upgrade as Massive Investment Opportunity
JPMorgan’s March 25 research report labels the 60‑year‑old U.S. power grid a national‑security risk and estimates roughly $1 trillion of upgrades will be required by 2035. The bank says the scale of spending will create a flood of debt and equity...
War Delays Petrochemical Recovery for Years, Not Weeks
"12 to 20 percent of global petrochemical output that is now offline will not return until the war ends.. heat exchangers are manufactured, & the utilities are rebuilt. That timeline is not weeks. It is years. And Tuesday is today" Looks...
Italy and Spain Break March Solar Generation Records
Italy, Spain set solar records in March #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/LJCvppcHW1 https://t.co/zxY7PDPqJE
Bill Shock: The up to $420 Price Gap Between “Median” Electricity Plans and Lowest Deals on Offer
The Australian Energy Regulator’s latest quarterly report shows residential electricity plans can differ by up to $420 AUD (≈ $277 USD) between the median market offer and the cheapest available deal. Households on the default market offer (DMO) could save 4%‑11%...
AI Will Give Humanity the Moon, Mars and Supersonic Travel
Boom Supersonic secured a public order for 29 Superpower 42 MW natural‑gas turbines, delivering 1.21 GW of capacity to AI‑focused data‑center operator Crusade and creating a $1.25 billion backlog. The deal prices the turbines at roughly $1,033 per kilowatt, or $43 million per unit,...
Onsemi Powers Sineng's Solar and Energy Storage Systems
Onsemi’s latest hybrid power integrated modules, combining FS7 IGBTs with EliteSiC diodes in an F5BP package, have been selected for Sineng Electric’s next‑generation 430 kW liquid‑cooled string energy storage system and its 320 kW utility‑scale solar inverter. The modules deliver up to...
Unlocking 29.76% Efficiency for Perovskite Tandems
A Chinese research team introduced a colloidal chemistry approach that synchronises the crystallisation of wide‑bandgap and narrow‑bandgap subcells in all‑perovskite tandem solar cells, achieving a record 29.76% power conversion efficiency (PCE). The strategy employs graded carboxylate modulators—tartrate for the WBG...
NextGen Nano Plans £300m Agrivoltaics Programme
NextGen Nano Limited announced a £300 million agrivoltaics programme to pilot its transparent organic photovoltaic film, PolyPower, in West Africa. The flexible, 85 percent efficient panels will be integrated into greenhouse and tunnel structures to grow nutrient‑dense crops while generating off‑grid renewable...
Shutting Nuclear Plants Stalled Decades of Global Growth
Decades of global economic growth was stunted because of humanity’s decommissioning of its nuclear plants
Webinar | Battery Storage Trends in Data Centers and C&I Applications
IDTechEx is hosting a webinar on February 17, 2026, led by Principal Technology Analyst Conrad Nichols, to examine battery energy storage system (BESS) trends in data centers and commercial‑and‑industrial (C&I) applications. The session will map emerging demand across regions and...
New Report | Batteries for Construction, Agriculture & Mining Machines
IDTechEx released a comprehensive report forecasting off‑highway battery demand for construction, agriculture and mining equipment through 2036. It projects total battery consumption to reach 45 GWh and outlines revenue growth in the US‑dollar billions. The study evaluates current NMC and LFP...
Expert Webinar on EV Battery Material Trends
IDTechEx hosted a 30‑minute webinar on March 19, 2026, where analyst Daniel Parr examined how evolving electric‑vehicle battery material trends are driving lower prices and higher energy density. The session covered regional EV market dynamics, the trade‑offs between NMC and...
Beyond the HEFA Tipping Point: What Does the Future Hold for Biofuels?
The HEFA pathway currently supplies most sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) but its feedstock is projected to run out by the early 2030s, creating a so‑called HEFA tipping point. IDTechEx’s market forecast highlights alcohol‑to‑jet (ATJ) and gasification routes as the most...
The Latest Lithium Developments - From Additives to Extraction
IDTechEx highlights rapid growth in lithium‑ion battery additives and the emergence of direct lithium extraction (DLE) as a game‑changing supply method. Additives—binders, conductive agents, electrolyte enhancers—remain under 10% of cell mass but are critical for performance, with PFAS‑free alternatives gaining...
New Cyber Threats Target Power Grid Infrastructure
All emerging cyber threats targeting power infrastructure at a glance #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/CgfOPDFHMV
Bull of the Day: Imperial Oil (IMO)
Imperial Oil (IMO), Canada’s largest refiner, posted Q4 2025 earnings of $1.41 per share, beating estimates and marking its 15th consecutive beat. The company’s outlook improved as the February‑2026 Middle‑East conflict shut the Strait of Hormuz, pushing WTI and Brent...
Waiver Misses Domestic Oil Boost, Exports Surge
JUST IN: Trump's shipping waiver failed to increase domestic oil flows, but US fuel exports are surging.
Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions with Anion-Bridged Secondary Solvation Sheaths for Highly Efficient Zinc Metal Batteries
Researchers have introduced an anion‑bridged secondary solvation sheath in aqueous electrolytes, reshaping Zn2+ coordination and suppressing water‑induced side reactions. The engineered electrolyte delivers near‑unity Coulombic efficiency (>99.5%), supports current densities up to 5 mA cm⁻², and enables over 1,000 stable charge‑discharge cycles...
Mailiao Plant Coal-Fired Generators to Resume
Taiwan Power Co announced it will restart two 500‑megawatt coal‑fired generators at the Mailiao plant for a three‑month period, aiming to bolster electricity security amid heightened LNG supply risks linked to the Middle East conflict. The units, idle since late...
Power Rates Unchanged Till September
Taiwan's Executive Yuan announced that electricity tariffs will stay unchanged from this month through September, and fuel prices will remain flat for the week. The ministry instructed CPC Corp and Formosa Petrochemical to maintain stable production and secure sufficient oil...
EDITORIAL: Mideast War Tests Economic Resilience
More than a month after the Middle East war began, surging oil prices are driving inflation in Taiwan. The National Development Council expects CPI up about 1.5% month‑over‑month, while the manufacturing PMI stays above 50, indicating continued expansion. Export growth...
Tankers with Qatar LNG Attempt to Exit the Strait of Hormuz
Two Qatar‑linked LNG tankers, Al Daayen and Rasheeda, moved toward the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first possible loaded transit since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began in late February. The waterway’s effective closure has halted about one‑fifth of global...
Saudi Arabia Raises Asia Oil Price to Record
Saudi Aramco announced a record‑high Arab Light price for Asia, adding a $19.50 premium over regional benchmarks for next‑month sales. The hike follows a widening Middle East conflict and Iran’s near‑closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has strained global...
US War in Iran Is Pushing up Gas Prices and Making a Case for Home Solar
The United States’ escalating conflict with Iran has driven diesel prices above $8 per gallon in parts of California, sending fuel costs soaring. Higher gasoline and diesel prices are prompting a surge in electric vehicle (EV) purchases, with Toyota, Hyundai...
Trump's Deadline Looms but Asian Nations Already Have Deals with Iran
President Trump warned Iran of a "one‑night" strike unless the Strait of Hormuz was reopened by Tuesday night. While the deadline loomed, several Asian nations – including the Philippines, India, Pakistan and China – secured bilateral agreements with Tehran for...
2026 Oil Forecast Update - April 6, 2026
The firm warned early that U.S.-Iran tensions were rising and issued an oil forecast before most market participants took notice. Initial panic predicted an abrupt supply collapse, but the anticipated crash never materialized. The conflict has now entered a new...
Energy Prices Are Surging Again - but UK Businesses Face a Bigger Hidden Cost
The UK’s power system is shifting to intermittent renewables, prompting Ofgem’s Targeted Charging Review to replace consumption‑based transmission fees with a fixed daily Transmission Demand Residual (TDR). The new regime will lift TDR charges by more than 65% in April...
UNSW Sydney Study Reveals Hidden UV Risks for Solar Panel Manufacturing
Engineers at UNSW Sydney have developed a global model showing ultraviolet radiation can reduce the lifespan of next‑generation solar panels by up to ten years, especially in high‑UV regions. The research reveals that sun‑tracking installations receive significantly more UV exposure...
Trump’s Iran Fiasco Fuels US Oil and LNG Profits
Who Benefits from Trump's Iran Debacle? US Oil, LNG Companies Who could have guessed this would happen? Narrator: Everyone. Like, all human beings everywhere. #uspoli #cdnpoli https://markhamhislop.substack.com/p/who-benefits-from-trumps-iran-debacle
Renewables Cut Emissions on Australia's Main Grid
Chart of the Day: How renewables have helped slash emissions on Australia’s main grid #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/QmStZ0KABQ https://t.co/n3h5QYzgCr
Brent Holds Steady as Ceasefire Deal Fizzles
Benchmark Brent crude held steady on Monday as traders weighed the prospect of a cease‑fire in the five‑week‑old Middle East conflict. The market’s cautious optimism was tempered by the collapse of the cease‑fire negotiations, keeping risk premiums elevated. Prices edged...
France’s Nuclear Embrace vs Germany’s Energy Retreat
France should get a ton of credit for embracing nuclear energy, while Germany went the opposite direction
Worker’s Agenda Omits Oil Tax, Mirrors Lewis Platform
I can't find the proposal for an oil and gas export tax in the Worker's Agenda? And, more importantly, is the @ABFedLabour opposed to any new fossil fuel infrastructure? Because that's what's in Lewis's platform. https://t.co/ngYuBaCqtY
Gov’t Moves to Secure Domestic Gas Supply Amid Global Disruptions
The Australian Government has issued a notice of intent to potentially activate the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism (ADGSM) if a projected gas shortfall materialises on the east coast in Q3 2026. The ACCC forecasts a 12‑petajoule deficit, with a...
RayGen Launches 1 MW Solar‑hydro Plant in Brazil
RayGen rolls out 1 MW ‘solar hydro’ power plant in Brazil #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/btQwF31pyx
Iran Seeks Stablecoin Payments for Hormuz Transits
I’ve seen reports that Iran is demanding payment in stablecoins for Hormuz transits. Does anyone know the addresses or chain details?
Markets Close Slightly up as Trump Ties Hormuz Reopening to Iran Ceasefire, Tehran Rejects Proposal
President Trump has made reopening the Strait of Hormuz a non‑negotiable condition for any cease‑fire with Iran, setting a Tuesday evening deadline. Tehran rejected the Pakistan‑brokered proposal, insisting on a broader, permanent peace that includes sanctions relief and reconstruction support....
Video: Shortage Is Driving Impending Price Surge Of Oil, LNG, Fertilizer, Food, & Interest Rates
A recent video discussion with Kasper of USELINK Technical Analysis warns that tightening supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas are set to trigger a cascade of price increases across fertilizers, food commodities, and even interest rates. The analysis links...