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:
China Reveals Military Capabilities in New Space Solar Power Plant Design
China’s Zhuri program has unveiled a revamped OMEGA design that replaces a single massive orbital power station with a modular array of smaller solar‑collecting units. The new architecture emphasizes ultra‑narrow, steerable microwave beams capable of both wireless power transmission and potential communication or jamming functions. A 75‑metre ground test in 2022 demonstrated end‑to‑end energy capture, conversion, and beaming, while the modular shift aims to lower engineering risk and improve fault tolerance. The move positions China to potentially outpace NASA’s 2028 lunar‑south‑pole power‑delivery target.
US Gas Prices Set to Remain Flat Amid Logistics Limits
This is an amazing primer that explains the natural gas market and why prices are likely to stay flat or fall in the US, despite a global shortage and surging global prices. As Greg states - the limitation is one...
JPMorgan Identifies a Massive Investment Opportunity
JPMorgan’s March 25 report flags the U.S. power grid—averaging nearly 60 years old—as a national‑security risk vulnerable to extreme weather, cyber threats and geopolitical tension. The bank projects roughly $1 trillion in U.S. grid upgrades between 2026 and 2035, part of...
Over 200 Defects, Trouble with Construction Found at Chinese Nuclear Plants
Chinese regulators uncovered more than 200 construction defects at nuclear plants built between 2011 and 2024, including faulty AP1000 piping that postponed the Sanmen and Haiyang reactors. The safety body ordered comprehensive inspections, highlighting issues such as undersized concrete, foreign...
Strait of Hormuz Tensions: Murrin’s Critical Weekly Forecast
Every Saturday. David Murrin’s key predictions from the week’s latest insight. This week — the Strait of Hormuz. And what’s really at stake.
Brookfield Mirrors Berkshire Hathaway with $3 Billion Power Deals and Aggressive Roll‑Ups
Brookfield Corporation is accelerating its acquisition engine, using an insurance‑float model similar to Berkshire Hathaway. Recent $3 billion Google hydropower contract and a 10.5‑gigawatt Microsoft renewable pact underscore a strategy of large‑scale roll‑ups that could redefine private‑equity dynamics.
GTC Secures Smart‑Home Contract for UK's Largest Net‑Zero Housing Development at Cosmeston Farm
GTC has been chosen by Barratt Redrow to supply the full smart‑home energy and utility system for Cosmeston Farm, a 576‑home development that will become the UK's largest net‑zero carbon housing site. The contract, backed by the Welsh Government and...
Soma Energy Secures $7 Million Seed Round to Accelerate AI Data‑Center Power
Soma Energy, founded by former AWS infrastructure leaders, closed a $7 million seed round led by Category Ventures to deploy its AI platform that unlocks existing grid capacity for AI‑heavy data centers. The funding will expand engineering and commercial teams and...
China’s Push for Hydrogen-Powered Planes Takes Step Forward Amid Iran Energy Crisis
China’s Aero Engine Corporation successfully flew a 7.5‑tonne unmanned cargo plane powered by a 1‑megawatt hydrogen turboprop, completing a 16‑minute, 36‑kilometre test at 220 km/h and 300 metres altitude. The flight proves the engine’s reliability and showcases China’s claim of a complete...
Parliament Body Unhappy as PFBR Cost Mounts to ₹8,181 Crore
A Parliamentary Standing Committee criticised the 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) project for spiralling costs and chronic delays. The estimated cost has risen to ₹8,181 crore (about $982 million), more than double the original ₹3,492 crore ($419 million) budget, and the plant, under...
Hormuz Between Trump and Iranian IRGC (A Podcast)
The U.S. International Development Finance Corp. doubled its reinsurance guarantees for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to $40 billion, adding major insurers such as AIG and Berkshire Hathaway. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump warned Iran with a 48‑hour deadline to...
The UN Has a Plan to Open Hormuz (Two of Them, Actually.)
The UN Secretary‑General announced a new task force to design technical mechanisms that would allow fertilizer and humanitarian goods to flow through the Strait of Hormuz amid the third Persian Gulf war. Oil shortages are already rattling South Asian economies,...
RI Turns to Africa, India for Naphtha as Middle East Supply Tightens
Indonesia relies on Middle East naphtha for 70% of its petrochemical feedstock, but the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, halting shipments. The supply crunch has pushed pack prices up by Rp5,000‑6,000 (≈$0.30) and driven packaging...
Debunking A Persistent Myth: U.S. Refineries Can’t Handle Shale Oil
U.S. refineries are fully capable of processing light, sweet shale crude, but economic factors drive them to blend heavy and light barrels. Decades of capital investment created highly complex Gulf Coast plants optimized for heavy, sour oil, leaving some upgrading...
Karnataka LPG Shortage: Mandya Auto Drivers Hit as Fuel Bunkers Run Dry
Auto drivers in Mandya are facing a crippling LPG shortage as local fuel bunkers remain closed, leaving them unable to refuel and earn daily fares. The scarcity, tied to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, has forced many drivers to...
Critical 24 Hours Loom as Iran Strikes, US Pause Ends
Tomorrow at 8 PM ET, Trump's pause on striking Iranian energy infrastructure expires. Iran just hit Kuwait's oil complex and power plants with drones overnight. Israel says it's ready to strike Iranian energy sites, waiting for the green light. Russia...
OPEC+ Debates Theoretical Oil Output Hike Amid Iran War Paralysis
OPEC+ is expected to approve a modest output increase for May, but the rise will be largely academic because key producers cannot lift production amid the US‑Israeli war with Iran that has shut the Strait of Hormuz. The closure and...
How Trump’s Iran War Could Make the World More Reliant on Coal
The U.S. and its allies’ war with Iran is spurring a global shift back toward coal as nations scramble for reliable energy amid disrupted oil and gas supplies. Worldwide coal consumption has risen by roughly 1.3 billion tons since 2020, reaching...
In Panic, Oil Hoarding Is Inevitable—China Must Act
⭕️When markets are in panic, asking countries not to hoard oil is like asking people in a lifeboat not to ration the food — everyone knows the supplies might run out before rescue arrives, and self-preservation kicks in hard. ⭕️China...
Australia Receives Fuel Export Guarantees From Singapore, Japan
Australia has secured assurances from Japan, South Korea and Singapore that fuel shipments will continue despite disruptions from the Iran‑Israel conflict. The guarantees come after concerns that Asian exporters might curtail supplies to protect domestic markets. South Korea alone supplies...
California’s Hell’s Kitchen Lithium Project Stalls Amid Permitting, Price and Water Disputes
Rod Colwell’s Hell’s Kitchen lithium project in Imperial County has hit a wall as environmental lawsuits, falling lithium prices and a dispute over water and power supplies delay the rollout. Governor Gavin Newsom’s earlier promises of a 12,000‑job boom now...
Jet Fuel Peaks at $1,900/Tonne, Threatening European Airline Stocks and Holiday Travel
Jet fuel surged to a record $1,900 per tonne, prompting Ryanair to warn up to 10% of its summer flights could be axed and forcing Aurigny to add a £2 (≈$2.55) surcharge. The spike threatens airline earnings and tourism‑linked equities...
Trump’s Offshore-Drilling Dream Is a Recipe for Poisoning the Oceans
The Trump administration is reviving offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, releasing plans to lease up to 1.27 billion acres of public waters and selling 141 thousand acres at record‑low royalty rates. Within days, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved...
Ukraine Hits Port in Russia’s Primorsk, Oil Refinery in Nizhny Novgorod
Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s Baltic Sea port of Primorsk and the NORSI oil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod, causing a fuel reservoir leak and a refinery fire. The attacks damaged a pipeline at Primorsk and ignited two units at NORSI, Russia’s...
Iran Threatens Massive Saudi, Israeli Infrastructure Strike Within 24 Hours
“Strategic Assessment: If Iran does not receive a credible signal by tomorrow of Trump reconsidering an attack on Iran's infrastructure, it will preemptively, irreversibly, and on a massive scale target the Saudi electricity and oil production infrastructure, as well as...
Himachal: Naina Devi Temple Trust Starts Producing Biogas From Leftover Food
The Naina Devi Temple Trust in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, has launched a biogas plant that converts organic waste from its community kitchen into fuel. The pre‑fabricated system processes about 200 kg of food waste each day, generating roughly 20 kg of biogas,...
OMCs to Pay Discounted Rates to Refiners Amid Fuel Price Freeze
Indian state‑run oil marketing companies (OMCs) announced a one‑time discount on the refinery transfer price (RTP) to curb losses from a self‑imposed fuel‑price freeze. The discount reaches up to ₹60 per litre (about $0.72) and includes diesel cuts from ₹146,243 per kl...
Retail Energy Aid Delayed Until War Ends, Prices Stabilize
I know people are crying out for energy price support and it has already been provided for heating oil and people on benefits. My prediction is that they won’t rush into retail price support until we have a chance...
OPEC+ Plans Symbolic Oil Quota Hike Amid War, Delegates Say
OPEC+ members agreed in principle to raise their oil production quotas for May. The increase adds roughly 206,000 barrels per day, a modest but symbolic adjustment. Saudi Arabia and Russia led the video‑conference decision as the Middle East war constrains...
In Response to the "The Last Molecule Standing"
The post highlights how geographic and technological concentration of critical commodities—natural gas/LNG, helium, rare gases, fertilizers, and specialized heat exchangers—creates systemic vulnerabilities that can amplify price spikes and supply disruptions. It points out that while some markets, like LNG, have...
AEMC Proposed New Grid Standards for Data Centre Connections
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has released a draft rule package proposing new grid connection standards for large data centres. The proposal introduces mandatory ride‑through capability, raises the size threshold for "large" inverter‑based loads to 30 MW, and aligns requirements...
Sinéad O'Sullivan: We Need a National Strategy for the Fuel Crisis. Here Are Four Things We Can Do Now
Recent Middle East conflict has driven heating oil prices in Ireland from about $545 to over $1,090 per fill within a month. The Irish government responded with a €250 million ($273 million) relief package, including excise cuts and a diesel rebate, but...
Can the Energy Price Shock Push the UK Into Recession?
Deutsche Bank warns that a massive global energy price shock could push the United Kingdom into recession, slashing its GDP growth forecast to a narrow 0.35‑0.7% range. The analysis highlights a “non‑linear” risk where growth could contract faster than traditional...
An Electric Farm, an Electric Harvest …. Electric Everything
Electric tractors can feasibly replace diesel units for large‑scale seeding by consuming roughly 3.1 MWh per day, a demand met with on‑farm solar and battery storage. One hectare of optimally sited PV in Australia generates about 3.5 MWh daily, enough to power...
Russian LNG Vessel Shifts From Arctic to Africa‑Asia Trade
This is a story packed with irony — perfect for the media: An ICE-class LNG carrier, once dedicated to carrying Yamal LNG from Russia’s Arctic, is now transporting LNG from Africa to Asia. The question is: Why is a Russian company shipping...
Oil Shocks Ripple Globally Through Inflation and Rates
“America doesn’t need Hormuz” misses the point, writes @vtchakarova Oil is global. Prices are global. Risk is global. You don’t need the barrels to feel the shock. It hits through inflation, rates, and the system itself. #Oil #EnergyCrisis #Geopolitics #Inflation
Taiwan Secures LNG Supply Assurances From a ‘Major’ Country
Taiwan’s economy minister announced that a major LNG‑producing nation has offered full support for the island’s natural‑gas needs, pledging additional cargoes on request. The move follows concerns that the Iran war could disrupt Middle‑East supplies, prompting Taiwan to diversify its...
Iran's Threats Are Coercive, Not Imminent Strikes
Iran to strike Saudi electric power and oil? That's coercive messaging, not reality. Iran escalates in steps, not countdown clocks. #Iran #Geopolitics #Warfare #EnergyCrisis
Diesel Near Record High as Gas Hits $4.11
National avg for gas is now $4.11, per AAA Diesel avg is now $5.61 (just 20 cents below all-time high)
Risk, Not Policy, Stalls Hormuz Oil Shipments
Hormuz tanker exemptions change nothing, writes @CRUDEOIL231 Without ships willing to enter Hormuz, the barrels don’t move. The constraint isn’t policy—it’s risk, insurance, and tanker availability. A few ships don’t fix the energy crisis #Oil #Hormuz #EnergyCrisis #Geopolitics
Solar and Storage Power Ireland's Inaugural Co‑located Data Center
PV, storage to anchor Ireland’s first co-located data center campus #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/91ysxf8ShG
Media Lauds Trump’s Iran Moves, Dismisses Similar Biden Successes
If ONLY Trump had someone on his staff who could have told him that Iran would shut the Strait of Hormuz, oh well.
Storms Knock Out Power to Dozens of Dagestan Villages
Heavy rains, wet snow and strong winds damaged some power facilities in the Russian region of Dagestan, leaving dozens of villages without electricity, local officials said https://t.co/hOqgRKHabd
Northeast U.S. Heating Oil Users Face 60% Supply Cut
About 4.79 million U.S. households use heating oil as their primary heating fuel in winter 2023–2024, and roughly 82% of those homes were in the Northeast.
Turkish‑operated Tanker Moves 1 M Barrels via Iran’s Corridor
Roughly 1 million barrels of Iraqi Basra Heavy has passed through the Strait of Hormuz using the Iranian-assigned corridor. The vessel, a shadow fleet tanker, is owned and operated by a Turkish company. Map form @Kpler
Gulf Oil Disruption Hits Asian Nations, Fuels Global Price Surge
The bulk of crude oil out of the Persian Gulf - before the war - went to Asia. That dependence is now creating a giant hole, which is what's driving up oil prices globally. Especially hard hit are Pakistan (PK),...
Japan Secures Four Months of Naphtha Supply
Japan has secured at least four months of naphtha, Prime Minister Takaichi says 🇯🇵 🛢️ 📌 Two months' worth of imported naphtha already procured 📌 Two months' worth of inventories
Spain's VAT Cut Makes Its Gasoline Cheapest in Europe
Good Morning from Germany, which now ranks only in the middle of the pack in Europe when it comes to tax-free fuel. Gasoline is most expensive (excluding taxes) in Spain, which may be because Spain subsidizes gasoline by reducing the...
Iranian Drones Strike Kuwait Oil Sites, Warning Before Trump Ultimatum
Hours ahead of Trump’s ultimatum on attacks on Iranian infrastructure, Iranian drones attacked (and set on fire) the headquarters of the Kuwait state-owned oil company KPC and the country’s oil ministry, located in Kuwait City. The message seems clear.
Australia Assures Fuel Supply Ahead of Japan PM Visit
Australia given fuel supply assurances as plans in works for visit by Japan's prime minister https://t.co/C0jQ0t1KjJ via @ABCaustralia