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:
California Approved a Gas Pipeline Solution. Now Comes the Hard Part.
California's Senate Bill 1221 mandates the creation of decarbonization zones where aging gas pipelines are retired and residents transition to electric appliances, funded by avoided pipeline replacement costs. The CPUC has preliminarily identified 151 pilot zones using a 10% pipeline‑replacement threshold, but the selection process skews toward affluent, coastal neighborhoods. Utilities face a $43 billion pipeline‑replacement bill through 2045, with guaranteed 10% returns that incentivize continued gas investment. The bill’s success hinges on regulator willingness to prioritize vulnerable communities and align utility incentives with climate and cost goals.
Self‑sufficiency Exists, Yet Rewiring Distribution Is Costly
Technically, we have self-sufficiency, but it would be an expensive and lengthy process to re-work our entire distribution & refining system to tap into it. The internal distribution system (shipping, pipelines, etc) would have to be totally rewired to re-route...
RS and HMS Networks Enable Smart Oil and Gas Operations
RS has partnered with HMS Networks to offer Red Lion industrial networking solutions tailored for oil and gas operations across the value chain. The portfolio includes FlexEdge IIoT gateways, N‑Tron Ethernet switches, and Graphite HMIs, all engineered for extreme temperatures,...
Baker Hughes, Naftogaz to Explore Energy Cooperation
Ukraine’s state‑owned Naftogaz and U.S. energy‑technology firm Baker Hughes have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore joint projects across the entire energy value chain, from upstream exploration to power generation. The agreement emphasizes improving gas turbine and compressor efficiency,...
PERC Module Prices up 20% in the US, as Overall Module Prices Remain Constant
PERC (mono) solar modules jumped 20% in the United States, reaching $0.33 per watt between November 2025 and February 2026, while the overall average module price barely moved to $0.285/W. In contrast, TOPCon modules slipped to $0.28/W, making them cheaper than PERC...
Rising Physical Grid Attacks Prompt AI‑Powered Defense Surge
Physical attacks on the energy grid are rising in the US, Canada, and all over the world. Companies and research institutes are using cameras, radar, and AI to boost their defenses. https://spectrum.ieee.org/power-grid-attack-security-gridex
Investment Group Acquires Stake in TotalEnergies’ German Energy Storage Portfolio
TotalEnergies has sold a 50 % stake in its 800‑MW German battery storage portfolio to Allianz Global Investors for about €500 million (≈$577 million). The portfolio comprises 11 projects under construction, delivering 1,628 MWh of capacity and slated for commercial operation within two years....
650-V Bidirectional GaN Could Rewrite the Power-Conversion Playbook
Renesas introduced the TP65B110HRU, a 650‑V bidirectional GaN switch, at APEC 2026. The device merges a d‑mode GaN chip with silicon MOSFETs, offering 110 mΩ on‑resistance, a 3‑V gate threshold, and ±20‑V gate margin. Its true bidirectional operation enables single‑stage 500‑W solar...
Dizzying Fuel Prices Mostly Outside Gas Stations’ Control
U.S. gasoline prices have risen above $4 per gallon, the highest level since 2022, driven primarily by surging crude oil costs linked to geopolitical tensions such as the Iran war. While consumers often blame stations, retailers only capture roughly 10%...
Which States Experience the Most Power Outages?
Power outages disproportionately affect a handful of U.S. states, with Texas, California, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Louisiana topping the rankings. Extreme weather—hurricanes, wildfires, ice storms—and aging, sprawling grids drive higher outage hours and customer impacts. The frequency...
New Zealand Rethinks LNG Imports Amid War-Driven Prices
New Zealand’s newly appointed energy minister has publicly questioned the viability of the country’s planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal. The skepticism comes as the war in the Middle East has driven global LNG prices to multi‑year highs, making...
Innergex Commissions 13.2MW La Cense Wind
Innergex Renewable Energy and partner EOLFI have completed commissioning of the 13.2 MW La Cense onshore wind farm in France’s Oise region. The facility, consisting of four 3.3 MW Nordex N117 turbines, is expected to produce about 33 GWh of electricity per year...
North Sea Carbon Capture Projects Showing Steady Progress
Carbon capture and storage projects in the North Sea are moving from experimental pilots to commercial operations. Legacy gas producers such as Equinor, TotalEnergies and Shell are leading initiatives like Northern Lights, Northern Endurance Partnership and Porthos, each targeting multi‑megaton...
More Generation, More Transmission, More Load, More Challenges: Texas Grid Roundup #90
ERCOT’s interconnection queue has absorbed roughly 9,275 MW of new projects since December, spanning solar, wind, battery storage and gas. Gas proposals have surged to 57,403 MW, nearly doubling the previous year, while solar (163,000 MW) and storage (178,000 MW) still dominate. Planned transmission...
Oil Prices Surge After Trump's Televised Falsehoods
Holy shit. The price of oil is melting UPWARD at this point, as soon as Trump lied his ass off on national TV last night. This is the find out portion of FAFO…
Amid Iran War Energy Crunch, Taiwan Turns Back Toward Nuclear Energy
Taiwan’s Lai administration announced plans to recommission the Guosheng No. 2 and Maanshan No. 3 nuclear reactors, targeting a 2028 return to service. The move follows an energy crunch triggered by the Iran‑related Strait of Hormuz disruption, which has driven up global...
Ireland Must Accelerate Offshore Energy Production
Ireland aims for up to 37 GW of offshore renewable capacity by 2050, relying heavily on floating wind in its deep Atlantic waters. The government’s climate and industrial strategies earmark billions of euros—roughly $327 billion—in the National Development Plan, but current port...
Inside Sweden’s Policy U-Turn: Q&A with the Government’s Nuclear Lead
Sweden has abandoned its nuclear phase‑out, lifting the ban on new reactors and unveiling a roadmap that adds 2.5 GW of large‑scale capacity by 2035 and aims for 8.2 GW by that year. The government introduced a state‑backed financing scheme covering the...
Exxaro Concludes 9.3mt Coal Sale with Eskom
Exxaro Resources signed a long‑term agreement with South Africa's power utility Eskom to supply 9.3 million tonnes of coal each year to the Matla power station. The coal will come from Exxaro's Matla Colliery, which recently completed a R5.2 bn (≈ $275 m) expansion...
The Scramble for Green Hydrogen in South Africa: Screening and Discussion
The UK will host the UK premiere of the documentary “The Scramble for Hydrogen in South Africa” on 5 May 2026, spotlighting the nation’s aggressive green‑hydrogen agenda. Britain aims for 10 GW of production by 2030, backed by over £2 billion (≈ $2.5 billion) in...
Reject Talen-Energy Capital Power Plant Deal, PJM Market Monitor Tells FERC
Federal regulators are being urged to reject Talen Energy’s proposed purchase of about 2.6 GW from Energy Capital Partners because the deal would amplify Talen’s market power in the PJM Interconnection. Monitoring Analytics warns the acquisition could pull capacity out of...
Singapore Bunker Supply Continues to Run Down as Middle East War Drags On
Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering hub, sold 56.2 million metric tons of bunker fuel in 2025, a 3.2% increase year‑over‑year. Over half of its fuel imports travel through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the Middle East...
Boralex Secures $202m Ontario BESS Financing
Boralex and Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation have closed a CAD $202 million financing package (≈ US$147 million) for the 125 MW/500 MWh Oxford battery energy storage system in Ontario, slated for commercial operation in 2027. The deal, funded by Canadian Imperial Bank...
6% of Welsh People Think Renewable Energy Development Should Decrease, Research Shows
A RenewableUK Cymru poll shows 71% of Welsh residents want more renewable energy development, while only 6% favor a decrease, and 58% envision a future electricity system dominated by renewables. Respondents across Labour, Plaid Cymru, Conservative and Green voters are...
Hormuz: Open — But Still Not Usable at Scale
The Strait of Hormuz, handling roughly 20% of global oil, is technically open but remains unreliable for commercial use. Selective vessel passages and unpredictable closures have eroded shippers' confidence, turning the corridor into a sporadic route. Alternative pathways are absorbing...
EnerVenue Lands $300 Million Series B Extension to Commercialize Lithium‑free Batteries
EnerVenue announced a $300 million Series B extension and the appointment of veteran executive Henning Rath as CEO. The funding, led by Full Vision Capital and backed by Hong Kong’s Investment Corporation, will fuel large‑scale manufacturing and a new regional headquarters in...
Off‑grid AI Data Centers Need Grid Connection, Not Isolation
Off grid data centers are more about “male energy” than about speed. An AI training load shape will burn straight through a turbine, so you have to develop an expensive integrated package with storage. And at that point just connect...
ARA Crop-Based Fame Cheaper than Diesel for First Time
For the first time, European crop‑based biodiesel (FAME) traded below ICE gasoil, with the benchmark Fame 0 discounting diesel by $25‑78 per tonne in early April. The price gap stems from Middle‑East supply shocks that have pushed diesel to multi‑year highs....
World Fuel, West Coast Clean Fuels Launch US Methanol Bunkering Service
World Fuel Services and West Coast Clean Fuels have launched a U.S.‑wide methanol bunkering capability after a successful pilot in South Florida. The service uses Coast Guard‑approved procedures, trained crews and purpose‑built equipment to deliver methanol directly from trucks to...
Hormuz Disruption Roils African Oil Markets, Economies
A prolonged shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz is set to severely disrupt oil flows to and from sub‑Saharan Africa, threatening export revenues and import costs across the region. The bottleneck pushes global freight rates higher and forces African refiners...
OPEC Warns Oil Demand Forecasts Miss Rising ICE Sales
OPEC researchers raise a very important point here. A major oversight in forecasts predicting a sharp drop in oil demand from rising EV adoption is the failure to account for the ongoing growth in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Ironically,...
WTI Backwardation Spikes, Shale Hedging Options Remain Limited
CHART OF THE DAY: The extreme backwardation in WTI oil futures, and the impact on (lack of) hedging opportunities for US shale for 2027-28. While the front of the curve has exploded (+$44 a barrel), the back (24 months out...
Radisson Hotel Group Raises Net-Zero Ambition for 100 Hotels, Sets 2030 Goal
Radisson Hotel Group announced a 2030 ambition for all 100 of its hotels to achieve net‑zero status, expanding the Verified Net Zero Hotels pilot that currently operates in Manchester and Oslo. The initiative targets full elimination of Scope 1 and 2...
Record Wind and Solar Cut UK Gas Imports £1bn
NEW ANALYSIS: Record wind and solar generation saved UK from gas imports worth £1bn in March 2026 📈Wind+solar were up 22% year-on-year in March to a record high for the month ⛴️This avoided the need for gas imports worth £1bn at current...
Iran War and Hormuz Blockade: A Marathon, Not Sprint
"Pace yourself. The Iran War and Hormuz closure is a marathon, not a sprint." https://t.co/BU5JGk7A7w
Kaunas Airport Pioneers Use of Hydrogen Powered Truck
Lithuania’s Kaunas Airport successfully trialed a 10‑ton hydrogen‑powered heavy‑duty truck, completing roughly 100 km of apron, runway and taxiway cleaning without emitting CO₂. The test is part of the EU‑funded Interreg Baltic Sea Region BSR HyAirport project, which also sees similar pilots...
UK's Privatized Oil Depleted; Norway Retains Wealth
FACTCHECK UPDATE: No, the UK can't "be more like Norway" in the North Sea 🇬🇧 extracted most of its oil & gas after privatisation 🇳🇴 has much more left due to state stewardship 🤔Lawson spent UK windfall on tax cuts; Norway got a...
CFA Tag Reveals Client Ignorance on WTI‑Brent
If you manage outside money, put the letters “CFA” at the end of your social media name, and today you are asking “Why is WTI trading above Brent?,” I’m afraid your clients have a problem.
JPMorgan Says US Must Reopen Hormuz, Doubts Iran's Credibility
JP Morgan’s chief strategist is on CNBC saying the Strait of Hormuz has to be reopened by the US because it’s unthinkable for that not to happen. It’s a ‘temporary oil issue.’ They still don’t believe Iran has any credibility. Amazing.
Iran Turns Hormuz Passage Into Paid ‘Peace’ Toll
Iran’s ‘Tollbooth’ Tightens Grip on Hormuz as Ships Offered Safe Passage—For a Price. Will this be the “peace” of the war? https://t.co/cD3EleDx1i
Delaying Coal Closures Risks Higher Prices and Unreliability
“It’s a risky strategy:” Why delaying coal closures may backfire on price and reliability #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/HYRCRQ04NT https://t.co/I4f2Ny9CkJ
Manila, Hanoi, Putrajaya Pursue Separate Iran Energy Deals
Manila, Hanoi, and Putrajaya all seeking separate deals with Iran on energy access in the last few days …
WTI Crude Hits Highest Level Since Early War Melt‑Up
WTI crude just absolutely sending it. The US crude benchmark is now at its highest level since that melt-up we got on the second Monday of the war. https://t.co/4hONtQf997
Trump’s Policies Engineered Massive Oil Spike and Recession
To @anasalhajji ‘s point, you’d be hard pressed to engineer a more perfect recipe for a major sustained spike in crude & products, with accompanying global recession and market crash, than what Trump’s crew has unleashed. The 12-D chess of...
Google Turns to Natural Gas Amid AI Energy Surge
Google, considered the leader in clean energy, eyes natural gas as AI power demand rises https://t.co/nY2HfdjLsq via @axios
Airlines Scramble as Jet Fuel Scarcity Hits Markets
New Episode: For aviation, a “No Jet Fuel Left” reality is around the corner in several markets, as airlines try to outbid each other for the little Jet A-1 fuel remaining. 🛢️ Here’s what’s happening 👇🏽🎧 #OnAir (available on all...
Oil Prompt Spread Hits Record Backwardation
Look at that backwardation...prompt spread (difference between the front-month oil futures contract and the subsequent contract) blowing out to records https://t.co/KBfkkpr9IC
Admin Plans Iran Exit Despite $4+ Gas Surge
With the apparent TACO yesterday, the administration is saying we will wind down our involvement in Iran without figuring out how to work through the disruption leading to $4+ gas prices in the USA? @EnergyEmpirePod https://t.co/N9KbLRP829
Hormuz Disruption Forces Europe Into Diesel Bidding War
With Hormuz still disrupted, diesel is going to the highest bidder Europe will have to compete hard for every marginal barrel. https://t.co/76ycFBcrIj #Diesel #Europe #OilMarkets
Plug‑in Solar Panels Repay in 5 Years, Save £1,100
NEW ANALYSIS: Plug-in solar panels could save a typical UK home £1,100 over their lifetime, after paying back the initial investment within 5 years By my colleague Ho Woo Nan https://t.co/i5ELgpMRk2