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:
How Long Can the Bank of Canada Look Through a US$100 Oil Shock?
BMO projects Canadian inflation edging just above 3% in April as oil prices breach $100 per barrel, yet the Bank of Canada keeps its policy rate steady at 2.25%. The governing council said it will "look through" the temporary energy shock, relying on judgment rather than models. Money markets are pricing in two rate hikes later in 2026, but most economists expect the bank to stay on hold until inflation proves persistent. Consumer fuel costs are rising, with typical surcharges now equivalent to roughly $30‑$37 USD per passenger.
Fuel Subsidies Are a Ticking Clock, Not Protection
RM4 billion in subsidies sounds like protection. It is actually a countdown clock. Malaysia has spent more defending fuel prices in one month than most emergency budgets allocate for an entire quarter — and the conflict that triggered it has no...
Improving Recycling Rates for Cell-to-Pack Battery Systems
The Fraunhofer IPA‑led ‘Difference’ project targets the low recyclability of Cell‑to‑Pack (CTP) battery designs, which replace traditional modules with directly integrated cells. By focusing on robot‑assisted, laser‑based disassembly, the consortium aims to separate adhesives, foams and metals efficiently. The initiative,...
CITGO Sale Twists In The Wind As Treasury Department Stalls
Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez is moving to cement control of CITGO Petroleum by installing a new board of directors, including Asdrubal Chavez, a cousin of Hugo Chávez. The appointments require approval from the U.S. Treasury and State Departments, which have...
Trump Threatens To Bomb Iran Back To The Stone Age, Crude Oil And US Gasoline Prices Return To Obama/Biden Era...
President Donald Trump warned of a full‑scale bombing campaign against Iran following recent Israeli and U.S. strikes, reigniting geopolitical tension in the Middle East. The conflict has pushed crude oil to roughly $80 per barrel, a price level last seen...
Rising Gas Prices Won’t Halt Asia’s Renewable Shift
Don't fall for the easy narrative that costly gas will mean more coal burn in Asia. Briefly in the short term maybe, but the long term trajectory toward renewables gets stronger. Look at the math behind the argument. 🎁🔗 https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-04-01/iran-war-the-lng-shock-isn-t-driving-asia-back-to-coal
Green Steel Is the Way Forward for Indiana, Former Steelworkers Say
Former steelworkers in Northwest Indiana, now members of Gary Advocates for Responsible Development, are urging a shift from coal‑based integrated mills to cleaner direct‑reduced‑iron (DRI) and electric furnace technologies. A joint report by Indiana University and 5 Lakes Energy estimates...
Oil Rises and Asian Stocks Fall After Trump Says US Will Hit Iran Hard
Oil prices surged over 4% after President Donald Trump pledged to intensify U.S. strikes on Iran, pushing Brent crude to $106.16 a barrel and U.S. crude to $104.15. Asian equity markets reacted sharply, with Japan's Nikkei down 1.9% and South...
The Battery Linchpin: Why Energy Storage Is the only the only Way to Safely Power the AI Boom
The AI boom is set to push North American summer peak demand up by 224 GW, a 69% jump over the previous decade forecast. To meet the 24/7 power needs of hyperscale data centers, developers plan 24.3 GW of utility‑scale battery storage...
OMV Petrom’s Black Sea Well Fails to Find Significant Gas Volumes
OMV Petrom and its partners completed drilling the Krum‑1 exploration well in the Han Asparuh Block offshore Bulgaria, reaching roughly 3,500 metres without encountering significant gas volumes. The well follows the Vinekh well as the second deep‑water test in the Black Sea basin....
Robert Allan Ltd. Develops RApide 1800 Design for Brazilian Bunkering Operations
Robert Allan Ltd., partnering with Brazil’s Indústria Naval Catarinense Ltda., unveiled the RApide 1800 pushboat design for Transpetro’s bunkering operations. The 18.7‑meter vessel, 9.2 meters wide, features twin 450 kW Z‑drive thrusters and is classed by Bureau Veritas to meet NORMAM‑202/DPC inland navigation...
TotalEnergies, Masdar Establish US$2.2 Billion Asia Renewables Partnership
TotalEnergies and Masdar have formed a $2.2 billion 50‑50 joint venture to develop on‑shore solar‑PV, wind and battery‑storage projects across nine Asian countries. The new entity combines roughly 3 GW of operational assets with a 6 GW pipeline slated for completion by 2030....
StanChart Warns OPEC+ Could Abandon Cuts at Next Meeting
Standard Chartered’s energy research head Emily Ashford warned that the OPEC+ meeting on April 5 could see the group abandon its voluntary output cuts and associated compensation cuts, effectively unwinding the remaining April 2023 adjustments. She highlighted that eight OPEC+ members, led...
Colorado House Passes Legislation to Legalize Plug-In Solar for Renters
The Colorado House approved HB26‑1007, a bill that legalizes plug‑in solar systems for renters and multifamily residents. The legislation treats these portable photovoltaic arrays as personal property, sidestepping HOA and municipal bans, and mandates UL 3700 safety certification. It also...
Trump Claims US No Longer Needs Middle East Oil
🇺🇸 President Trump just said the United States doesn't need oil from the Middle East
Chemical Conversations: BTX Market Pressures Amid Middle East Conflict
In this episode, host Santosh talks with Ashish Kulkarni, Lead Aromatics Consultant at Argus, about how the Middle East conflict is driving crude price volatility and tightening NAFTA supplies, which in turn is squeezing benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) markets...
T1 Energy Produced 2.8GW Solar Modules in 2025, Forecasts up to 4.2GW in 2026
U.S. solar maker T1 Energy reported 2.79 GW of module production in 2025, aligning with its 2.6‑3 GW guidance. Q4 net sales surged to $358.5 million, while the net loss narrowed to $190 million, half of the prior year’s loss. The company secured a...
Global EV Surge Accelerates: Q2 Demand Set to Explode
March EV numbers are in for some countries and they're a banger. Just wait for orders placed in March to come through in the 2nd quarter France (Tesla): +203.1% YoY Sweden (Tesla): +144.0% YoY Brazil: +92% YoY (Feb) Colombia: +82% YoY (Jan) Norway: 98% EV...
Workforce Gap of 53,000 Threatens 2026 Solar Deployment Targets
The U.S. solar sector must meet a July 4, 2026 construction deadline to secure full federal tax credits, prompting a surge in project activity. Current employment stands at 280,000, but analysts project a need for 355,000 workers by late 2026, leaving a 53,000‑person...
SSE Appoints Derrymeen BESS Contractors
SSE has named Kirby Group Engineering and Sungrow as the primary contractors for the 100 MW/200 MWh Derrymeen Battery Energy Storage System in County Tyrone. Sungrow will provide its PowerTitan 2.0 battery technology while Kirby will manage construction and balance‑of‑plant work. Mobilisation is underway...
Correspondence: Registering with and Reporting Your Fuel Prices to Fuel Finder
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued an open letter urging all road fuel retailers to register with the government’s Fuel Finder platform and to report any price changes within 30 minutes. Starting 1 May 2026, the CMA will actively enforce...
Uber Expands $4,000 Grants For Drivers Who Switch To EVs
Uber has broadened its $4,000 "Go Electric" grant to every driver in the United States, extending a program that was previously limited to New York, California, Massachusetts and Colorado. The incentive applies to Platinum and Diamond drivers who switch to...
Osprey Opens New Midlands Ultra-Rapid EV Charging Hub
Osprey Charging has opened a new ultra‑rapid EV charging hub at Twyford Services near Evesham, featuring 16 Kempower chargers capable of 300 kW output. The site can potentially serve up to 32 vehicles at once and offers a range of payment...
Borr Drilling Secures New Drilling Rig Contracts Across Four Regions
Borr Drilling announced new contract commitments and extensions for four of its premium jack‑up rigs spanning West Africa, the Americas, Europe and Southeast Asia. The Prospector 5 rig secured a binding 320‑day, up‑to‑220‑day extension contract with BW Energy in Gabon. The...
Transocean Secures $1bn Backlog Boost
Transocean announced a roughly $1 bn increase to its order backlog after winning a new harsh‑environment semisub contract in Norway and securing extensions for two ultra‑deepwater drillships in Brazil. The Barents rig will operate under a 1,095‑day, $450,000‑per‑day agreement starting mid‑2027,...
We’re Absorbing £7M+ in Costs to Protect Our Customers.
Energy supplier tem is absorbing over £7 million (≈$9 million) of the 2026 TNUoS residual banded charge for contracts signed before October 2025, shielding customers from a 60% increase. The TNUoS charge, a non‑commodity cost set by NESO, is rising due to under‑investment...
Trump’s War Address Sends Oil Market Into Whiplash
Whipsawed once again: That is the state of the oil market and beyond as investors react to President Trump’s address to the nation regarding the Middle East War. (5-day WTI oil price chart below from CNBC.) #economy #markets #oil #MiddleEastWar @cnbc
Inquiry: Did Sohar LNG Cross So
Hello @TankerTrackers Has "Sohar LNG" crossed the SoH? If yes, did it go through the Omani waters or the international lanes? Thank you.
Future of Matla Mine, Power Station Secured as Exxaro, Eskom Ink CSA to 2043
Exxaro Resources and state utility Eskom have signed a new coal supply agreement that extends the delivery of Matla mine coal to the Matla power station through November 2043, renewing a partnership that began in 1983. The contract is a...
Trump Flips Brent From Red to Green, up 8%
Brent is up 8%.. It was in the RED but Trump moved it to the GREEN
Abandoning Hormuz Empowers Iran, Boosts Its Revenue
If the U.S. leaves Hormuz to others, Iran wins, writes @citrinowicz It gives Iran permission to exact revenue from tolls & increase its regional power Another brilliant Trump idea. https://t.co/oo6TbGKBxQ
VIDEO – Energy Storage Summit 2026: Assessing Germany’s Unique Merchant Opportunities
At the Energy Storage Summit 2026 in London, a panel examined Germany’s merchant‑only energy‑storage market, where subsidies are scarce and revenue must come from grid services and market participation. Speakers highlighted that Germany is projected to install 24 GW of utility‑scale storage...
Pipelines Pose Greater Security Risks Than Ships
Problem is pipelines are much harder to defend, easier to rupture and cyberattack than ships unless you bury everything far underground which is exceedingly difficult.
Macron Calls Military Reopening of Hormuz Unrealistic, Urges Iran Dialogue
French President Emmanuel Macron says it is "unrealistic" to think the Strait of Hormuz can be reopened through military means. "We must be able to reopen this strait because it’s strategic [...] but it can only be done in consultation with...
BP, ADNOC JV Takes FID on Harmattan Gas Project Off Egypt
Arcius Energy, the BP‑ADNOC joint venture, announced a final investment decision to develop the Harmattan gas field in Egypt’s El Burg Offshore concession. The project carries an estimated $500 million investment and aims to lift domestic natural‑gas output. Execution contracts have been...
Embargo Preferred Over Military to Stabilize Oil Prices
Taking Kharg Island or bombing powerplants takes Iran's oil off global markets for a long time. That spikes oil by a lot more and is what markets fear most. Better to do an embargo and take Iran's oil off the...
Buy Energy, Use Pump Puts Amid Market Divergence
In today's Early Look: "Long Energy & Pump Puts" While the Tourist crowd was busy chasing $SPY and $QQQ to lower-highs yesterday, the fractal was telling a different story. That's why I opted to buy Oil/Energy and introduce what I'm calling...
Carbon - In Focus: UK ETS Widens Discount to EU in Q1
The UK emissions trading scheme (ETS) front‑year contract widened its discount to the EU ETS in Q1, averaging £14.75 per tonne of CO₂e (about $19) and swinging between £6.85 and £25 per tonne. This is the broadest quarterly gap since...
Drone Attacks Force Unavoidable Russian Oil Output Cuts
Exclusive: Russian oil output cuts are unavoidable as drone attacks shrink exports, sources say https://t.co/5XWsLO71R7
Europe’s Battery Runs Low After Weak Snowfall
The country acts as Europe’s battery, but it doesn’t have enough charge after below-normal snowfall. https://t.co/nyKjJBBsEB
Colonial Pipeline’s Line 1 Shut After Georgia Damage, Threatening East Coast Fuel Supply
Colonial Pipeline announced that its Line 1, which moves about 1.5 million barrels of gasoline per day from Houston to the East Coast, is out of service after a third‑party work crew damaged a section in Paulding County, Georgia. The outage comes...
WTI Hits $108, Still Cheaper Than Brent
Oil prices surge, WTI May at $108 now. This is the "cheap" oil (Brent is more expensive)
China Poised to Benefit From Iran War Dynamics
In the days after the Iran war started, Erica Downs and I wrote @ForeignPolicy about why despite large oil and imports through the strait, China could be a counterintuitive winner. This week’s @TheEconomist captures the dynamic well, far beyond...
Five Key Lessons for a Data Centre and Energy Win-Win
Adrian Del Maestro argues that the rapid expansion of AI‑driven data centres hinges on secure, clean power and strategic use of "powered land". He highlights that under‑utilised sites with grid connections can generate new revenue streams while supporting the UK’s digital...
UK Fuel Prices Hit Record Rise Amid Iran War
Fuel prices for UK motorists rose by a record in March on Iran war https://t.co/61fdr9l4QE https://t.co/jkbJIwsFkN
Meta Funds Ten Natural‑gas Plants to Power $27 B AI Data Center, Sparking Climate Backlash
Meta announced funding for seven additional natural‑gas power plants, bringing its total to ten plants that will supply the $27 billion Hyperion AI data center in Louisiana. The 7.5 GW of capacity will match the electricity use of South Dakota, but environmental...
DOE, Amazon Launch AI Hub to Recycle Battery‑Grade Graphite
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory and the Critical Materials Innovation Hub have teamed up with Amazon to unveil an AI‑driven Critical Materials Hub that will recover battery‑grade graphite and other strategic minerals from textile and electronic waste....
China Says US, Israeli Attacks on Iran the ‘Root Cause’ of Hormuz Strait Blockage
China’s foreign ministry said US and Israeli strikes on Iran caused the Strait of Hormuz blockage. The closure has pushed Brent crude to about $100 a barrel, spiking global oil prices by 40‑50%. Chinese airlines announced fuel surcharges, while President...
Asian Nations Urge Citizens to Cut Energy Use
More and more Asian countries are asking its citizens to save energy ⚠️⚠️ 🇰🇷 “I earnestly appeal to all citizens to actively participate in energy-saving movements in daily lives, such as taking public transportation and conserving electricity,” said South Korean President...
Stopgap Oil Releases Fall Short as Gas Prices Top $4 a Gallon
A coalition of 32 IEA members released a record 400 million barrels of emergency oil, while the U.S. tapped the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and lifted sanctions on Iranian crude. Despite these moves, Brent crude breached $100 per barrel and U.S. gasoline...