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:
First Glimpses of Output at REECE2 Unit, Following (Possible) Fire in August 2025
The REECE2 power‑generation unit, sidelined after a suspected fire on 5 August 2025, produced its first measurable output on 1 April 2026, as captured by SCADA data at roughly 08:30 NEM time. Early market data from ez2view’s Bids & Offers widget indicate a cautious approach to re‑integrating the plant into the National Electricity Market. Forecasts show the unit operating at a reduced 80 MW from 11 April 2026, remaining at that level for about two years before a modest increase to 119 MW in April 2028. Hydro Tasmania has not issued any public comment on the incident.
2026-04-01: Iran Doubles Oil Revenue, Strengthens Strait of Hormuz Control Amid Military Conflict
Iran announced legislation to levy transit fees and require cargo disclosures for ships passing the Strait of Hormuz, effectively turning the chokepoint into a revenue‑generating control zone. Despite U.S. threats to target Iranian oil facilities, Tehran’s oil exports have held...
Saudi Arabia Trades Oil Barrels for Batteries
Saudi Arabia is accelerating its shift from oil to energy storage, earmarking $64 billion in mining revenue by 2030 and targeting 48 GWh of domestic battery capacity. The kingdom aims to challenge China’s dominance by developing lithium‑metal technology and exploiting its own...
Depleted Oil Fuel Fund to Apply for Loan
Thailand's Oil Fuel Fund, facing a 42.1 bn baht (≈$1.14 bn) deficit, is set to seek a loan of up to 40 bn baht (≈$1.1 bn) from commercial banks. The request follows the formation of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s new cabinet, which restores full borrowing...
Tehran Power Outages Raise Alarm as Iranians Fear Strikes on Critical Infrastructure
U.S. airstrikes have repeatedly knocked out electricity in Tehran, marking a shift toward targeting Iran’s civilian infrastructure such as power grids, a pharmaceutical plant, universities, and fuel depots. Iranian officials denounce the attacks as illegal and express deep mistrust of...
OR Expands EV Services Amid Oil Price Volatility
PTT Oil and Retail Business (OR) announced a $1.76 bn (58 billion baht) investment plan through 2030, earmarking up to $1.15 bn for its oil and electric‑vehicle (EV) operations. The company aims to expand its EV charging network to serve 7,000 motorists daily...
Microsoft in Talks With Chevron, Engine No. 1 Over $7 Billion Texas Power Plant
Microsoft is in exclusive negotiations with Chevron and activist fund Engine No. 1 to secure a long‑term electricity off‑take from a proposed 2,500‑megawatt natural‑gas power plant in West Texas. The $7 billion project, slated for completion before 2030, would supply power to a...
Trump Claims Leaving Iran Will Lower Gas Prices
Asked how he'll bring down gas prices, President Trump says: "All I have to do is leave Iran, & we'll be doing that very soon." Trump also just reiterated his view that securing passage through the Strait of Hormuz is a...
Upstart Polar LNG Offers New Export Proposal for Alaska
Polar LNG, a newly formed company, has submitted a proposal to build a near‑shore liquefaction plant on Alaska’s North Slope, aiming to export stranded natural gas. The project envisions a $10‑plus billion investment and a 5 million‑tonne‑per‑year capacity, but it currently lacks...
Alberta's Perpetual Oil Demand Myth Is Busted
Exploding Alberta's "Oil Demand Will Grow Forever" Myth I take issue with Peter Tertzakian's “End of Oil? We’ve Heard that Before” argument. #ableg #abpoli https://markhamhislop.substack.com/p/exploding-albertas-oil-demand-will
Egypt Advances Upstream Projects to Ease Gas Supply Crunch
Egypt is courting British oil major BP for new upstream investments to revive its dwindling oil and gas output. The push comes as the country grapples with a severe gas supply crunch intensified by the ongoing Middle East conflict, which...
Crude Futures Close Memorable March in Decline
Crude oil futures ended March with a modest daily decline but posted robust monthly gains, driven by heightened geopolitical tension. The ongoing war in the Middle East and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have constrained supply and...
Oil Prices, Mar. 31, 2026
On March 31, 2026, global crude oil prices edged higher, with Brent crude closing near $85 per barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) around $80. The rise reflected OPEC+’s decision to extend voluntary output cuts and a modest draw...
Market Watch: May Nymex Contract Inches Lower
May natural‑gas futures slipped slightly, closing at $2.884 per million British thermal units after peaking at $2.977 on Tuesday. Analysts attribute the dip to record U.S. production and a seasonal warming trend. Demand estimates show residential and commercial consumption at...
Comparative Fuels, Mar. 31, 2026
Energy Intelligence’s March 31 roundup highlights a resurgence of LNG development, with Polar LNG unveiling a near‑shore liquefaction plant on Alaska’s North Slope—an idea dismissed in 2018. Egypt is accelerating upstream gas projects to relieve a regional supply crunch, while...
Novel Interfacial Structure Achieves Highly Efficient, Stable Tandem Solar Cells
Lingnan University researchers introduced a novel self‑assembled monolayer (SAM) molecule, CbzBT‑B, that immobilizes ligands to create a localized 2D/3D perovskite heterojunction. This interface engineering reduces defect density, aligns energy levels, and suppresses voltage loss, enabling a perovskite‑organic tandem cell to...
Will the Iran Crisis Push the World to Rethink Oil and Gas?
The Endangered Species Committee, known as the "God Squad," voted unanimously to exempt offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from endangered‑species protections, marking its first meeting in three decades. The decision removes legal barriers for new wells, reviving a...
ClassNK Approves Corrosion-Resistant Cable for Offshore Wind Use
ClassNK has granted both a Manufacturing Procedure Approval and a Type Approval for KOBELCO Wire Company's new semi‑parallel wire cable (SPWC), marking the society’s first endorsement of this corrosion‑resistant product. The cable features 7 mm galvanized steel wires coated in polyethylene,...
Famous Last Words: “Get Your Own Oil”
The article highlights that front‑month Brent and WTI futures have moved in lockstep since 2022, underscoring a highly integrated global oil market. It rebuts former President Trump’s claim that U.S. oil prices consistently diverge from world prices, labeling the view...
Oil Futures Slip Into Backwardation as Hormuz Bottleneck Persists
With the Hormuz Strait all but closed, the crude oil futures curve is back to the backwardation levels of the first few days of the conflict. The front contract is about $23 higher than the 9th contract, indicating that the...
Qcells Introduces Turnkey Solar-Storage for New Homes
Qcells launches turnkey solar and storage program for new home construction #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/gyNI4D9iuh
U.S. Gasoline Prices Top $4 a Gallon, Sparking Stock Futures Rally
U.S. average gasoline prices rose above $4 a gallon for the first time in nearly four years, prompting S&P 500 futures to jump 1.1% and Nasdaq futures 1%. Traders are weighing the inflationary impact against hopes of de‑escalation in the...
MT Zea Passes Iranian Toll Booth, Hormuz Update
Sailing out of the Persian Gulf via the Iranian Toll Booth 1⃣Strait of Hormuz Update 31 March 2026 2⃣Where Are all the President's Tankers? 3⃣Sailing on MT Zea via @NewsNation Video: https://t.co/PVC4pY7aWJ
Clients Dump All but SMID Caps, Energy ETFs Surge
BofA Securities Equity Client Flow Trends Clients sold everything except SMID caps last week Biggest Energy ETF inflows since the start of Russia Ukraine war vs record Energy single stock outflows Buybacks by corp. clients decelerated wk/wk https://t.co/1GiRZIhmiM
New Guidelines Aim to Improve Manufacturing of Solar, Battery and EV Systems
The Australian government has published 18 initial Consumer Energy Resource (CER) device requirements to steer design and manufacturing of solar inverters, battery storage and electric‑vehicle systems. The guidance focuses on interoperability, ensuring devices can communicate across manufacturers and energy providers...
Tokyo Faces First Solar Curtailment in Japan
Solar curtailment reaches Tokyo, Japan’s last holdout grid area #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/39BbREz2pU
Non‑Lithium Storage Tech Gains Momentum Globally
ROUNDUP: Non-lithium energy storage system technology advances in US, Spain, and Scotland #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/8oNd50Neh9
CSIRO Highlights Opportunities in Graphite Manufacturing for Clean Energy
CSIRO says Australia’s abundant graphite resources present a strategic chance to build domestic battery‑grade processing capability. While global demand for lithium‑ion anodes surges with electric‑vehicle growth, about 95% of refining is done in China, leaving a supply‑chain risk. The agency...
Venezuela’s Lessons Offer Hope for Upcoming Fuel Crisis
Very thorough and detail account of the situation on Venezuela - gives me hope and makes me think maybe we should all be considering these approaches in the face of a looming fuel crises like no other
Researchers Claim Breakthrough Beyond Solar Efficiency Limit
Have researchers broken through the “impossible” solar conversion ceiling? #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/JLYVABWY2U https://t.co/T1C7TpKgIx
Hichilema Urges Greater Energy Investment as Reforms Drive Zambia’s Growth Agenda
President Hakainde Hichilema urged greater private investment in Zambia’s energy sector, highlighting reforms that are attracting capital and accelerating the country’s push toward a 10 GW power generation target. He said the restructuring of state utility ZESCO and the work of...
Build Dozens of Nuclear Plants Now for Near-Free Power
We should be building a dozen new nuclear power plants in America right now, today. The best time would’ve been 20 years ago. The second best time is now. We know how to make electricity so abundant it’s darn near free....
Rising LNG Prices Threaten Terminals, Shift Coal‑Gas Dynamics
Higher LNG prices also putting LNG terminals at risk. There's upside and downside here. To the extent that these were driving coal -> gas switching, more downside than up. But if coal is also constrained, would boost renewables.
Rhythm Energy Expands Renewable Electricity Plans to Commercial Customers in Texas
Rhythm Energy, a Houston‑based retailer, launched two commercial electricity plans—All‑Business and PowerShift Business—targeting small‑to‑mid‑size firms in Texas. All‑Business offers a fixed flat‑rate, while PowerShift provides off‑peak pricing for 20 hours a day and higher rates only during 6 p.m.–10 p.m. Both plans...
Hormuz Closure Could Push Oil to $300 Barrel
If Hormuz remains close the price of oil and refined products could rise to $200, $250, $300 per barrel or any number.
California's Future of Virtual Power Plant Funding Uncertain
Will California fund or kill its thriving virtual power plant program? #energysky -- via Canary Media: https://t.co/jWMDx0bSMq
Shippers Doubt Full Hormuz Reopening Amid Ongoing Conflict
"Shippers remain doubtful of a wholesale return to the Strait of Hormuz while it remains beset by conflict, throwing cold water on a Trump administration plan for US-backed insurance and naval escorts to clear passage through the vital waterway." https://t.co/SlR4K6Sl2Z...
Tesla Targets 100 GW U.S. Solar Capacity by 2028
Tesla advances plan to build 100 GW of U.S. PV manufacturing capacity by 2028 #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/BLs5NqxfHH
UK Faces Fuel Shortage Amid US‑Israel/Iran Energy Crisis
Prices at the pump? UK running out of fuel? What should the government and the public do in the face of the US-Israel/Iran energy crisis? https://t.co/dVMIfX1kI1 via @Channel4News with @mattfrei
Basra‑Aqaba Pipeline Would Pay for Itself in Months
1 million bpd Basra-Aqaba pipeline costing $9 billion would have paid for itself in 3 months in the current crisis. And given Baghdad some resilience against closure of the Strait. Exactly why the Iran-aligned parties blocked it over nonsense arguments about...
Energy Sector Posts Second‑best Quarter Ever versus Market
The S&P 500 energy sector had its 2nd-best quarter relative to the broader market on record. @augurinfinity https://t.co/AVJYMyYzGn https://t.co/2HEDAj7UkT
APA Solar Expands Manufacturing Campus in Ohio
APA Solar expands manufacturing campus in Northwest Ohio #energysky -- via Solar Power World: https://t.co/LAbOEhlXCp
Four‑Week Hormuz Closure Halts Critical Petrochemical Shipments
I can’t believe the Strait of Hormuz has been closed for four weeks. It seems like so much longer than that. Scarcely do I remember the last time petrochemicals, urea, helium and other fundamental components could safely transit to key...
Outdated FERC Pricing Risks Consumer Affordability in Data Costs
One problem w this filing - which purports to justify making everyone pay for data center transmission - is that it assumes FERC's 1994 transmission pricing policy still holds. It shouldn't. It was written to foster wholesale mkt competition and...
Australian Solar Thermal Tech Fuels Brazil Hybrid Hydro
“Proud moment:” Australian solar thermal pioneer powers up hybrid hydro system in Brazil #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/70duyF3bqr https://t.co/YCoa453IaC
One Year of Emissions Impacts Climate for a Century
This is one of the most fascinating and under-appreciated figures of the recent IPCC AR6 report (Figure 6.16). It shows the effects of a single year of emissions after 10 and 100 years, and really illustrates the difference between stock...
Brent Crude Gains Nearly $50 Amid Iran Conflict
Brent crude prompt futures price, Iran-War-to-date. Up just shy of $50 per barrel over the past month. https://t.co/SERzQ38Bos
Brent Oil Awaits Breakout Above $112.1 Amid Overbought Signals
#BrentOil Comp Doji Candle and Sideways. Needs Breakout $112.1. Support $100, $91.8, $84. RSI 71.5 Overbought but can go higher. Top Bollinger Band $111.6. Midpoint Line $102.5. Bottom Band $93.6.
China’s Iranian Oil Purchases Become Risky, Costly, Contested
China can still buy Iranian oil, but every barrel now comes with higher military risk, higher shipping costs, and the threat of sanctions or interdiction. What was once a quiet $8 to $12 discount trade is now a fragile, contested...
EU Eyes Reviving Emergency Energy Rules Amid Iran Price Shock
The EU will consider reopening a set energy measures used after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine as the bloc seeks to contain a fresh price shock tied to the Iran war https://t.co/pGEqjvd4Uf via @johnainger https://t.co/oxM0l6weH8