Today's Energy Pulse

Oil prices tumble over 5% after Rubio backs Iran talks
Crude prices dropped more than 5% following Senator Marco Rubio's comment that the United States will give Iran every chance to succeed in negotiations. The slide pushed WTI below $89 a barrel as markets priced in renewed hopes for a diplomatic deal.
Also developing:
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 are 100% renewable, backed by RECs, and available on 12‑, 24‑, or 36‑month contracts. The company also announced a battery‑based virtual power plant slated for launch in late 2026 to enhance resiliency and savings.

Sarens Helps Atlantic Canada Bulk Terminal Undergo Adaptation as Hub for Offshore Wind
Sarens partnered with the Atlantic Canada Bulk Terminal (ACBT) in Sydney, Nova Scotia, to convert the steel‑focused port into a dedicated offshore‑wind hub. The engineering team performed a ground stability study and deployed a high‑capacity crawler crane with a Superlift...
Northeast US Diesel Exports Surge to Europe
New York Harbor briefly became a net diesel exporter as traders shifted ultra‑low sulfur diesel (ULSD) shipments to Europe. A sharp rise in northwest European jet fuel prices created a price arbitrage window, flipping the usual discount relationship between European...

SLB, Azule Energy Expand Digital Platform to Optimize Angola Operations
SLB has signed a three‑year deal with Angola’s largest independent producer, Azule Energy, to broaden the deployment of its Delfi digital platform across the joint venture’s offshore assets. The expanded scope will integrate subsurface data with planning and execution workflows,...

UK AR7: Offshore Wind’s Pricing Reset Is Music to Insurers’ Ears
The UK’s AR7 offshore wind auction concluded with significantly lower strike prices, marking a pricing reset that benefits both developers and insurers. Contract values fell to around £70 per megawatt‑hour (approximately $86), reflecting tighter cost structures and improved turbine efficiency....
Qcells Launches Turnkey Solar and Storage Program for New Home Construction
Qcells has launched "Qcells New Homes," a vertically integrated division that offers homebuilders a turnkey solar‑plus‑storage solution for new construction. The program bundles domestically manufactured panels, battery systems, financing from its subsidiary Enfin, installation support and long‑term monitoring into a...

Daily Energy Report
The latest Daily Energy Report shows Iran remains the primary crude exporter through the Strait of Hormuz, while Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar have halted shipments entirely. Saudi Arabia has rerouted most of its oil to the Red Sea, and the...

Will Conflict in the Middle East Boost China’s Renewable Energy Sector?
The Iran‑Israel‑U.S. war has driven Brent crude to its highest level since 2022, rattling global markets. Despite a 5% quarterly dip in the Hang Seng, China’s large strategic crude reserves and aggressive renewable‑energy rollout keep its growth outlook intact. Renewable‑energy...
Hydrogen‑cooled Metal‑hydride Compressor Boosts Efficiency and Power Density
A novel metal hydride compressor uses hydrogen as both the working gas and coolant, enabling higher power density and efficiency while minimizing electrical energy use and mechanical wear. This approach could advance sustainable hydrogen infrastructure. hydrogentech

Government Accelerating Clean Energy Transition With Focus on Indigenous Capacities and Technologies
India’s government is accelerating its clean‑energy transition by bolstering indigenous capacities for critical minerals and technologies. Union Minister Jitendra Singh highlighted the launch of the country’s first permanent‑magnet plant in Visakhapatnam and a dedicated rare‑earth policy to curb imports of...

Are Algae Securities Fraud?
Algae‑based fuel startups are pitching genetically engineered algae as a breakthrough renewable energy source, promising massive returns. Founders often embellish technical viability to attract venture capital, leading investors to question whether claims are realistic. The article highlights the tension between...
Iran and Russia Profit as Oil Prices Surge Amid War
A month into this war: Iran is still exporting oil & to more customers Iran is making more money for its oil because prices are up Iran has effectively installed a tollbooth to enter and exit the Persian Gulf Russia is making more...

U.S. Gas Prices Stay Low, Unaffected by Middle East Conflict
U.S. gas market insulated from war in the Middle East U.S. gas inventories are on course to finish the winter close to the average for the time of year, which has sent futures prices back below $3 per million British thermal...

The “But For” Dilemma – How Proposed Texas Public Utility Commission Large Load Interconnection Rules Impact Government Incentives Strategies
The Texas Public Utility Commission has proposed Rule 16 TAC §25.194, imposing early‑stage site‑control documentation, a $50,000 per‑MW financial security, mandatory disclosure of similar interconnection requests, and a 30‑day deadline to sign an Interconnection Agreement for projects of 75 MW or larger....
Presidential Tanker Claims Lack Evidence, only One Seen
Here is an example of some of the problems associated with the President's comments about 8 to 10 tankers sailing out of the Persian Gulf or the 20 tankers he discussed on Air Force One. There is no evidence of...

Nuclear Fusion Has Stumped Scientists for Decades. Here’s How We’ll Finally Unlock Its Limitless Energy.
Scientists at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) announced a historic ignition event on Dec. 5, 2022, producing more energy from a deuterium‑tritium pellet than the lasers supplied. The breakthrough revives optimism for inertial‑confinement fusion, while magnetic‑confinement tokamaks such as ITER continue to...
Saudi Sadara Petchem Site Shuts Down on US-Iran War
Sadara Chemical Company, the Dow‑Aramco joint venture in Jubail, has temporarily halted production after supply‑chain disruptions linked to the US‑Iran war. The shutdown affects its massive ethylene, propylene and polymer output, as well as ethanolamines sold by Sabic and Dow....

Oil $100 Baseline Becomes Permanent After Iran Threat
WTI pre-market: $101.84. Brent: $108. Up 47% for the quarter. Iran is demanding sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz — the chokepoint for 20% of global oil supply. That's not a negotiating position. It's a line in the sand with no realistic...

Fuel Price Volatility Continues as Diesel and Gasoline Averages Tick Upward
U.S. on‑highway diesel rose 3 cents to $5.401 per gallon and gasoline increased 3 cents to $3.990, according to the EIA’s March 31 report. The West Coast saw the steepest diesel jump, up 29 cents, while the Gulf Coast posted modest declines. AAA’s independent...
Forecast Uncertainty Tempers a Banner 2025 for US Energy Storage: Reports
U.S. energy‑storage installations hit a record 18.9 GW (51 GWh) in 2025, a 52% and 40% increase respectively over 2024, driven largely by a residential surge as tax credits expire. Manufacturing capacity now exceeds domestic demand, with system capacity over 100% and...
Australia’s Jet Fuel Crisis Deepens as China Ban Hits 30%
Australia (which has declared a national fuel supply disruption) is deeper in to its jet fuel crisis 🚨 - For now, emergency supply is being routed from l US through the Panama Canal to Melbourne, Perth - but the route *cannot*...

Space Data Centers Miss Key Advantage: 5× Solar Power
The race to build orbital data centers is missing its biggest variable: power “Solar panel in space produces roughly 5Xs the amount of electricity that the same panel would produce on Earth. There is no atmosphere, no weather and no day-night cycle for most orbits. No interconnection queue and no permitting.” https://t.co/PfmW1te2ac

Why Sri Lanka Is Raising Electricity Prices for Most Households
The episode explains why Sri Lanka has raised household electricity tariffs by 7‑10% (up to 25% for heavy users) as the war in the Middle East drives up global oil prices, forcing the island to spend about $600 million on fuel...
India's First Iranian Oil Cargo Since 2019 Headed to Gujarat Coast
India is set to receive its first Iranian crude cargo since 2019, with the Aframax tanker Ping Shun carrying about 600,000 barrels to Vadinar, Gujarat. The shipment follows a U.S. 30‑day waiver allowing Iranian oil sales on the water amid the...
Trump Attacks on Offshore Wind Have Had 'Terrible' Impact, Says EU Energy Chief
EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen warned that President Donald Trump’s anti‑offshore‑wind stance has severely disrupted U.S. projects, prompting Europe to position itself as a "safe harbour" for stranded investment. He highlighted that offshore wind costs are falling and are now...

Rolls-Royce to Build Battery Storage in Falkirk
Rolls‑Royce’s MTU power‑systems division has begun construction of a 43 MW, 86 MWh battery‑storage facility at Falkirk’s Bankside site under an EPC contract with Voltario Helios Energy Storage. The plant will connect to the grid later this year and become operational in...
China Takes Direct Role in Hormuz Security After Iran War
china involving itself directly in the business of hormuz strait security is an important unintended consequence of the iran war.

Hungary Beats Global Solar Targets, Hits 27% Power
Hungary has highest solar share of any country in the world - 27% of electricity from solar in 2025, up from just 2% in 2018. In August 2024, solar hit 37% of monthly generation. Now >8 GW of installed capacity - a...

How H.R. 1 Is Opening the Door to More Oil Drilling Near North Dakota’s Maah Daah Hey Trail
Last summer, Congress passed H.R. 1, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which strips the Bureau of Land Management of discretion to protect federal lands from leasing. Under the new law, the BLM is selling oil and gas lease...
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

Expert Links Private Nuclear Sector to U.S. Defense Resilience
U.S. private‑sector firms, led by LIS Technologies, are rebuilding domestic uranium enrichment capacity to bolster national security and defense energy resilience. The move aims to reduce dependence on Russian and Chinese enrichment services while accelerating fuel‑cycle innovation for advanced reactors,...
China Ships Diesel to Southeast Asia Despite Curbs
China has exported cargoes of diesel and other fuels to energy-starved countries across Southeast Asia over the weekend, in what appears to be a signal of support despite export curbs imposed earlier this month https://t.co/Ho2QuntmBc

New US LNG Capacity Too Small to Replace Qatar Losses
LNG production in Qatar, normally ~80 mm tonnes, has been effectively OFFLINE since March 2. The new Golden Pass LNG export terminal in the U.S. will add only 18mm tonnes at full capacity. NEW SUPPLY CAN’T OFFSET WAR-DRIVEN LOSSES. https://t.co/tVmip8DsaM
‘Real Pain’ to Set In: Businesses Brace for Impact as EMA Warns of Potentially Sharper Rise in Power Tariffs
Singapore’s Energy Market Authority warned that electricity and town‑gas tariffs will likely rise sharper in coming quarters as global energy costs surge amid the Gulf conflict. SP Group lifted household electricity rates by 2.1% – an increase of S$0.0056/kWh (≈ $0.0041/kWh)...
Gulf Bypass Pipeline Remains a Purely Conceptual Fantasy
The “Gulf bypass pipeline” is a geopolitical fantasy that bypasses reality @shjomital It's 100% conceptual so provides no solution to the crisis It assumes cooperation that doesn’t exist, security that can’t be guaranteed, & scale that wouldn’t solve the problem. #EnergyCrisis...

China's Geothermal Potential Stymied by Policy and Cost
Interesting read on why Geothermal has not taken off as a domestic power source in CHina. https://t.co/sq8xn774Mg https://t.co/K0gI2v6nKr

Gas Hits $4 Gallon, Raising Trump's Affordability Concerns
According to AAA, the national average cost of a gallon of gas has just pierced $4.00 a gallon. THE WINDS OF WAR = HIGHER GASOLINE PRICES = MORE AFFORDABILITY PROBLEMS FOR TRUMP. https://t.co/LhuAOXiVXf
Iran Still Controls Hormuz, Selectively Filtering Tankers
"The regime has lost control" is wrong @EYakoby Iran is allowing more ships through Hormuz selectively It's sorting tankers by friends who pass for free, neutral parties that pay, and enemies that don't pass There may be a tactical uptick in flows,...

Trader Shorts USO and Oil Refinery ETFs
🫡 Just sat down and SHORT $USO and #oilrefinery What are you guys up to? @traderTVLIVE https://t.co/NZmEiRtDka
California's Middle East Oil Imports Drop Below 30%
"Previously"?? Like in 2015? In 2025, less than 30% of oil imported into CA was from the Middle East. It's been less than 50% of imports since at least 2017.

Iran's Hormuz Claim Locks in Permanent War Premium
$CL WTI pre-market: $101.84. $BNO Brent: $108. Iran demanding sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. That's not a negotiating position. It's a non-starter — and everyone knows it. The war premium is permanent until proven otherwise. --- https://t.co/DwGuXTrsgJ

Russian Oil Tanker Anatoly Kolodkin Arrives at Cuban Anchorage
Russian-flagged oil tanker Anatoly Kolodkin approaches the area of anchorage while being assisted by a tugboat, in Matanzas, Cuba, March 31, 2026. REUTERS/Norlys Perez https://t.co/eewxf34Q5n
FERC OKs ISO-NE Shift to Prompt Capacity Market
RIP ISO-NE FCM (2008-2026) FERC approved ISO-NE's proposal to replace the Forward Capacity Market with a prompt capacity market in which an Annual Capacity Auction (ACA) would be held 1 month before the capacity commitment period.
Israel Won’t Gain Control Over Gulf Oil Supply
Giving Israel the power to control the flow of oil from the entire Gulf? Nah. Never going to happen.
OPEC's Monthly Production Decline Hits Ugly Levels
Now we start getting the monthly average OPEC production numbers. And boy, oh boy, are they UGLY. Reminder: this is the *average* production decline m/m, the exit loss is even larger and that's where we'll land in the April data if this...

Energy Surges, Tech Slumps: Market Signals Survival Mode
Q1 rotation: $XLE +20%. $QQQ -4.2%. Money is moving FROM innovation TO survival. That's not a style rotation. That's the market telling you what it believes about the economy. When energy beats tech by 24 points in a quarter, listen. --- https://t.co/SxMLhgCbeX
Trump Claims Hormuz Will Reopen Automatically After U.S. Withdrawal
JUST IN: President Trump says the Strait of Hormuz will reopen “automatically” once the U.S. exits

Indonesia Reinstates B50 Biodiesel Blend Amid War Risks
🇮🇩Indonesia will raise the blending rate for palm-based biodiesel to 50% (B50) from the current B40 on July 1, despite having scrapped this plan two months ago due to supply concerns. But war risks are now at the forefront. Indonesia is...
AI Accelerates the Race to Build New Reactors
The race to build new nuclear reactors — fast (with AI's help) https://t.co/guGFZFErdy by @ChuckMcCutcheon in @axios