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:
Catalyst Watch
The latest Catalyst Watch notes that despite the largest oil price shock in history, the U.S. economy remains resilient, buoyed by its status as a net exporter of crude and natural gas. Fed officials cite stable macro data and no recession signals, while highlighting that higher energy costs disproportionately burden low‑income households, potentially shaping the 2026 midterm race. Finally, ARM’s CEO warns that the AI supply chain could stall if any component—GPU, memory, storage, or power—fails to scale capacity fast enough.
Current Price of Oil as of March 31, 2026
On March 31, 2026, Brent crude rose to $110.69 per barrel, roughly 47% higher than a year earlier and 41 cents lower than the previous day. The price surge follows a 50% monthly gain, reflecting renewed demand and heightened geopolitical...
Sierra Club Files Request for Rehearing on ACC REST Decision
The Arizona Corporation Commission voted to repeal the state’s Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff (REST), a program that has driven billions in clean‑energy investment and job creation. Sierra Club filed a rehearing request, arguing the commission’s impact statement omitted a...
Egg Power Acquires Chirmorie Wind Project
Egg Power, the renewable arm of Liberty Growth, announced it has acquired the project rights to the Chirmorie Wind Farm in South Ayrshire, Scotland. The deal, the company's fourth UK renewable acquisition, follows a £400 million (≈$508 million) construction‑debt financing facility secured...
Oil Prices Rocket; Iran Strikes Kuwaiti Tanker; Some Hormuz Transits Resumes | Rapid Read 31 Mar 2026
Iran resumed selective control of the Strait of Hormuz, striking a Kuwaiti tanker in Dubai and permitting only flag‑aligned vessels such as COSCO to transit. The move coincides with a U.S. deployment of thousands of Army paratroopers to the Middle...
Large Load Tariffs Proliferate as States Take More Active Role in Data Center Regulation
State regulators are rapidly adopting large‑load tariffs to manage the surge in AI‑driven data center interconnection requests, with 77 tariffs now pending or active in 36 states. In 2025, 29 new tariffs were approved, more than double the total approved...
Capital Dynamics, Solo Renewables Partner on $132m LDES System
Capital Dynamics and Solo Renewables have formed a joint venture to build a £100 million ($132 million) long‑duration energy storage (LDES) system in Islandmagee, Northern Ireland. The 150 MW facility will store up to 1,200 MWh—enough to power roughly 36,000 homes with an eight‑hour...
Petrobras Taps Fugro for Brazil’s First Licensed Offshore Wind Survey
Petrobras has hired Dutch geotechnical firm Fugro to conduct the first licensed offshore wind geotechnical survey in Brazil, supporting its 18 MW Rio de Janeiro Offshore Wind Pilot Project. The survey will involve soil sampling, in‑situ testing and laboratory analysis at...
Data Rigging at Central Japan Nuclear Operator Began No Later than 2012
Chubu Electric Power admitted that its civil‑engineering department falsified earthquake‑resistance data as early as 2012, with more than 100 instances uncovered. Whistle‑blower reports dating back to 2018 were ignored, and the manipulation affected the safety‑screening process for restarting the Hamaoka...
Abu Dhabi Launches Residential Solar Deployment Policy
Abu Dhabi's Department of Energy launched the second phase of its Solar Energy Self‑Supply Policy, introducing a simplified regulatory framework for residential solar photovoltaic and battery storage installations. The new rules streamline permitting, technical standards, and grid‑connection procedures, aiming to...
Brenmiller Adds ISO/IEC 42001 Certification to Support AI-Enabled Optimization as Commercial TES Deployments and BNRG360 Strategy Scale
Brenmiller Energy Ltd. (NASDAQ:BNRG) announced it has earned ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification for its AI management system, covering AI‑driven optimization, predictive maintenance, demand forecasting and market analytics. The certification underpins the company’s BNRG360 strategy, which seeks to evolve from standalone thermal‑energy‑storage (TES)...
South Africa's Fuel Prices Rise Tomorrow, Including R3 Levy Cut
Here are the new amounts that fuel will rise by in South Africa, tomorrow. These new amounts already include the temporary R3 deductions in the fuel levy, that was announced by the National Treasury earlier today.
Businesses Urged to Consider Solar Energy for Long-Term Resilience
Pinergy is urging Irish businesses to view solar and battery systems as long‑term infrastructure that can hedge against volatile energy prices. Their latest Energy Sustainability Research Study shows cost savings remain the primary driver, with 68% of firms citing efficiency...
Tesla Says Semi Battery Is ‘Designed To Last A Million Miles’
Tesla announced a new battery for its Semi truck that is engineered to last one million miles, directly tackling the durability concerns of long‑haul fleets. The company says the Semi can charge at up to 1.2 MW, restoring about 60% of...
Michigan Approves 1,332MW of BESS with 332MW Supporting Oracle Data Centre
The Michigan Public Service Commission approved six battery energy storage system (BESS) projects totaling 1,332 MW, including a 332 MW package earmarked for Oracle’s Green Chile Ventures data centre. The first three projects deliver 1,000 MW to satisfy DTE Electric’s integrated resource plan...
Google Signs Long-Term Deal with Amex GBT, Shell SAF Platform
Google has renewed its long‑term agreement with American Express Global Business Travel and Shell Aviation to source sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) data through the Avelia registry. The partnership, first launched in 2022, uses a book‑and‑claim model that lets business travelers...
Modular Data Centers Could Be Attached to Gas Pipelines and Use Excess Pressure for Power and Cooling
Sapphire Technologies and Anax Power are partnering to attach modular data centers to natural‑gas pipelines, using Sapphire's FreeSpin in‑line turboexpander to harvest excess pressure energy. The system converts waste pressure into up to 3 MW of electricity and 35 million BTU of cooling,...
Government Steps in as Fuel Shock Hits
South Africa’s government announced a temporary one‑month cut to the general fuel levy of R3 per litre (about $0.16) to cushion the shock from the Iran‑Israel conflict that has driven Brent crude up 55% in March. Despite the relief, diesel...
Pan Ocean Adds VLCC Newbuild to Growing Tanker Play
South Korea’s Pan Ocean announced a $121.8 million order for a new VLCC, slated for delivery in December 2029, with the option to convert the vessel to run on ammonia. The deal follows earlier 2025 purchases of two VLCCs at roughly $127 million...
100-Hour LDES Battery Technologies From Form, Noon and Ore: How Do They Compare?
Form Energy, Ore Energy and Noon Energy are commercialising 100‑hour long‑duration energy storage (LDES) batteries, each using distinct chemistries—iron‑air for Form and Ore, and a solid‑oxide fuel‑cell‑flow hybrid for Noon. Reported target costs range from $15‑20 per kWh, with Form...
EU Energy Regulator Opens Consultation Into PPA Market
The European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) has opened a public consultation running from March 31 to May 8 to map the EU power purchase agreement (PPA) market. The consultation seeks detailed input on regulatory frameworks, financial guarantees,...
Emerald AI and Nvidia Aim to Offer the Fast Pass for Data Center Grid Connects, Partnering with Power Producers and...
Emerald AI, founded by former renewable developer Varun Sivaram, offers software that makes AI data centers flexible‑load, allowing them to reduce power use during grid peaks and accelerate interconnection approvals. Nvidia’s venture arm NVentures led a $25 million round that brings...
Iran's Parliament Security Committee Approves Plan to Impose Tolls on Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Parliament Security Committee approved a Strait of Hormuz Management Plan that introduces a rial‑based toll system for vessels transiting the vital waterway. The plan explicitly bans American and Israeli ships and targets nations imposing unilateral sanctions on Tehran. It...
Power Discount Window Extended by 2 Hours for Industry
Gujarat has extended its industrial daytime power discount window from 3 pm to 5 pm, allowing factories to tap cheaper solar‑generated electricity for two extra hours. The concession, previously limited to smart‑meter users, now applies to all smart‑metered industrial consumers, removing the...
INPEX Extends Pertamina LNG Pact, Signs Upstream MoU in Southeast Asia
INPEX Corporation has extended its strategic LNG collaboration with Indonesia’s PT Pertamina through its Masela subsidiary, keeping the Abadi LNG project on track in the Arafura Sea. Simultaneously, INPEX signed a new upstream memorandum of understanding with Pertamina Hulu Energi to...
Russian Urals Premium in Asia up, but Costs, Attacks Weigh
Russian Urals crude premiums in Asia climbed to about $8 per barrel versus Brent, up from $5 a week earlier. However, Ukrainian drone attacks have forced the closure of roughly 40% of Russia’s oil‑export capacity, including the 700,000‑bpd Ust‑Luga port....
The Oil Crisis Is About to Get Physical
The Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about 20% of global oil, is now closed except for limited Iranian shipments, turning speculative price gains into an imminent physical shortage. J.P. Morgan predicts Gulf tankers will stop reaching Asian markets this...
Tekmar Bags €2+ Million in Contracts for Japanese Offshore Wind Project
Tekmar Group has secured two contracts worth roughly $2.5 million for a Japanese offshore wind project, supplying its 10th‑generation cable protection systems. The work will begin immediately, with revenue recognized through the rest of fiscal 2026 and into the first half...
Japanese Researchers Hit 130% Solar Cell Efficiency Using Spin‑Flip Technique
A team at Kyushu University in Japan has demonstrated a solar cell that converts 130% of incoming sunlight into electricity using a spin‑flip emitter, a result that exceeds the traditional 100% thermodynamic ceiling. The breakthrough, published in the Journal of...
Iberdrola, Gestamp Sign 10-Year PPA
Iberdrola and automotive‑components maker Gestamp have signed a 10‑year power purchase agreement to deliver 660,000 MWh of renewable electricity to Gestamp’s European factories. The contract secures 34 MW of capacity, split 80 % wind and 20 % solar, and includes guarantees of origin. A...
PwC Deals Supports West African Renewable Energy Transaction
PwC South Africa provided financial due diligence for British International Investment’s $15 million mezzanine debt into Starsight Energy Africa Group. The funding will expand Starsight’s renewable power portfolio serving commercial and industrial customers across West Africa, primarily Nigeria. PwC’s assessment covered...
Crude Oil Markets Holding Firm
Crude oil markets remain firm as geopolitical tensions around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz embed a risk premium. OPEC+ announced a modest production increase of 206,000 barrels per day for April, while earlier pauses remain in effect. WTI and...
Iran-Israel-U.S. War Cripples Energy Supply Chain, Gasoline Hits $4/Gal
The joint Iran-Israel-U.S. war has shut the Strait of Hormuz, sent Brent crude to $115 a barrel and U.S. gasoline above $4 per gallon, and triggered jet‑fuel shortages in Europe. Disruptions to oil, helium and plastics are rippling through logistics,...
Costco Launches First Stand‑alone Gasoline Station in California, Expanding Member‑only Fuel Network
Costco opened its first stand‑alone gasoline station, a 40‑pump site in Mission Viejo, California, in June. The move expands the retailer’s fuel footprint beyond warehouse locations, aiming to ease lot congestion and deepen member value while adding a new revenue...
With a Faster Route to Profits than Fusion, Nuclear Fission Is of Much More Interest to Family Offices
Family offices are increasing investments in next‑generation nuclear fission plants, seeing them as a more reliable route to profitability than the still‑experimental nuclear fusion sector. The new fission designs promise lower construction costs, modular construction, and shorter timelines, aligning with...
Geopolitical Strikes Push Global Gas Prices Higher
Gas at the pump just hit $4/gallon. US stepped up attacks on Iran hitting missile depots. Unclear if this will lead to more escalation or signals a peak. Ukraine hit Russian oil production facilities almost 1000km from its border which will...
China Extends Fuel Export Ban, Offers Minimal Relief
China has extended its fuel export ban for another month to April. There is now talk of letting a small amount of fuel out to countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives. But the shipments would be only ~5%-10%...
Trump Signals US Withdrawal From Strait of Hormuz
Increasingly it does sound like US President Donald Trump will leave the Strait of Hormuz to others to sort out. "... The U.S.A. won't be there to help you anymore ..." https://t.co/8wFtBLuoCa
Diesel Prices, Not Gas, Threaten US Inflation Surge
The bigger concern for the US economy isn't gas prices, but diesel prices, as @amoshochstein tells @annmarie just now. They're at the highest since 2022 and bumping up against those highs, at $5.45 a gallon. That's the price that'll pressure...
War Turmoil Drives Oil and Dollar Consolidation
Mixed War News Keeps Oil Firm and the Greenback Consolidating: War developments pulled in both directions, leaving investors on edge On the one hand, Iran struck an oil tanker, carrying Kuwait oil, in port in Dubai. On the other hand,...
Russian Oil Tanker Arrives at Cuba’s Matanzas Port
MATANZAS, Cuba, March 31 (Reuters) - A Russia-flagged tanker carrying some 700,000 barrels of Russian oil arrived in the anchorage area of the Cuban port of Matanzas at daybreak Tuesday, according to a Reuters witness.
Kuwait Tanker Al‑Salmi Hit Amid US‑Israeli‑Iran Tensions
Damage to the Kuwait-flagged Al-Salmi crude oil tanker, following a reported strike, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, March 31, 2026. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation/Handout https://t.co/sHvufs2F66
Trump Unaware Gas Prices Have Surpassed $4 Per Gallon
I wonder if Trump will ever find out that gas prices crossed $4.00 a gallon https://t.co/BZjCIh8l7U
Ukraine Drone Strike Shows New Threat to Russian Oil Exports
The global energy trade has been taking hit after hit, and things might be getting worse. Ukraine launched a large drone attack on oil export facilities in the Baltic, proving they can disrupt Russian exports. Full Newsletter: https://t.co/Tp92ahyVzj https://t.co/Zk1DX6pw9v
Iran Attacks Ship, POTUS Okays Operation Wind‑down; Oil Steady
Iran struck a ship with Kuwaiti oil in a Dubai port and press reports POTUS told aides can consider winding down operation without securing Strait of Hormuz. Oil remains firm. Mkts uncertain. Large euro options at $1.15 expire today...
California Gas and Diesel Prices Far Outpace National Average
US gasoline hit $4/gallon according to latest AAA survey but in California, it's $5.89 for gasoline and $7.46 for diesel. https://t.co/bqPOGeuC3B
Energy Markets Face Months of Disruption Despite Conflict Resolution
heated debate on our weekly analysts' call today. If the conflict ends but we still face months of physical disruption to energy markets - is anyone still going to care?
Texas Town Swamped by Wind‑turbine Blades, Sparking Local‑recycler Clash
Thousands of wind-turbine blades have piled up in a small Texas town. It's spurred a battle between angry locals and a recycler who got in over his head https://t.co/AuxCEWC3Ab
Heathrow Faces Europe's Biggest Jet‑fuel Shortage Risk
Excl: Britain’s hub London Heathrow is the *highest-risk* major airport in Europe for jet fuel from April 🚨 as US-Israel war on Iran continues - Heathrow, with 1,300 flights daily, will struggle ‘the most, & the earliest’ with jet fuel as...
IEA Hosts IRENA DG to Discuss Global Energy Future
Pleasure to receive @IRENA Director General @flacamera at the @IEA HQ to discuss developments in the global energy sector & the longer-term prospects for different energy technologies I expressed my solidarity with IRENA staff in Abu Dhabi affected by the current...