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:
PetroChina Profit Drops on Lower Oil Cost, Weak Fuel Demand
PetroChina reported a net profit of 157.3 billion yuan ($22.8 billion) for 2025, a 4.5% decline from the prior year as Brent crude fell to about $68 a barrel, 15% lower YoY. Despite weaker oil prices, the company’s natural‑gas segment lifted operating profit to 60.8 billion yuan, offsetting some pressure on the refining business. PetroChina announced a capital‑expenditure boost to roughly 279 billion yuan ($40.5 billion) and set a production target of 941.3 million barrels of oil‑equivalent. The results highlight a shift toward a more balanced energy portfolio amid volatile markets.
Hormuz Oil Flow Down 40%, Now Mostly Crude
Pre-war Strait of Hormuz flow (crude + products): ~20m b/d. My updated flow assumptions: Iran: ~1.5m b/d (SoH) UAE: ~1.0m b/d (Fujairah above pre-war) KSA: ~5.0m b/d (Yanbu above pre-war) Plus ~1.0m b/d (Non-Iranian SoH tankers) Plus >2.0m...
India Sends 38,000 MT Petroleum to Sri Lanka Amid Global Energy Crisis
India shipped 38,000 metric tonnes of petroleum—20,000 tonnes of diesel and 18,000 tonnes of petrol—to Sri Lanka after a call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Anura Kumara Disanayaka. The shipment arrived in Colombo on 28 March 2026, providing...
Bear Scenario Looms: Oil Spikes, Fed Stuck, S&P Near 6k
Looks like next week is heading towards the bear case scenario I highlighted in my weekly report. Bear case (35% probability): The April 6 deadline produces strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure. Iran retaliates against Saudi or UAE oil facilities. Brent breaks...
Solar Is Winning the Energy Race
Since 2000, solar has outpaced all energy sources, rising from 228 GW in 2015 to an estimated 2,919 GW in 2025, now providing about 10% of global electricity. China leads with roughly 1,300 GW and dominates panel manufacturing, while the EU and the...
Santos Steps up for Australia’s Energy Security Amid Middle East War
Australian independent oil producer Santos is accelerating crude deliveries to support domestic refining amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted over 20% of global seaborne oil and LNG trade. The company reshaped a 575,000‑barrel Cooper Basin...
Coastal Fuel Storage Facilities in Visayas, Mindanao a Must, Says Libanan
House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan called on the state‑owned Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) to develop coastal petroleum storage facilities in the Visayas and Mindanao, citing the current global fuel crisis triggered by the U.S.–Israeli war on Iran. He...
Reliance SEZ Export Duty Clarity Key Under India's Fuel Tax Rejig: Analysts
India introduced export duties of about $0.26 per litre on diesel and $0.36 per litre on aviation turbine fuel, while cutting excise duty on petrol and diesel by roughly $0.12 per litre. The new regime leaves the status of Reliance...
Refined Product Stress Spikes, California Diesel Tops $8
Taking stock 1 month into oil market madness: The stress is in refined products. Diesel Price topping $8 in California is picture perfect 👌
Strathclyde Partners with Japan Marine United on Offshore Renewables
The University of Strathclyde and Japan Marine United (JMU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate the development of floating offshore wind turbines. The partnership will combine Strathclyde’s leading research in wind energy with JMU’s shipbuilding and floating‑platform expertise...
NSE to Introduce Dated Brent Crude Oil Futures Contract From Apr 13
The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) will launch Dated Brent Crude Oil (Platts) futures on April 13, 2026, after receiving SEBI approval. The contract will be cash‑settled, with monthly settlement based on the simple average of Platts Dated Brent...
PM-KUSUM 2.0 Must Address the Overdependence on State Procurement
India’s PM‑KUSUM scheme has installed over 1 million solar irrigation pumps, proving that decentralized renewable energy can scale in agriculture. The current tender‑driven, state‑led procurement model, however, creates episodic demand spikes and leaves manufacturers and farmers waiting for the next tender...
Japan, Australia Currencies Slide Together
The upside to Japan’s risk aversion – ample petroleum reserves The Yen has weakened against the US$ since the Iran war drove the oil price higher, but so too has the AU$. Japan imports most of its energy needs, so a...
Balcony Solar Is Spreading Across The US
The plug‑in balcony solar market, pioneered in Ukraine and exploded in Germany, is now entering the United States as households seek portable, low‑cost renewable power. German installations topped one million units in 2023‑24, spurring Enphase to launch a dedicated IQ...
Costco Launches First Standalone Gas Station as U.S. Pump Prices Near $4 per Gallon
Costco announced its first standalone gasoline station in Mission Viejo, California, slated for public opening by the end of June, with a second site planned for Honolulu in 2027. The move comes as national gasoline prices edge toward $4 per...
Baker Hughes and XGS Team Up on 150 MW Geothermal Project for Meta’s New Mexico Data Centers
Baker Hughes and XGS Energy announced a partnership to develop a 150 MW geothermal power plant in New Mexico that will supply Meta Platforms’ data centers. The project, slated for full operation by 2030, leverages XGS’s closed‑loop technology and Baker Hughes’s...
Vertiv, Generate Capital Launch Integrated Power‑Cooling Deal for Data Centers
Vertiv and Generate Capital announced a partnership to provide a combined power‑train, thermal chain and financing solution for data‑center operators. The collaboration, dubbed the Bring Your Own Power & Cooling (BYOP&C) ecosystem, targets North American markets where grid access is...
GridMarket and Arbor Energy Seal 5 GW Clean Power Pact for Data Centers
GridMarket, a power‑strategy firm, has teamed with Arbor Energy to supply 5 GW of baseload, zero‑emission electricity to data‑center operators starting in 2029. The deal leverages Arbor’s 25‑MW HALCYON turbines, promising a faster, modular alternative to traditional power plants and a...
West Texas Oil Theft Flagged as National‑security Risk, Operators Cite Billions in Losses
Oil producers in the Permian Basin say organized theft of crude and refined products has escalated into a national‑security concern, with estimated losses running into the billions of dollars. The thefts threaten supply reliability and have prompted calls for stronger...
Energy Prices Surge to New Highs, Gasoline Tops $4 as West Asia Conflict Tightens Budgets
West Asia hostilities have driven crude oil to record levels, sending U.S. gasoline past $4 per gallon and inflating consumer costs. India responded with a 38,000‑tonne fuel shipment to Sri Lanka and an ethanol push, while the finance ministry warned...
Some Areas in Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan to Have Power Interruptions Due to Maintenance Works
Meralco announced scheduled power interruptions from March 30 to April 1 across parts of Metro Manila, Cavite and Bulacan as it conducts maintenance, line reconductoring, pole replacement and facility relocations. Outages affect residential and commercial districts in Imus, Malabon, Pasig, Makati, Muntinlupa...
MONEY THOUGHTS: Curbing, Capping and Curtailing Lifestyle Creep
The escalating Iranian conflict has pushed crude oil prices above $100 per barrel and raised the specter of a Strait of Hormuz closure, which could choke one‑fifth of global oil flow. Such a supply shock would amplify fuel costs, trigger...
Oil Sparked Rally; Fed and Other
Oil started it. The Fed can't finish it. And two other headwinds that have nothing to do with Iran Full breakdown in new report 👇 https://www.kurtaltrichter.com/p/iran-is-one-problem-this-market-has
Petrol Prices Seen as Government Profit Scheme, Small Businesses Suffer
People now just realising petrol / oil pricing is another extractive government scheme. And they have no plan to cut duty because this ‘crisis’ is far too profitable. Fortunately I only have to drive to see clients occasionally but small...
Exxon Mobil Shares Jump Over $5 on Oil Rally and Bullish Chart
Exxon Mobil (XOM) surged $5.31 to close at $170.99 on Friday, propelled by a rebound in crude prices and a technical breakout above key moving averages. The rally adds to the energy giant’s momentum after a strong earnings report, a...
Bridging Strategy Gaps in Critical Infrastructure Management
Navigating the High-Stakes World of Critical Infrastructure & Asset Management with Quarterbac "A persistent headache for leaders of utility or transport orgs is the gap between a shiny ten-year strategy & the reality of what happens at the coal face." https://t.co/yQIc5EL8eD
SiteCapture Introduces AI for Automated Solar Documentation
SiteCapture launches AI tool to automate solar field documentation #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/Dx7Xtzh9QF
Maersk Adds Emergency Fuel Surcharge as Middle East War Pushes Bunker Prices Near Record
Maersk announced an emergency fuel surcharge on its container services as the Iran‑Israel war drives bunker fuel to near‑record levels. The move follows disrupted Red Sea routes, a temporary suspension of operations at Salalah after a drone attack, and rising...
Unprecedented Energy Crisis Dem
There are no analogues for this energy crisis @MarkHarvey84112 We can only imagine probability distributions & none of them are good I agree with the "think positive part" "Il faut cultiver notre jardin" --Voltaire https://t.co/x0jQ7eaPeA
Form Energy Secures 12 GWh Iron‑Air Deal For
Form Energy signs 12GWh agreement to supply multi-day iron-air batteries to new US AI data centres #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/CbNoEqSs6H
DOE Pushes Fast-Track Reactor Licensing at Idaho Lab, Raising Uranium Mining Stakes
The Department of Energy convened senior officials at Idaho National Laboratory, with 31‑year‑old lawyer Seth Cohen steering a fast‑track licensing push for advanced nuclear reactors. The meeting underscored a Trump‑era overhaul of nuclear regulation and signaled a potential surge in...
Asia's Energy Crunch Fuels Soaring Food Prices, Deepening Poverty
Across Asia there's barely a country untouched by a severe energy crisis Expensive fuel means expensive food "In a region where millions already live in or close to poverty, we may yet only have a glimpse of how bad things can get."
Entso‑E Blames Systemic Failures for 2025 Iberian Blackout
Entso-E report finds systemic failures behind 2025 Iberian blackout #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/n1D5aucAO7
TotalEnergies Cuts Methane Emissions 65% Ahead of 2025 Goal
TotalEnergies announced a 65% reduction in operated methane emissions since 2020, surpassing its 60% cut target for 2025. The progress, detailed in its 2026 Sustainability Report, comes alongside a 38% fall in overall greenhouse‑gas output and a rapid expansion of...
Insurers Worry Transformers, Contractor Errors Spark BESS Fires
Why BESS insurers are sweating transformers and contractor errors over battery fires #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/qk5y3I0eVO
Wireless, Integrated EV Charging Redefines Future Mobility
The Future of #EV Charging: Seamless, Wireless, and Beautifully Integrated Energy by @gigadgets_ #Innovation #ElectricVehicles #Sustainability #Technology https://t.co/Vv3Q9U169E
U.S.-Iran War Slashes Hormuz Traffic, Pushes Brent Above $110
The U.S.-Iran war has driven daily tanker transits through the Strait of Hormuz down 90%‑95%, sending Brent crude above $113 a barrel and inflating marine insurance to as much as 10% of a vessel’s value. Analysts warn the chokepoint could...
Houthis' Missile Threat Could Disrupt Red Sea Oil Flow
FEDWATCH: “.. the Houthis have entered the conflict by launching ballistic missile attacks ..; their next move could be targeting vessels in the Strait of Bab el Mandeb into the Red Sea .. The oil market, rightfully, is sensing that...
Porous Carbon 'Viciazites' Enable Low‑heat CO₂ Capture, Cutting Costs
Researchers at Chiba University have created a redesigned porous carbon nanomaterial called viciazites that captures CO₂ and releases it at temperatures under 60 °C, dramatically lowering energy input. The breakthrough hinges on precisely positioned nitrogen groups, achieving up to 82% selectivity...
Drillers See Triple-Digit Crude and Hit the Brakes
Brent crude has surged past $100 a barrel and WTI topped $90, creating a price environment that comfortably exceeds shale breakeven levels. Yet U.S. oil drillers remain hesitant, citing the ongoing Middle East conflict as a major obstacle to investment...
Bulgaria Unveils €100mn Package to Curb Impact of Rising Oil Prices
Bulgaria's caretaker government announced a €100 million (~$108 million) package to mitigate the impact of soaring oil prices, which have risen up to 24% since the Iran war. The plan includes a 50% electricity cost compensation for businesses when prices exceed €122/MWh...
Kemi Badenoch to Call for Oil Drilling to Be Maximised
UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is launching a "get Britain drilling" campaign that proposes ending the moratorium on new oil and gas licences, scrapping the windfall tax on energy profits, and boosting financial support for the fossil‑fuel sector. She argues...
Prioritize Flexible, Low‑value Loads over Datacenter Demand
I completely understand why grid operators want datacenters to operate flexibly. BUT....their use of each MWh is very valuable (well, at least I hope it's valuable someday). So shouldn't we be looking for flexibility from less-valuable uses of electricity...
China’s Battery and EV Exports Surpass Solar, Defying Tariffs
China's cleantech exports are surging. A couple observations: 1. All of this is from before the US invasion of Iran and current oil price spike. We should expect these numbers to keep growing, especially EVs. 2. US tariffs haven't stopped China's...
Akuo to Complete 80MW/220MWh Portugal Battery Storage by 2027
Akuo building 80MW/220MWh Portugal BESS for 2027 completion #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/gMyF7TBo15
Future View:
guy in the future: “So, how serious is this, on a scale of just noise to that time the Strait of Hormuz got closed?”
Iberdrola Australia's 360MWh Broadsound BESS Starts Commissioning
Iberdrola Australia’s 360MWh Broadsound BESS begins commissioning in Queensland #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/G6a89unsaA
March 28, 1979: Three Mile Island Releases Radioactive Gases
#ThisDayInTechHistory. March 28, 1979. The Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station reactor accident began at 4 am releasing radioactive gases and radioactive iodine into the #Environment. (NY Times) #JVGpost https://t.co/fyt34fTUCa
Past $90‑$100 Oil Deemed Normal, Now Sparks Panic
Pretty wild how WTI crude oil averaged $90-$100 from late 2010 to late 2014.. and everyone just assumed that was normal. Total freakout today... (even with significantly higher average and median hourly earnings) https://t.co/L6XCC4Wf8y
Gas Prices Near $4, Expected Spike to $4.20 Soon
Gas prices steady under $4, but I think the average will jump quickly to $4.20 by mid next week @gasbuddy @gasbuddyguy https://t.co/AWxp7hHZsD