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 Trump and the Oil Markets Move in Sync: A Tango in Six Charts
President Donald Trump’s remarks on the U.S.-Israel strikes against Iran have closely tracked oil price movements, with Brent crude rising from about $72 a barrel before the conflict to a peak of $118 on March 19 and hovering just above $112 thereafter. Each public statement—whether aggressive warnings or tentative diplomatic reassurances—prompted immediate market reactions, as traders priced in heightened geopolitical risk. While the magnitude of price swings is moderating, investors still treat oil as a barometer for broader political and economic uncertainty. Analysts warn that some of Trump’s comments appear aimed at influencing commodity prices directly.
War Boosts Russia, Iran, Texas Oil; U.S. Stumbles
It looks like the war's winners so far are Russia, Iran and Texas oil & gas exporters... Russia benefits from high prices, waived sanctions, and a distracted world. Iran benefits from high prices, waived sanctions, and the realization (by them and...
Oil Crises Predate Wars; 2026 Hormuz ≠ Ukraine Invasion
For thought leaders.. ♦️No one should compare the current 2026 Hormuz Crisis to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. These are apples and "orange bulldozers"! ♦️I challenge anyone to prove that the spectacular rise in oil prices in 2022 was...
Why Use Living Cells? Researchers Are Making Chemicals with Enzymes Alone
Researchers at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) are advancing "cell‑free" biomanufacturing, using curated enzyme cocktails instead of living microbes to convert biomass into chemicals. By pairing high‑throughput robotics with machine‑learning analytics, they can evaluate thousands of enzyme variants...
Brent to Rise $10‑15 Post‑Hormuz, If No Recession
♦️It’s important to remember where we stood in early February compared to now. ♦️Here’s why: 🔹Before the Hormuz crisis, the expectation was for Brent crude to remain range-bound in the $60s, with only occasional spikes. 🔹Once the dust settles — a couple...
Trump Postpones Iran Strike; Hormuz Tension Rattles Oil Markets
Trump delays Iran attacks to 6 April, but Strait of Hormuz risk keeps oil and supply chains on edge. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/trump-delays-iran-attacks-as-strait-of.html
U.S. DOE Highlights Megawatt-Scale Small Reactors as Next‑Gen Power Solution
U.S. Energy Department officials announced that megawatt‑scale small modular reactors (SMRs) can deliver 10% of a traditional plant’s output in just 1% of the footprint, powering roughly 650 homes per megawatt. The shift promises a flexible, lower‑cost nuclear option for...
Analysts Warn U.S. Stocks Could Slip as Crude Oil Volatility Persists
Analysts cautioned that ongoing swings in crude‑oil prices are weighing on U.S. equities, sending the Dow Jones down 337 points and pushing Brent crude futures above $100 a barrel. The volatility stems from renewed Middle‑East tensions, including a strike on...
Oil Prices Drop as Trump Extends Iran Cease‑Fire Deadline to April 6
U.S. President Donald Trump extended the deadline for a potential Iran energy deal to April 6, pausing attacks on Iranian energy sites. The move pulled Brent crude down to about $105‑$108 a barrel and WTI to $92‑$94, marking the steepest weekly...
Iraq Expects to Increase Northern Pipeline Oil Exports
Iraq is currently sending 200,000 barrels per day of crude through the Iraq‑Turkiye Pipeline, and officials expect to lift that to 300,000 barrels daily in the near term. The blend includes oil from Kirkuk and about 40,000 barrels from the...
Kuwait Restores Power Lines After Debris Damage
Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy announced that it has restored multiple overhead transmission lines damaged by falling debris from recent air‑defence activities. Seven high‑voltage lines were taken offline on 24 March, but most have been repaired, with two...
Environmental Advocates Launch NC Pipeline Watch
Environmental groups in North Carolina have launched NC Pipeline Watch to oversee construction of the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP) pipeline. The coalition, including the Sierra Club, Clean Water for North Carolina, and others, will deploy volunteers to monitor water,...
Crypto Tokens Unlock $70B Grid Congestion Losses
The grid has wasted $70 billion in clean energy over five years. This is not an issue with power generation. It’s congestion. @8eanmurray at @fuseenergy is building a crypto-incentivized network to solve it, backed by an SEC no-action letter and 250,000...
Supply Disruptions Reshape Oil, Gas Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions
PODCAST: What’s next for oil, natural gas and the U.S.-Iran war? A great pleasure to join a special edition of the #ColumbiaEnergyExchange podcast with host @JasonBordoff to discuss how supply disruptions are reverberating across the industry. 🎧Listen now: https://t.co/Nfa3nQ6UWm
Oil Prices Top $100 as Iran War Fuels US Inflation Fears
Global oil prices surged past $100 a barrel after the Iran war intensified, prompting UBS analysts to warn of higher US inflation expectations and a possible slowdown in consumer spending. The spike is already reverberating through supply chains, fuel markets...
High Prices May Accelerate Oil Demand Peak
Unlikely, IMHO. On pre-war path we were still 5+ years away from the likely global peak of oil consumption. But if the crisis extends high prices for years, and accelerates switching to electric transport, that will accelerate. Too soon to...
Sandia Labs Conducts First Blind PV Software Benchmark
Sandia Labs benchmarks PV software providers in first ever blind comparison analysis #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/jgordm2Vxh
Middle East War Triggers Coal Boost in Japan, EU Gas‑Storage Push, and Oil Price Dip
Japan announced a temporary lift of coal‑plant operating caps, the EU urged member states to refill gas storage ahead of winter, and the United States paused attacks on Iranian energy sites, causing Brent to slip to $107.11 a barrel. The...
Biomass Becomes Primary Alternative Amid India's LPG Crisis
Yep, this was expected, not only in India, but in a large number of countries. Just waiting for the media to cover these stories. Biomass emerges as key alternative as LPG crisis deepens in India
India Mandates LPG-to-PNG Switch Amid Supply Crisis
🇮🇳At least they have this choice in India. Most of the developing world do not have this option. India Orders Mandatory Transition from LPG to PNG Amid Supply Crisis
Will This ‘Miracle’ Battery Finally Change Your Mind About EVs?
A Finnish startup claims it has created a commercially viable solid‑state battery delivering over 500 Wh/kg energy density and a full charge in roughly ten minutes, promising a 400‑mile driving range. The company says the pack can be produced at costs...
2025 Sets Record for Global Solar and Wind Capacity
The world built more solar and wind than ever in 2025 #energysky -- via Canary Media: https://t.co/l3r2atQCSr
Brent Crude Hits New High, Up 59% Since War
Nearby Brent Crude Oil Futures made a new closing high today. Up 59% since the war began. https://t.co/659nwQCHcc
Quick Coal Vs. Gas Thoughts
At CERAWeek in Houston, industry leaders highlighted a rapid shift from coal to natural gas in power generation. The discussion, led by coal specialist Ernie Thrasher of XCoal, underscored falling coal demand, tighter coal‑gas price spreads, and mounting regulatory pressure...
Markets Underestimate Long-Term Impact of Europe's Gas Surge
Gas prices in Europe are running 50-70% above normal, and the Qatar LNG facility attack hit infrastructure will take decades to rebuild. @8eanmurray from @fuseenergy says markets are pricing this as a blip. He thinks they're wrong. @Steven_Ehrlich @bitsandbips https://t.co/DwMsHVSFmY
Cheap New Modules Slow Secondary Solar Market Growth
Low new module prices stall growth in secondary solar market #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/fxgUvywjtM
Researchers Reveal Why Hydrogen Metal Testing Methods Produce Unreliable Results
Researchers at IIT Bombay and the Max Planck Institute uncovered why the electrochemical permeation technique often yields unreliable hydrogen‑diffusion data in steel. They showed that high charging currents induce surface rust, dislocations and hydrogen bubbles, which artificially lower measured flux. Switching...
Market Underestimates Ukrainian Hits on Russian Fuel Exports
Feels to me like the effects of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil and diesel export capacity is underappreciated by the market.
Prefabricated EBOS Accelerate Safe Solar Storage Scaling
Safety by Design: Scaling solar and storage in Australia with prefabricated EBOS #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/iqwB1jk9tY https://t.co/tMoCWWh6vE
Topsoe, First Ammonia Terminate Electrolyzer Supply Deal
New York‑based First Ammonia is moving ahead with the first phase of its 200 MW green ammonia project in Victoria, Texas, slated to break ground this year. The company announced the termination of its 100 MW electrolyzer supply agreement with Danish catalyst...
NH's Power Export Stays, No New Nuclear by 2028
New Hampshire is a net exporter of power because of Seabrook. Let’s bet that NH won’t be announcing a new Nuclear plant reaching FID by 2028.
Rubio Says Strait of Hormuz Is Global, Not U.S. Issue
Opening the Strait of Hormuz is not America's problem, says Marco Rubio "The countries that are most impacted by that should be willing to do something about it." "We'll help you." "We're impacted by it a little bit, but the rest of the...
The Cushion Is Gone and the Oil Market Is Now Exposed
The global oil market absorbed the shock of the largest supply disruption in history – the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – thanks to pre‑war inventory cushions. For roughly four weeks, prices remained muted as surplus stocks and strategic...
When Will Canadian Pump Prices Significantly Decrease?
When can we expect the price at the pump to come down in a meaningful way? #canada🇨🇦 #canada #energy #oil
Surface Quasi‑Liquid Layer Boosts Clathrate Growth, Enhances CO₂ Mobility
A quasi-liquid layer at the surface of clathrate hydrates accelerates their growth by enhancing CO2 mobility, offering new insights for applications in gas storage, desalination, and carbon containment. materialsengineering
Why Transformer Explosions Remain a Structural Engineering Problem
Transformer explosions stem from internal electrical arcs that vaporize oil, creating rapid pressure spikes that can rupture the tank within tens of milliseconds. Conventional protection—relays, breakers, and pressure‑relief valves—detect and isolate faults after this dynamic phase, leaving the structural failure...
Nuclear Takes Another Step Toward Spotlight
Nuclear energy took center stage at the CERAWeek 2026 conference in Houston. Industry leaders and policymakers gathered to address the growing importance of nuclear power amid heightened concerns over global energy security. The forum highlighted accelerating investment, emerging reactor designs,...
Brent Heads Into Weekend on High Note
Brent crude futures surged into the weekend, climbing roughly 5% to around $85 a barrel, the highest level in several months. The rally was driven by lingering supply worries as the war in the Middle East shows no sign of...
Summit Midstream Aims to Clear 'Hidden' Permian Gas Constraints
Summit Midstream is exploring a capacity expansion on its interstate pipeline that transports natural gas from the Permian Basin’s Delaware subbasin to the Waha Hub, linking Southwest and Gulf Coast markets. The move targets “hidden” constraints—primarily gathering and processing bottlenecks—that...
Affordable, Reformed Electricity Rates Crucial for Heat Pump Adoption
I made a thing: https://t.co/uFVjRvBFVv By which I mean I told Claude to make a thing. The economics of heat pumps are very challenging in a country that has cheap gas and where policy makers load retail electricity rates with a whole...
NZ Port Shows Battery Storage Viability Amid Tariff Complexity
New Zealand port demonstrates battery storage potential amid complex tariff landscape #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/BgKIOSa08H
Why China’s Space-Based Solar Power Is the Next Frontier of Green Energy
China is advancing its Zhuri space‑based solar power programme, aiming for a megawatt‑level orbital test around 2030 and a gigawatt‑scale station by 2050. The initiative leverages falling launch costs and new wireless‑power technologies to deliver continuous, weather‑independent electricity from geostationary...
Markets Ignoring Iran War Energy Crisis Will Panic
Markets are disconnected from the physical reality of the Iran War energy crisis, writes @Nadav_Eyal Oil is not clearing but markets are being held together by misleading narratives Once reality is understood, markets will panic.
Japan Introduces FIT Rates for Small-Scale Solar
Japan sets FIT terms for small PV, rooftop solar as large-scale auctions end #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/sWvbN6gXlR
Thailand Mulls Windfall Tax on Oil Refineries
Thailand’s Fiscal Policy Office is evaluating a windfall tax on oil refineries, a move prompted by the country’s heavy reliance on imported crude – about 92% of its supply. The proposed levy could be calculated either by applying a rate...
Self‑Cleaning Solar Panels Powered by Autonomous Robots
#Autonomous Solar Panel Cleaning #Robots Work Without Human Workers by @XueJia24682 #Robotics #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood #Technology https://t.co/CMoSpuWiQu
Sanctions Keep Russia's War Windfall in Check
New at THE OVERSHOOT: Russia's Iran War Windfall in Perspective https://t.co/YgLaalkQxU As long as financial sanctions and export controls remain in place, the aggressor's gains from higher oil and gas prices will be limited. https://t.co/MWwrDIs9pR
Market Watch: April Nymex Expires at $3.095/MMBtu
April Nymex natural gas futures rose 9.6 cents to close at $3.095 per MMBtu, while the May contract, set to become the prompt‑month contract on Monday, gained 9.7 cents to $3.025. Gelber & Associates noted that prices below $3 continue to draw...
Solar Panel Recycling Emerges as Billion‑Dollar US Industry
A billion-dollar industry: inside the growing solar panel recycling sector in the US #energysky -- via pv-tech: https://t.co/1cYAAUVO6h
Panasonic Launches First Grid‑scale BESS Cybersecurity Monitoring Trial
Panasonic claims world’s first trial of cybersecurity monitoring for grid-scale BESS #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/BPgKqiFdUD