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:

PNGRB Directs City Gas Distributors to Provide Connections to Institutions, Community Ktichens Within 5 Days
India's Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has mandated city gas distributors to supply piped natural gas (PNG) connections to schools, colleges, hostels, community kitchens and Anganwadi centers within five days where pipelines exist. The directive follows a surge of 7,500 new domestic and commercial connections across 110 regions in a single day, and targets roughly 60 lakh households eligible for PNG. Officials emphasized that the government maintains sufficient petrol, diesel and LPG inventories despite geopolitical pressures. The move aligns with the broader Ujjwala scheme, which recently added 11 lakh connections for migrant workers.
Middle East Turmoil Threatens Billions, Not Profits
People think high oil prices will be good for oil companies. Exxon expected to lose $5billion/yr based on Middle East damage so far. Shell's Pearl GTL will be shut for a year. Exxon gets 20% of its oil & gas...

Britain Responds to Iran War Energy Shock by Requiring Solar Panels and Heat Pumps in All New Homes
The UK government announced that, starting in 2028, every new home in England must be built with on‑site solar panels and low‑carbon heat pumps under the Future Homes Standard. The move is framed as a direct response to the energy...
Oil Prices Surge to $98 a Barrel as US Delays Iran Strikes, Stoking Inflation Fears
Benchmark Brent crude rose over 2% to $98.25 a barrel and WTI jumped 3.4% to $91.09 after President Donald Trump delayed planned strikes on Iran. The rally revives concerns that higher energy costs could lift U.S. inflation and pressure the...

EDP Renewables’ 150-MW Illinois Solar Project Supports Microsoft
EDP Renewables North America has completed the 150‑MW Pleasantville Solar project in Fulton County, Illinois, delivering enough electricity for over 39,500 homes. The entire output is secured under a long‑term power purchase agreement with Microsoft, guaranteeing stable revenue streams. The...

GCL Optoelectronics Wins China’s First Commercial Perovskite-Silicon Tandem PV Module Order
GCL Optoelectronics secured a 1.2 MW contract from China Huaneng to supply commercial perovskite‑silicon tandem solar modules. The tender required mass‑producible, IEC‑certified modules delivering at least 26% efficiency and a 25‑year performance warranty, with delivery by June 2026. GCL is the sole...
Trump’s Strait Ultimatum Sparks 10% Oil Slide, Boosts Defense Stocks
President Donald Trump posted a 48‑hour ultimatum on Truth Social demanding the Strait of Hormuz be reopened, prompting oil prices above $100 a barrel to tumble 10% and defense stocks to rally. The move has intensified market volatility as investors...

Energy Security Is National Security: Fixing America’s Incoherent Energy Policies
President Trump’s administration has rolled back federal incentives for wind and solar while using emergency powers to keep uneconomic coal plants online, driving higher electricity and gasoline prices. Despite renewables now accounting for the majority of new U.S. generation capacity...

Why Clean Tech Companies Are Critical for Energy Security
In this episode, JP Morgan’s Chukur Amunat hosts climate scientist Dr. Sarah Kaepnick and clean‑tech investment banker James Janowski to examine how clean‑technology firms are essential for energy security amid rising AI‑driven power demand and geopolitical turbulence. They note that global...

Celsius Linked to Fresh LNG Carrier Order at Samsung Heavy
Denmark’s Celsius Tankers has secured a new order for two 180,000 m³ LNG carriers from Samsung Heavy Industries, valued at roughly KRW 770 billion ($514 million). The vessels are scheduled for delivery through September 2028, adding to Celsius’s existing portfolio of about 24...

“We Will Not Wait for the War to End” – Poland’s ELQ to Invest €2.5 Billion in Ukraine Solar and...
Polish solar developer ELQ announced a €2.5 billion (US$2.9 billion) investment to build 2.5 GW of solar PV and energy‑storage capacity in Ukraine, starting this year. The firm already has nine projects under development or construction and ten more under consideration, amounting to...

Oil Prices Stay High Amid Ongoing Iran Conflict
I talked to @kairyssdal on @Marketplace yesterday about the latest developments in oil and what to make of the latest switcheroo in the conflict with Iran. I don't think this conflict is over by a long shot, so I doubt...

RES Group to Deliver Asset Management Services at Nala Renewables’ 217MW Solar-Plus-Storage Portfolio
RES Group has secured an asset‑management mandate for Nala Renewables’ 217 MW solar‑plus‑storage portfolio operating across Lithuania, Belgium and Greece. The agreement covers both photovoltaic and battery‑energy‑storage system (BESS) assets, aiming to maximise long‑term value through integrated operational services. RES builds...

Slovakia Deploys 243 MW of Solar in 2025
Slovakia installed 243 MW of new solar capacity in 2025, bringing cumulative photovoltaic capacity to 1.357 GW. The additions comprised 124 MW residential, 102 MW commercial‑industrial and 17 MW utility‑scale, largely fueled by the Green for Households subsidy and EU Resilience and Recovery Fund support....
Unlock 40% Grid Capacity with Sensors and Batteries
We measure the capacity of our transmission grid using a slide rule. Modern sensors unlock 40% more capacity that's already there. Add batteries on both sides of the grid and you solve congestion at 90% less cost. The tech has existed for...

Molecular Solar Battery Stores Energy for Days, Yields Hydrogen on Demand
Researchers at Ulm University and Friedrich‑Schiller‑Universität Jena have created a water‑soluble redox copolymer that functions as a molecular solar battery, achieving over 80% charging efficiency and storing energy for several days. The stored electrons can be released on demand as...

Winning the Energy Transition on Oʻahu: It’s Not About Technology
Oʻahu’s clean‑energy roadmap is technically viable, with solar, batteries, district cooling and limited wind meeting the island’s roughly 6,000 GWh annual demand. The real obstacles are land‑use constraints, a fragmented regulatory and interconnection process, and high electricity costs that threaten affordability....

Fuel Price Surge Echoes 2008, 2022, Threatens Equities
Gasoline, Diesel Price Surges May Mirror 2008, 2022 - US average gasoline and diesel prices have approached the $4 and $5 a gallon thresholds, raising the prospect of greater consumer and economic stress -- and peaks akin to 2008 and...

Superconducting the AI Era: Rethinking Power Delivery for Gigawatt Data Centers
The data‑center industry is confronting a new bottleneck as AI workloads push campuses toward gigawatt‑scale power consumption. Traditional copper distribution struggles with cost, space, and heat, prompting executives like MetOx CEO Bud Vos to champion high‑temperature superconducting (HTS) cables as a...

Marcos Declares State of National Energy Emergency
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order 110 on March 24, declaring a one‑year state of national energy emergency in the Philippines. The order responds to the Middle‑East conflict that has disrupted global oil supplies and driven price volatility. It creates the Unified Package...

Balancing Costs, ESG Compliance, and Global Competitiveness with India’s Upstream Solar Policy
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has expanded its Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework to include solar ingots and wafers, creating ALMM List‑III that will take effect on June 1, 2028. The mandate forces all qualifying solar projects...

Nebraska Advances Energy Storage and Data Centre-Focused Bill
Nebraska lawmakers have advanced LB1010, the Large Load Customer Regulation Act, to clarify eminent‑domain rights, regulation and taxation for battery energy storage systems (BESS). The bill also mandates data‑centre electricity‑use disclosures and updates provisions affecting cryptocurrency mining. Nebraska is the...
Forgive Me Dr. Alhajji, I Was Unfamiliar With Your Game
Dr. Anas Alhajji argues that the U.S. is a major winner from the Hormuz crisis, aligning with the November 2025 National Security Strategy that ties AI dominance to cheap, abundant energy. By disrupting the Strait of Hormuz, oil and gas...

ERCOT After RTC+B: How Real-Time Optimisation Is Reshaping Battery Storage Economics
ERCOT introduced Real‑Time Co‑Optimization plus Batteries (RTC+B) in December 2025, integrating energy and ancillary services with five‑minute co‑optimisation and explicit state‑of‑charge constraints. Early data shows battery offers adjusting, ancillary service prices rising, and a shift from “structural alpha” to “system alpha”...

Kyodo News Digest: March 24, 2026
Japan will begin releasing oil from its strategic reserves on Thursday to blunt rising fuel prices triggered by the U.S.–Israel‑Iran conflict, while the cabinet also approved mandatory ID checks for data‑only SIM cards to curb fraud. At the same time,...

Port of Rotterdam Ensured Loan for Shore Power Infrastructure
European Investment Bank approved a €90 million ($98 million) loan to the Port of Rotterdam Authority to fund shore‑power installations at three deep‑sea container terminals. The loan is complemented by a €70 million ($76 million) European Commission grant, bringing total public financing to roughly...

DNV Supports Grenergy Chile Financing
DNV has helped Grenergy Renovables secure financing for its Central Oasis solar‑plus‑storage portfolio in Chile. The 398 MW solar PV and 1.4 GWh battery complex spans the Maule and Bíobío regions. International lenders, led by BNP Paribas with Santander and Rabobank, provided the...

The Old Narratives Are Dead – Long Live American Energy Dominance
Recent Iranian missile strikes and drone attacks have caused the largest supply disruption in oil market history, removing roughly 8‑10 million barrels per day, including a 2 million‑bpd cut from Saudi Arabia and a 6.7 million‑bpd reduction across the Gulf. This shock has...
Nuclear Provider X-Energy Files For IPO Amid Data Centre Boom
Nuclear reactor developer X‑Energy, backed by Amazon, has filed for a Nasdaq IPO under the ticker “XE”. The company is pursuing more than 11 GW of small modular reactor (SMR) capacity in the United States and the United Kingdom, targeting high‑ass‑low‑enriched...
SAIC MG Announces ‘Semi-Solid-State Battery’ for Fitment This Year
SAIC’s MG brand unveiled its SolidCore Battery, a semi‑solid‑state pack slated for mass production and European vehicle fitment by the end of 2026. The technology promises longer range, faster charging, superior low‑temperature performance and enhanced safety through a solid electrolyte...

PVT-Driven Tower Heat Pump for Building Retrofits
Chinese researchers demonstrated that coupling an energy‑tower heat pump with either an evaporator‑side boiler or a solar‑thermal system dramatically improves winter heating efficiency in commercial retrofits. The two configurations achieved the highest coefficients of performance—1.904 and 1.891—far surpassing the 1.595...
Fire at Valero's Port Arthur Refinery Sparks U.S. Gasoline and Jet Fuel Concerns
A massive fire erupted at Valero Energy's Port Arthur, Texas refinery on Monday, disrupting a key Gulf Coast fuel hub. The incident, linked to a heater‑unit malfunction, has regulators and traders watching for possible impacts on gasoline and jet fuel...

Škoda Switches to LFP Batteries for Elroq and Enyaq Models
Škoda has refreshed its Elroq and Enyaq electric line‑up for the 2026 model year, introducing lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) batteries in the base‑grade Elroq 60 and Enyaq 60. The new APP350 motor provides 350 Nm of torque while output dips slightly to 140 kW, and charging...

Amazon, Lidl Team with UK to Boost Solar Panel Sales
Amazon and Lidl are working with the UK government to clear the way to sell plug-in solar panels for the first time. In response to the conflict in Iran, which sent fossil fuel prices soaring, the UK Department for Energy Security...
Google Secures PPAs for 400 MW Texas Solar Portfolio
Google signs PPAs on 400-MW Texas solar project portfolio #energysky -- via Solar Power World: https://t.co/7bViy4vPfL

VIDEO: Grid-Forming, LDES and Solar Hybrids in Europe, with Envision Energy’s Michael Koller
Envision Energy’s Michael Koller discussed Europe’s evolving energy‑storage landscape at the Energy Storage Summit 2026 in London. He highlighted market uncertainties in Germany, while noting Spain’s rapid solar‑PV hybrid growth. The interview also covered emerging technologies such as grid‑forming inverters,...

TotalEnergies Accepts Trump’s $1 B Offshore Wind Exit Offer
TotalEnergies Takes Up Trump’s $1 Billion Offer to Exit Offshore Wind #energysky -- via Heatmap News https://t.co/ApY6rOsRWt https://t.co/bpgjbtpiDu

Record Gas Prices Under Biden: How High Did They Reach?
Asking for a friend ... how high did gas prices climb under Joe Biden? https://t.co/sCX5DwSKWz

Carbon Shell‐Mediated Electronic Modulation of NiFe Alloy Electrocatalysts for Efficient CO2 Electroreduction
Researchers introduced a carbon‑coated NiFe alloy (NiFe@NC) that uses a thin carbon shell to electronically reconfigure the catalyst surface, facilitating CO desorption and suppressing hydrogen evolution. Density‑functional theory and in‑situ spectroscopy confirm the electronic reconstruction and protective role of the...
Inverter Cyber Attacks Surge Amid Expanding Solar Threats
Solar cyber threats expand, but inverters still stay in the crosshairs #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/zoWwiHb0Db

Grid‑forming BESS to Stabilize Australian Hyperscale Data Centers
Grid-forming BESS set to stabilize Australia’s hyperscale data centers #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/NMhr7SsJSJ https://t.co/wI37g0CtVc
Dangote Refinery Boosts African Fuel Exports as Middle East Crisis Tightens Supply
Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dispatched 12 petroleum‑product cargoes to five African markets, positioning itself as a regional alternative amid soaring Middle East oil prices and supply shocks. The move comes as Nigeria grapples with domestic fuel price spikes and...
EU Delays Announcement of Russian Oil Phase‑out Timeline
BRUSSELS, March 24 (Reuters) - The European Union does not have a new date to communicate regarding its plan to fully phase out Russian oil, previously scheduled for April 15, Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said on Tuesday.
Hormuz Closure Threatens 15 Million‑
Is the Strait of Hormuz still closed and will the global oil industry drain down ~15 million barrels of petroleum stocks outside the Middle East today alone because of it? https://t.co/YQqTHgKaN9
IEA Chief Warns of Looming Global Economic Threat Amid Energy Market Turmoil
International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that the global economy faces a major threat from tightening energy markets. He cited recent oil price volatility, green hydrogen deals and geopolitical tensions as key drivers of the risk.
Middle East Conflict Will Drive Long-Term Energy Price Surge
Why the war in the Middle East will have long term impacts on energy prices and our energy security. I talked to TRT World last night. https://t.co/Tia1QYZDBJ

Oil Prices Fueled More by Conflict Expectations Than Supply
The oil price is a combination of two things: (i) a physical shortage of oil in the here and now; and (ii) expectations for how long this conflict lasts. The latter channel is by far the more important one in...
Aging Grid Threatens Security Amid Weather, Cyber Risks
JPMorgan Chase & Co. says aging, run-down grid infrastructure now risks undermining security goals, with everything from extreme weather to cyberattacks posing a growing threat. https://t.co/7x2Dguwv4W

Naphtha Shortage Halts Plants, Sends Asian Markets Tumbling
"Petrochemical Shutdowns Spark Industry Shock, Asian Markets Plunge: Naphtha shortages force South Korea, Japan plant halts as Asian stocks crash amid supply fears" https://t.co/SZ6pwkCiSi https://t.co/se32khyggJ

Germany Seeks Global Gas Suppliers Beyond the US
German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche is pushing gas companies to diversify beyond the US 🇩🇪 🚢 Reiche said Germany is also pursuing agreements with Angola, Mexico, Canada and other suppliers worldwide https://t.co/YsSeBtLmvB https://t.co/RPngivFPz4