Today's Energy Pulse
Scania pilots megawatt‑scale V2G for heavy‑duty electric trucks
Scania demonstrated one of the first vehicle‑to‑grid systems for heavy‑duty electric trucks using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS). The pilot showed bi‑directional power flow, allowing trucks parked at depots to feed electricity back to the grid, with real‑time communication between the truck, charger and energy‑management platform enabling dynamic charging and discharging. The test marks a step toward integrating large‑capacity EVs into grid balancing.
Also developing:
Trump Admin Waives Jones Act for 60 Days
The White House has temporarily waived the Jones Act for 60 days, easing U.S. vessel restrictions amid heightened geopolitical tension. Simultaneously, the war in Iran and a Greek tanker attack in the Black Sea have driven up container rates and forced carriers to reroute shipments. Supply‑chain leaders are accelerating AI‑driven decision engines, robotics, and real‑time tracking to offset volatility, while sustainability initiatives like recycled tagging fasteners gain traction. Retail omnichannel fulfillment and high‑value electronics security are also evolving rapidly.
Asia’s EV Surge Ends Fossil Fuel Dependence
Emerging Asia is sprinting toward electric independence to crush fossil fuel fragility. Fossil fuel wars will only accelerate this trend ➡️Viet Nam: 38% EV sales share, ahead of EU ➡️Singapore: Leading the charge at 50%+ share ➡️Indonesia: 15% share, more than US ➡️Thailand: 21%...
Powell’s Inflation Focus May Push Oil Lower, Buy Near $88
If Powell focuses more on the upside risks to inflation ( which is likely going to be the case ) I believe Oil can see some initial downside on this due to possible future demand contraction concerns. If that becomes the case...
LEGO to Install Over 40,000 Solar Panels at Its First U.S. Factory
LEGO announced plans to build an 80‑acre solar park at its new $1.5 billion Virginia manufacturing complex, its first U.S. factory. The project will install over 30,700 ground‑mounted panels (22 MWp) and 10,080 rooftop panels (6.11 MWp), aiming to meet 100 % of the...
Baltic Towers to Supply Baltica 2 Towers
Baltic Towers has signed a supply agreement with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy to provide the largest batch of offshore wind turbine towers for the Baltica 2 project. The 2027‑commissioned farm, co‑developed by Grupa PGE and Ørsted, will deliver power to roughly 2.5 million customers...
Avantus Completes 159-MW Solar Project in Central Texas
Avantus and Toyota Tsusho America have completed the 159‑MW DC (125‑MW AC) Norton Solar Project in Runnels County, Texas, marking the latest addition to the state’s utility‑scale solar portfolio. Construction, which began in August 2024, was executed by Avantus with RES...
Trump Likely to Block Russia's Oil Shipments to Cuba
russia sending two shipments of oil. and gas to…cuba. will president trump order interdiction? i’d say pretty good chance he will.
War Over Ships and Tariffs, Not Hormuz Opening
Let's unpack this.. What if the White House has no intention of reopening the Strait of Hormuz? What if this war is really about ships & tariffs? I had a long discussion with senior DOE official yesterday on background. I can’t share...
Japan Publishes New Guidelines for Flexible Solar Cell Installations
Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has issued new design and construction guidelines for flexible photovoltaic (PV) and perovskite solar installations, focusing on structural load, frameless mounting and flammability. The standards target low‑load rooftops and building walls...
Tesla Vet Simplifies Home Batteries for Plug‑Play VPPs
Today on Volts: Kunal Girotra applied the lessons he learned from starting Tesla's home-energy business to Lunar, a startup sells simple, modular home battery & software systems. The idea is to make solar panels, smart devices, & VPPs "plug &...
Oil Shock Spreads Global Strain
The episode examines the ripple effects of the recent oil price surge, sparked by an Iranian petrochemical plant strike, on global markets and everyday life. Market maker Greg Newman describes unprecedented volatility and links the crisis to broader geopolitical tensions...
Middle East Tensions Push Brent Crude Past $110
Brent crude oil prices surge to $110/barrel. Israel strikes Iran's largest gas plant. Iran is now announcing that some Gulf energy sites are "legitimate targets."
Madagascar‑Flagged LPG Tanker Passes Iranian Checkpoint
The Madagascar?-flagged 74k m3 LPG tankers just entered the Persian Gulf, swinging through the Iranian Checkpoint. https://t.co/flNbjNxP6L
California Mercedes-Benz USA Parts Distribution Center Goes Solar
EDP Renewables North America’s Distributed Generation unit has finished a 720‑kW rooftop solar system at Mercedes‑Benz USA’s parts distribution center in Fontana, California. The build phase supported 65 construction jobs. The solar array is expected to generate more than $18,200...
Iran’s South Pars Gas Field Attack Threatens Government Funding
Iran’s Energy Infrastructure Is Now On The Targeting List The attack on the South Pars gas field puts Iran's energy production, which is critical to funding the Iranian government, in the crosshairs. https://t.co/wO4BOtxxHy
Infl
Crude Oil Adjusted for inflation the price of Crude Oil is cheap even at $94 Not inconceivable to think about $200 Crude $CL_F https://t.co/AA3Vu3G1AF
World Bank Bans PwC Africa Subsidiaries over Electricity Project Fraud
The World Bank has debarred three PwC Africa subsidiaries—PwC Associates Africa (Mauritius), PwC Kenya, and PwC Rwanda—for 21 months after uncovering collusive and fraudulent practices tied to the Eastern Electricity Highway Project. The firms manipulated procurement documents and misrepresented expertise...
Gulf Oil Spikes While Brent Steadies, JPM Warns Broader Surge
While Brent — the most commonly quoted crude oil benchmark — has been surprisingly well-behaved, Gulf oil prices have gone stratospheric. And JPMorgan’s oil analysts worry this could be a harbinger for the rest of the oil market. https://t.co/fD6tZ9vW81...
Futures Curve Shows Prices, Not Predictions
I know I am piling on here, but a reminder to those of you just tuning into oil markets... The Futures Curve is NOT a forecast... https://t.co/gyYIbj3Xqa
Economic Uncertainty and Digital Payment Infrastructure
The ongoing Middle East conflict has driven oil‑gas price spikes, heightening economic uncertainty across the region. In the Philippines, digital‑payment platforms have become a key buffer, with 72 % of consumer transactions conducted electronically in 2025 and a three‑fold rise in...
U.S. Imports Heavy, Sulfur‑Rich Crude to Fit Refineries
Reminder: Not all crude oil is the same. The U.S. produces mostly lighter and less sulfurous crude oils, but imports heavier more sulfurous crude oils to better match what U.S. refineries are configured to process. https://t.co/NF6jnZrdrY
10% Oil Supply Cut Could Spike Prices $150
Ouch. A standard estimate (ballpark) is ~ 10 mbd/ 10% of world supply is now off the market. Some elasticities were closer to -0.1, which implies a price hike of up to $100. This elasticity would...
Higher Energy Prices Might Eat Your Tax Refund, Economists Say
Stanford economists estimate that rising gasoline prices could cost the average U.S. household about $740 this year, roughly matching the projected $750 boost from the 2023 tax refund legislation. Their model assumes a brief Strait of Hormuz closure, with gasoline...
Brent Outpaces WTI, Nearing 78.6% Retracement
$UKOIL - Brent oil is significantly outperforming WTI oil for obvious reasons. Both topped around $119.50 last Monday, but while WTI has only reached $98 today, Brent reached $110 at today's high and is close to the 78.6% retracement of...
UK Power Mix Flips: Renewables Now Dominate, Coal Gone
When I started working on UK energy in 2007, fossil fuels provided ~78% of electricity. Coal alone: 34%. Wind & solar: less than 2%. Today: wind & solar 33%, fossil fuels 28%, coal 0%. The chart below tells the story better...
Interior Revives the "God Squad" To Approve Gulf Oil Drilling
The Interior Department announced that the Endangered Species Committee, known as the "God Squad," will meet on March 31 to consider an exemption for Gulf of Mexico oil and gas drilling under the Endangered Species Act. The request targets projects...
Israel's Strike Risks Iran Retaliation, Global Energy Fallout
Israel's reckless escalation in attacking Iran's South Pars gas facilities - hitting onshore processing facilities for Phases 3-6, gives Iran plausible excuse (if it needed it) to hit back against regional energy facilities Neutrals & world energy consumers will suffer https://t.co/Kx7MytxmEn
New Tech Halves Battery Storage Cost, Doubles Efficiency
Another exponential growth multiplier... more energy that twice as efficient. According to Peak Energy, its system cuts the lifetime cost of stored energy by an average of $70 per kilowatt-hour. That’s roughly half the total cost of a typical battery...
Scandlines Races To Fully Electrify Ferry Services As Fehmarn Tunnel Stalls
Scandlines launched Baltic Whale, an all‑electric freight ferry, on the Puttgarden–Rødby route, increasing freight capacity by 27% and featuring a 10 MWh battery that charges in under 15 seconds. The vessel joins a hybrid fleet, part of a €400 million program to...
Hormuz Disruption Forces IEA to Release 400M Barrels
20% of global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. It's been disrupted for 3 weeks. IEA released 400M barrels from reserves. That tells you how serious this is. https://t.co/KrxQw3KVSX
AEMO's 90s Roots Demand Modern Governance Today
AEMO is a product of the 90s. Its governance needs to reflect the world we’re in now #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/omZiYyslB7 https://t.co/osBifA9CrV
300,000 New EV Chargers Planned For Latin America
ZapCharge, the international arm of China’s Shaanxi Fast Charger, announced a plan to install 300,000 public EV chargers across Latin America by 2030, with an intermediate target of 50,000 stations by 2027. Industry analysts estimate the region will need between...
2026's Oil Shock Rivals 1973‑79 Long‑run Impacts
it is true that 2026 is seeing the most sudden shock to oil and gas supply. But both 1973 and 1979 had a very significant effect on long-run output as well. More featured on today's Chartbook Top Links in the...
Iran War Pressures Solar Energy Development
How Solar Is Getting Squeezed in the Iran War #energysky -- via Heatmap News https://t.co/3AYDpzdzgD https://t.co/toxamsnCxs
To Strengthen Power Reliability in Extreme Weather, Diversify Grid Resources
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime spotlight on utility poles sparked a conversation about America’s aging grid, highlighting how extreme weather is exposing systemic fragility. Recent storms in Texas, from the 2021 freeze to Winter Storm Fern, illustrate that diversified resources—wind,...
Beazley Acquires kWh Analytics to Boost Renewable Underwriting
Beazley to acquire kWh Analytics to expand renewable underwriting #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/wCWG390fQB
War Fuels Inflation; Oil Spikes Before Iran’s Retaliation
War is inflationary. And these oil prices are before Iran retaliates on: Ras Laffan refinery – Qatar Samref oil refinery – Saudi Arabia Al Hosn gasfield – UAE Jubail petchem plant – Saudi Arabia Mesaieed petchem plant – Qatar #RefinedProduct #oott
Indonesia Awards Nine Oil, Gas Blocks
Indonesia’s Energy Ministry announced the award of nine oil and gas blocks, committing roughly $85 million in investment. The blocks, located in West Papua, Aceh, East Java and South Sulawesi, include the Bintuni and Drawa fields with combined gas resources exceeding...
Markets Are Tools of Statecraft; Manipulation Erodes Trust
Don’t manipulate oil markets—it breaks trust, writes @JavierBlas Reality is that markets are tools of statecraft Adapt Yer old road is rapidly agin’ Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand For the times they are a changin’ https://t.co/fHTiisI5hk
UK, Germany See Surge in Clean Tech Demand Post‑Iran War
Companies in the UK and Germany have received more inquiries for solar panels, heat pumps and EVs since the Iran war started https://t.co/JQoD10Lhq6
Waste-to-Energy Embraces CCS and BECCS
Kanadevia Inova will build the UK’s first full‑scale carbon capture unit at the Protos waste‑to‑energy plant, using amine scrubbing to remove about 370,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year and aiming for negative emissions by mid‑2029. In the United States, AtmosClear...
Understanding Oil Shock Shift: From Inflation to Demand Destruction
I think this is the most important question to understand moving forward. Asked @BobEUnlimited about what his checklist looks like for when oil shocks flip from inflation to demand destruction
Airplane‑style Wings Slash Cargo Ship Fuel Use 80%
Airplane-Style Wings Are Powering Cargo Ships While Cutting Fuel by 80% by @BrianRoemmele #Technology #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/5gzM052vij
Oil’s Strategic Value Remains High Amid Iran Shift
Strategic and economic value of oil and gas are still high...in case anyone thought they weren't.
Aramco Can Still Export Crude via Suez, Threatened by Houthis
This would be very difficult for Asia. But, Aramco will still be able to get crude out to the Med by going from Yanbu to the Suez Canal and/or SUMED pipeline. Unless Houthis start shooting missiles at Yanbu & Jubail.
WTI Nears $100: CEOs Weigh Impact
WTI is about to cross the $100/barrel threshold. Would love to hear from CEOs of US domestic producers about their calculations right now. $OXY $EOG $DVN $FANG Contenental, etc. #oil #IranWar #oott
Geopolitical Risk Premium Rises for Persian Gulf JV
geopolitical risk premium for investing in a joint venture in the Persian Gulf just went up
EIB Funds 290MW Solar and 350MW Storage in Italy
EIB to finance 290MW solar PV and 350MW BESS Italian portfolio #energysky -- via pv-tech: https://t.co/ivC4mfMTQa
Arctic Metagaz Returns to Libyan Waters, Explosion Fears Persist
Two Weeks After Explosion ‘Arctic Metagaz’ Drifts Back Into Libyan Waters Amid Continued Fears of Explosion and Environmental Disaster https://t.co/n4aj6QgBB1
Minister Contradicts Himself on Diesel Carbon Tax Exemption
The FP talks here (11:20) about exemptions for diesel from the industrial carbon tax, and yet he published a piece in the Toronto Sun and elsewhere this week on trucking cost implications that assumed the industrial carbon tax applies to...