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:

Trump’s Controversial Venezuela Oil Grab on FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT
The ABC series Foreign Correspondent aired a special on Trump’s aggressive push into Venezuela’s oil sector, highlighting U.S. intervention aimed at reviving the country’s faltering industry. The episode follows journalist Sandra Gathmann and a local crew as they document on‑the‑ground reactions to renewed production efforts under intense international pressure. It probes whether Trump can fulfill promises to boost output and examines the broader implications for global energy markets. The report also considers who benefits as power dynamics shift around the world’s largest oil reserves.

OPEC+ Shutdown Nears 8.5 MMbpd Amid Iran Conflict
🚨 NEW POST 🚨 Latest OPEC+ production data heading into the Iran War, as well as estimates of how much production has already been shut in across the Gulf By my tally we're currently sitting at ~8.5 MMbpd confirmed shut it, with...

U.S. Gas Prices Surge 25% Since War Began
Gas in the U.S. is now up 25% since the war began and 21% from a year ago. Source: WSJ

AI Is Causing a Power and Cooling Headache for Agencies
The latest NVIDIA AI processors are forcing federal agencies to confront unprecedented power and cooling requirements. Agencies must secure trusted partners or conduct assessments to size generators, UPS systems, and transfer switches, while private‑sector spenders are willing to invest over...
Seizing Kharg Island Would Checkmate Iran’s Oil Revenue
Taking Kharg Island (variety of ways) "kind of checkmate" - General (ret) Jack Keane, Chairman @TheStudyofWar , on @FoxNews "The Straits of Hormuz eventually will be a problem that will be solved, but not immediately. Kharg Island; Kharg Island,...
Hassett on the Economic Impact of the US-Israel-Iran War
Kevin Hassett told CBS’s Face the Nation that the US economy will not be harmed by the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict, citing abundant domestic oil production and a steep decline in futures‑based oil prices. He argued the temporary 20% disruption to global...
Rapid-Charging EV Batteries Are on the Way
Rapid‑charging technology is moving from prototype to commercial deployment, promising to refill electric‑vehicle batteries in minutes rather than hours. Automakers and battery firms are unveiling ultra‑fast chargers that can add 300‑plus miles in under five minutes, leveraging high‑voltage (800V) platforms...
KMI Files for Texas Access Project, Taps Woodside as 1 Bcf/D Natural Gas Anchor Shipper
Kinder Morgan filed a FERC application for the Texas Access Project, a 1 Bcf/d natural‑gas pipeline linking East Texas supply to the southwest Louisiana LNG corridor. Woodside Energy Group signed a 20‑year anchor shipper agreement, guaranteeing demand for the pipeline. The...

Study Finds Additional $1 Trillion In Pipeline Capital Needs By 2052
A new study by the INGAA Foundation estimates that the United States and Canada will require roughly $1 trillion in new pipeline capital by 2052, translating to $40‑48 billion annually. The analysis, conducted with the University of Houston, Wood and ESMIA, evaluates...

What It’s Like to Be…a Lineman
The latest episode of Dan Heath’s podcast *What It’s Like to Be…* spotlights Elden Rivas, a veteran lineman in Houston, Texas, as he recounts restoring power after a tornado, working from helicopters in Faraday suits, and surviving a collapsing utility...

No EU Appetite for Trump Demand on Hormuz Help, as Israel Pounds Lebanon
EU foreign ministers signaled they will not deploy naval escorts in the Strait of Hormuz until the United States clarifies its Iran strategy. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany needs explicit goals from the US and Israel before committing...

Who’s Who in Tech: Antares Working on Nuclear Solution
Antares Nuclear, founded in 2023, secured $96 million in Series B funding (bringing total capital to about $130 million) to build modular, transportable reactors for hard‑to‑reach energy deserts. The startup is targeting the U.S. military and aerospace sectors rather than commercial data centers,...

Clēnera Raises US$304 Million for 120MW Solar-Plus-Storage Project in Idaho
Clēnera, the U.S. arm of Enlight Renewable Energy, secured US$304 million to fund the 120 MW Crimson Orchard solar‑plus‑storage project in Idaho. The development pairs 120 MW of photovoltaic capacity with 400 MWh of battery storage and is under construction in Elmore County. Clēnera...

Who’s Who in Tech: Critical Loop Is Powering Solutions
Critical Loop, founded in 2023 by Bala Ramamurthy, Andrew Grinalds and Lydia Maher, creates mobile microgrids that can deliver megawatts of power within weeks. The company targets energy‑desert locations such as islands, remote military bases, and high‑demand industrial sites. Falling...
Nagoya University and NU-Rei Report First Gallium Oxide Thin-Film Epi Growth on Silicon
Researchers at Nagoya University and spin‑out NU‑Rei announced the world’s first heteroepitaxial growth of gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) thin films on silicon wafers. The breakthrough relies on a High‑Density Oxygen Radical Source that doubles atomic‑oxygen density, enabling high‑speed homoepitaxial growth at...
A Maoist Survival Guide to the Iranian Energy Crisis
China is reinforcing energy self‑sufficiency as the Iran‑Ukraine war disrupts oil supplies. Xi Jinping’s 2021 oilfield visit underscored a Maoist‑style “rice bowl” doctrine, urging domestic production and strategic reserves. Beijing has accelerated renewable investments, expanded state‑owned oil drilling, and built...

Who’s Who in Tech: Arbor Energy Is Cooling the Market
Arbor Energy, founded in 2021 by Brad Hartwig and Andres Garcia Clark, secured a $55 million Series A round to accelerate its modular, turbine‑centered power stations. The company’s 25‑megawatt, fuel‑flexible units aim to supply clean baseload power for AI‑driven data centers that...

ThreeV
ThreeV has launched an AI‑powered computer‑vision platform that automates inspections for power and utility assets. The Multi‑Sensory Asset Intelligence Platform digitizes the entire inspection workflow, turning field‑captured visual data into actionable insights. By detecting equipment failures early, it aims to...
War’s End Won’t End Oil Crisis, LNG Recovery Lags
Ending the war does not mean ending the crisis. We have countries that literally shut down production because their storage is full. To bring back that oil to a pre-crisis level takes time. For [liquified natural gas] in particular, it takes a very...
India Vulnerable to Soaring Oil Prices From US‑Israel Conflict
My take on the effect of the US-Israel war on India: "It will hit India particularly hard if the price of oil hits $120 / barrel or $200 / barrel because India is the third largest oil importer in the world."...
Reliance Industries Signs $3 Billion Green Ammonia Supply Deal with Samsung C&T
Reliance Industries Limited has signed a binding 15‑year supply agreement with South Korea’s Samsung C&T to deliver green ammonia, a deal valued at over $3 billion and slated to begin in the second half of FY2029. The contract ranks among the...
Iran's First Direct Strike on Oil/Gas Field
I believe this is the first sucessull Iranian attack against an **oil / gas field** since the war started (previous strikes against oil facilities involved refineries, terminals, and storage tanks). (Althought the tweet calls it an oil field, it likely...
Cuba Endures Nationwide Blackout, Protests Amid US Oil Embargo
While all the attention is (naturally) on Iran, don't lose sight of Cuba. The Caribean island has just suffered a country-wide blackout as it struggles under a de facto US oil embargo. Nightime protest have erupted in several Cuban cities in...

Alabama Senator Proposes Statewide Solar Installation Ban
Alabama senator seeks statewide ban on solar installations #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/yvZX12Fplf https://t.co/vSDOQqoXTq

Heat Pumps Vital, but UK Installations Need Improvement
Heat pumps are a key lever to become independent from fossil fuel imports. I'm quoted in this piece by @KarlMathiesen @politico on what installing a heat pump in the UK is actually like for consumers. TL;DR: There is some room for...

Rare Unsanctioned Russian LNG Heads to Southeast Asia
This is a rare Russian LNG shipment going through the Red Sea to Southeast Asia. Why is it rare? Because neither the LNG nor the carrier is sanctioned, and most likely it is not going to China. All previous...
Supertanker Costs vs Cargo Value Expose POTUS Misstatement
Ok, first of all, supertankers cost roughly $125 million new. Fully loaded with 2 million barrels of crude, the total value of cargo is $180 million at $90 per barrel. That’s $305 million total. POTUS doesn’t have his facts straight...
Oil Spike Fuels Inflation, Keeps Fed From Cutting
The US-Iran conflict pushed oil past $100 a barrel. This is going to keep inflation elevated. Elevated inflation stops the Fed from cutting, which isn’t good for risk assets. I don’t see a super cycle this year only lower lows as stated many...

Wider Solar Row Spacing Enhances Agrivoltaic Feasibility
Increased spacing between solar module rows boosts agrivoltaics viability #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/M3WeMDt4YT https://t.co/qtSnQK9LbZ
Rising Gas Prices Drive Car Lovers Toward EVs
Gas prices are rising, so to avoid pain at the pump, even petrol-heads are reconsidering EVs https://t.co/bUjKs9ok26
Solar Capacity Projected to Hit 6 TW by 2031
Global solar capacity to reach 6 TW by 2031, says GlobalData #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/yvd8OuX6zM

LNG Shutdown Threatens 1.8 B in Three Poorest Nations
I’ll be presenting this slide during a speech tomorrow to the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council. Three of the world’s poorest countries — combined population: 1.8B people — will be hammered by the shutdown of LNG shipments through the Strait of...
Admin Must Admit Rising Oil Ship Traffic Through Hormuz
There were 4 in the last 24 hours. At some point, the administration needs to just be honest and lay out the facts instead of saying different things every few days, trying to jawbone the oil market, bullying the shipping...
Oil Rebound, Flattening Curve Boost Equities; Watch $94 Oil
Oil shock is reversing (Strait clearing narrative), curve flattening continues (rate hikes priced in), credit widening (HY spread breakout), and rent collapse vindicates office REIT pressure. De-escalation moves favor equities; watch if $94 oil holds or bounces.

Massive Top End Solar‑Battery Project Pursues Federal Green Approval
Enormous Top End solar and battery project seeks federal green tick #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/hE3OdgnXA2 https://t.co/NCDEplBNdn

32% Oil Supply Lost; Rerouting Covers Only Fraction
💥 We lost about 32% of world traded crude oil supplies. 💥 Rerouting and SPR may cover up to 40% of it AT BEST. Anyone who thinks the rest of the oil industry can stretch its production to cover the GAP knows...
Finlight and Atrato Aim for 2GW EU Solar by 2030
Finlight, Atrato merge, target 2GW of operational distributed solar PV capacity in Europe by 2030 #energysky -- via pv-tech: https://t.co/4CImn8i29f
China’s Sodium‑Ion Drive Signals Mineral Dominance Contraction
One interesting topic that needs more work: China's push on sodium-ion batteries and whether this is actually more innovation or their acceptance of contraction on their critical minerals dominance (it's more the latter, but anyone can debate me after they've...
Future Oil Prices Lag Spot Gains, Threatening Well Profitability
"Dan Pickering...said that while the spot market price for oil was up 65 per cent at $99, it was only up 17 per cent for 2027 and 12 per cent for 2028....not high enough for most producers to get returns...
Gas Hits 2023 High, Stocks Surge Anyway
Gas prices reach highest level since October 2023 as oil holds above $100 per barrel; US stocks jump https://t.co/voUmM6Kcb0
Top 10 Cleantech Stories This Week and Month
We've had some more popping cleantech news this past week. Below are 10 top stories, as well as the top 10 stories of the past month. - https://t.co/tjPtBy4xDl

Dubai Crude Tops $150, Fueling Middle East Barrel Scramble
Platts Dubai crude (balance of the month) just broke above $150 per barrel. Extreme scramble for Middle Eastern physical barrels continues. https://t.co/HsxSuMbbVJ
Debate Highlights Misunderstood Assumptions Behind Carbon Tax Analysis
Me: this post assessing the impact of the industrial carbon tax is based on incorrect assumptions, incorrect math, or both. Internet: WHY ARE YOU CLAIMING THERE ARE NO TAXES? Me: There are, indeed, taxes and I have never claimed otherwise. Internet: Ha!...

All Offshore Production Offline, some Onshore Wells Shut
"sources have said all offshore production is now offline" Shut-ins also include some onshore wells. https://t.co/3NlzDrbslp
Accelerating the Global Refined Product Market's Vicious Cycle
Agreed. “this will only accelerate the vicious cycle in the global refined product mkt.” #SouthKorea $EWY #AI
Kuwait Oil Output Drops to 1.3 M Bpd Amid Hormuz Shutdown
BBG: "Kuwait Oil Output Falls to About 1.3m B/D With Hormuz Still Shut" Output down to ~1.3 MMbpd vs 1.6 MMbpd last month. Kuwaiti shut-ins have risen to around 1.3 MMbpd from 0.5 MMbpd last week.
AI Surge Drives NRDC to Reconsider Nuclear Power
Exclusive: The AI boom is pushing one of America's most venerable environmental groups -- the @NRDC -- to cautiously support nuclear power after decades of resistance. https://t.co/WEDwZ1dLdL via @axios

Trump’s $50 Oil Goal Risks Global Recession
President Trump will get his $50 oil price wish before the elections— but only after triggering a global recession. Or: End the war this week and keep flooding the market with SPR releases in the coming months.
President's Cute Post Fails to Rally Hormuz Support
The President posted this? If he was actually trying to persuade allies, partners, and others to deploy to Hormuz, this surely is not going to do it. But he obviously thinks this kind of thing is just so cute.
Most Oil Sands Emissions Come From End‑User Combustion
For years, we talked about the wells-to-wheels emissions from oil sands to remind people that most of the emissions from refined products came from combustion by the end user and a small share was from the production and refining of...