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:
PPL Electric Reaches $275M Rate Case Settlement, Including Data Center Tariff
PPL Electric Utilities announced a $275 million settlement with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission that would raise average residential bills by 4.9% to roughly $184 per month. The deal introduces a new large‑load tariff for data centers and other customers consuming 50 MW or more (or 75 MW aggregate) and includes a ten‑year minimum contract term. Large‑load customers will contribute $11 million annually to PPL’s low‑income program, while the utility’s base distribution revenue is cut 23% from its original request. If approved, the rate hike takes effect July 1, marking the first distribution increase since 2016.
US Cleantech Rollbacks Cost Your Wallet and Climate
In the latest Current Climate newsletter: 💰 U.S. cleantech rollbacks hurt your wallet as well as the climate 🔋 Tesla’s best business bet isn’t robotaxis ☀️ Global Renewables Alliance on speeding the shift from fossil fuels for stability and energy security https://www.forbes.com/sites/current-climate/2026/03/16/us-cleantech-rollbacks-hurt-both-the-climate-and-your-wallet/
Europe’s Energy Storage Startup Landscape
European energy‑storage startups have secured €2.14 billion in equity, with half of that capital deployed in the last three years. Battery storage still dominates funding at €331.8 million, but investors are increasingly backing mechanical, EV‑charging‑with‑storage and thermal solutions. The market is moving...
Electrification Boom Meets Supply Chain Reality
America’s electrification build‑out is hitting a supply‑chain wall, with lead times for transformers and high‑voltage switchgear now exceeding 100 weeks, according to McKinsey. The shortage is inflating margins for equipment makers and underpins the ALPS Electrification Infrastructure ETF (ELFY), which...
Crude Bottleneck Extends, but Geopolitical Premium Flaring; Brent Oil Will Likely Test $120
The United States carried out large‑scale strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island over the March 14‑15 weekend, targeting military facilities while sparing the island’s crude export terminal. Kharg processes over 90 % of Iran’s oil shipments, so the attacks raise geopolitical tension...
SolaREIT Expands Real Estate Financing to PV Transmission and Substations
SolaREIT, a solar‑focused real‑estate investment trust, announced it will now finance land for substations and transmission corridors tied to photovoltaic projects. The move comes as clean‑energy lending has slowed dramatically, dropping from a 22% growth rate to just 5.8% year‑over‑year....
RWE at the Upper End of Its 2025 EBITDA and Profit Guidance - €35 Billion for Wind Power, Solar and...
RWE reported 2025 adjusted EBITDA of €5.1 bn and net income of €1.8 bn, landing at the top of its guidance range despite a dip from 2024. The German utility announced a €35 bn net investment programme through 2031 aimed at adding roughly...
Pakistan Oil Tanker Transits Hormuz
A Pakistan‑flagged Aframax tanker, the Karachi, successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, becoming one of the few vessels to do so since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran halted traffic. The ship departed Fujairah on Feb. 25, was spotted...
Bessent Says Treasury Is Not Intervening in Oil Commodities Markets and Has No Authority to Do So
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that the administration has no plans and likely lacks the authority to intervene in oil futures markets, dispelling rumors of government action to curb rising prices. He emphasized that while past presidents have...
Japan’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Enters Commercial Operation: 220-MW Kitakyushu Hibikinada Offshore Wind Farm Feeds Electricity Into the Grid
Japan’s largest offshore wind farm, the 220 MW Kitakyushu Hibikinada project, began commercial operation in early March 2026. The facility comprises 25 turbines of 9.6 MW each and is expected to generate about 500 million kWh annually, enough for roughly 170,000 households. Operated by...
Dutch Startup Plans Roll-to-Roll Factory for Perovskite Solar Cells
Dutch research institute TNO has spun off Perovion Technologies to industrialise lightweight, flexible perovskite solar cells. The company aims to construct the first roll‑to‑roll perovskite manufacturing line in the Netherlands by 2030, targeting applications where glass panels are impractical. A...
Iran Seeks Return of 3 Tankers Seized by India in Return for Hormuz Safe Passage: Report
India's coastal authorities seized three U.S.-sanctioned oil tankers—Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia—on February 6, alleging illicit trade links to Iran. Tehran has offered to release the vessels in exchange for guaranteed safe passage of Indian‑bound ships through the Strait...
Ciemat Unveils Large-Area Multispectral Solar Simulator for PV Module Testing
CIEMAT has launched a large‑area multispectral solar simulator designed for precise electrical characterization of full‑size photovoltaic modules. The system delivers better than 0.4% spatial irradiance uniformity, 500 ms LED illumination pulses and dynamic I‑V acquisition, enabling single‑pulse testing of high‑capacitance modules....
Gujarat Hikes LPG Supply by 20 per Cent; Prioritises PNG Connections
Gujarat has raised LPG distribution by 20 percent above the normal weekly quota to guarantee uninterrupted fuel availability. The state is simultaneously prioritising piped natural gas (PNG) connections for hotels, restaurants and other commercial users where network infrastructure exists. Buffer stocks...
TEPCO Delays Commercial Operation of Recently Restarted Nuclear Reactor
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced a delay in the commercial operation of its No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki‑Kariwa plant, the first unit restarted after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The postponement follows a small‑scale electricity leak detected on a power...
Oil Spike Overblown, Prices Set to Fall Soon
Bessent says too much is being made of the run-up in oil prices from Iran's retaliatory measures to U.S.-Israel strikes, claiming coverage of the risks around the Strait of Hormuz is being amplified by anti-Trump media bias and is part...
Ormat Technologies Begins Commercial Operations at 320MWh California BESS
Ormat Technologies announced that its 80 MW/320 MWh Shirk battery energy storage system in Visalia, California, entered commercial operation on March 12, 2026, meeting the City of Riverside’s 15‑year resource adequacy contract deadline. The project qualifies for a 40% investment tax credit, which Ormat...
Shell Exits South Africa, Selling 600 Petrol Stations
Farewell Shell, this marks the end of their petrol stations in South Africa. 🇿🇦 Shell will be selling their downstream assets, which includes a network of roughly 600 petrol stations across the country.
Why the EU Commission’s Plan for an AI Data-Centres Boom Is Short-Sighted
European Commission's AI Continent Action Plan proposes tripling data‑centre capacity in five to seven years via the draft CAIDA regulation. The draft fast‑tracks permits for land, water and energy, sidelining local communities and environmental safeguards. Critics cite ongoing conflicts in...
Speculators Rush In as Iran Conflict Threatens Oil Supply
Just a few notes on OIL CL before the Iran crisis started all research showed that supply was swamping demand as global production due to progess in discovery and drilling was exceeding demand especially with China going all in on EV Clearly...
EIA Ups WTI Price Forecast by $20 in Wake of Iran Conflict
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) raised its short‑term outlook for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, projecting an average price of $73.61 per barrel in 2026—$20 above its February forecast. The revision reflects heightened risk premiums after the February 28 onset...
Is Switzerland Going Back Contact?
Back‑contact (BC) solar modules from Aiko Solar and Longi captured over 50% of Switzerland's rooftop PV market in 2025, driven by a premium on module efficiency rather than price. The report notes a gradual decline in the AC/DC ratio to...
Pii Energy Unveils Plug-In 1.2 kW Solar, 2 kWh Home System
Pii Energy has introduced the Edge 2000, a plug‑in solar‑plus‑storage kit aimed at renters and apartment dwellers. The system pairs 1.2 kW of photovoltaic panels with a 2 kWh battery, ten smart outlets, and a Raspberry Pi‑driven controller. Priced at roughly $2,400, it...
Fire at Hsinchu Power Substation Kills 1, Injures 2 (Update)
A fire erupted at the Zhuyuan Extra High Voltage Substation in Hsinchu City on March 16, killing one worker and injuring two others. The blaze broke out while voltage‑stabilization equipment was being tested, prompting a rapid response from the Hsinchu...
VIDEO: Europe’s First 100GW of Energy Storage and What’s Next, with Energy Storage Europe
Europe achieved its first cumulative 100 GW of energy storage by the end of 2025, split evenly between lithium‑ion battery systems and pumped hydro facilities. Jacopo Tosoni, deputy secretary‑general of Energy Storage Europe, highlighted upcoming EU policy shifts to increase domestic...
Finlight, Atrato Merge, Target 2GW of Operational Distributed Solar PV Capacity in Europe by 2030
Finlight and Atrato Onsite Energy have merged under the Finlight brand, creating one of Europe’s largest distributed‑generation operators. The combined entity now manages 700 MW of commercial‑industrial solar and 23,000 residential projects across the UK, Spain and Portugal. Finlight will invest...
CLZ26's High Risk Premium Reflects Delivery Incentive
CLZ26 price of 75 is the expected forward spot price of oil for December delivery plus a risk premium. That risk premium is likely higher than normal (Z26 is cheaper than normal) due to the high incentive for those...
India May Soften New Grid-Supply Rules for Renewable Power Producers
India’s power regulator, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, drafted stricter grid‑supply rules for wind and solar producers, including hefty penalties for missing commitments. After developers warned the measures could erode revenues and deter clean‑energy investment, the government asked CERC to...
Delayed Fossil Fuel Phaseout Forces Sudden Overnight Shutdown
Cheers to everyone who delayed fossil fuel phaseout by saying "you can't switch off fossil fuels overnight" Because thanks to them everyone now has to face a situation where fossil fuels are switched off overnight 🙃🙃🙃
US Clears Iranian Tankers Through Hormuz as Oil Prices Spike
U.S. Allows Iranian Tankers to Transit Hormuz as Oil Prices Surge and Select Ships Begin Crossing Strait https://t.co/7Cu9sdFEOi
The Frog Is Dead: North America’s Power Grid Faces Its Biggest Reckoning in a Generation
North America’s power grid is confronting a rapid demand surge, driven by a data‑center boom, reshoring of manufacturing, and broader electrification, pushing load growth to 2‑3% annually. Utilities are scrambling to replace retiring baseload plants while adding intermittent renewables, creating...
Disturbing Truths About Crude Supply Chain Unveiled
This podcast is totally worth the time. Covered a ton about how the crude supply chain works. Really great having Steve Pavlick in there with the policy angle. It's all pretty disturbing
California Gas Hits $5.53, 49% Above National Average
Gas prices in California are 49% above the US national average. $5.53 per gallon. https://t.co/cdwV8Mxi27
Hormuz: Vital Energy Artery Threatened by Geopolitical Tension
The Strait Of Hormuz: Energy Lifeline Or Global Time Bomb? | 4K Documentary https://t.co/t6N6hRSPrD via @YouTube
130M Barrels = 6.5 Days Disruption; Oil Still Finds Market
130 Million barrels is 6.5 days of most extreme measure of current supply disruption so I agree 1.5 days global is not the most revealing framing But the oil would have found a home anyway...
Energy Price Surge Threatens to Reverse US Inflation Decline
For most of the past three years, falling energy prices have been helping to push the US inflation rate (CPI) lower. But that tailwind will soon become a headwind, with prices of Oil and Gas spiking on a YoY basis......
IEA Chief Says Larger Oil Release Possible if Needed
🚨IEA head Fatih Birol says a wider release than the 400 million barrels announced last week is doable if needed. Full comment at briefing below. #OOTT #EnergyMarkets #energy #IranWar https://t.co/B67fHqNQ73
Trump's Oil Price Push only Stalls US Shale Output
The funny thing about the Trump admin trying SO hard to jawbone down the price of oil is that the main thing they're accomplishing, beyond a temporary political reprieve, is a delay in the production response from US shale producers.
Oil Prices Likely Rise Despite White House Talk‑down
$USO 30-Minute Chart. Nonstop chatter from White House to talk down oil. But each passing day makes bad situation worse. Watch for cup & handle bullish setup https://t.co/KOm9v3I8j9
Clean-Energy Investment Now Almost Twice Fossil Fuels
Now seems like a good time to remember that global clean-energy investment is nearly double fossil fuels https://t.co/bHhEwRKgy7
Hormuz Closure Threatens Oil, Gas, Fertilizer, Food Security
Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson on the GLOBAL IMPACT of the STRAIT OF HORMUZ: "You’ve now closed off 20% of the world’s oil supply, 25% of the world’s liquid natural gas, and 35% of the world’s urea... There's going to be...
Gas Prices Surge 25% in Just Two Weeks
National average of gas prices is up 73 cents since the war started 15 days ago (middle panel), or 25% (bottom panel). https://t.co/NhhuStQnOD
China’s Energy Strategy Redefines Global Power Dynamics
Thanks @politico for the chance to do a deep dive on my most recent @ForeignPolicy column, written in collaboration with my @ColumbiaUEnergy colleague Erica Downs, one of the best thinkers out there on all things China and energy. https://t.co/K1X8ufGozt
Oil Trading Treated as Abstract Futures, Not Physical Settlement
Peeps seem to be trading oil like an abstract future and not something that physically settles
Brent's 42% War Surge Faces Three Major Downside Triggers
Brent is up 42% from before the war began. That's a bigger risk premium than after the Ukraine invasion. Catalysts that can make Brent fall: (i) Trump ends the war; (ii) the US blockades Iranian ports (Iran's economy implodes); (iii)...
Embargo Iranian Oil, as Missed Russian Embargo Cost War
The big mistake the West made in 2022 was to not embargo Russian oil. That would have spiked oil prices further, but Russia's economy would have imploded and it likely wouldn't still be waging war in Ukraine. The lesson for...
UK Auction Cuts 78 LNG Tankers, Saves £4bn Annually
The new wind and solar capacity contracted at the UK's latest renewable auction will avoid the need for 78 LNG tankers-worth of imports each year, worth roughly £4bn at current gas prices https://t.co/gSdA6f5Jco https://t.co/tUyJ47PBMW
Treasury Secretary Confirms No US Intervention in Oil Derivatives
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the US government has NOT intervened in the oil derivatives market
Statkraft CEO Warns Price Tweaks Threaten Clean‑energy Investment
European regulators should avoid adjusting electricity pricing in case it puts at risk investment in clean energy, according to the CEO of Statkraft https://t.co/J5F9UAE4oH
Renewables, Batteries, EVs Boost Nations' Energy Crisis Resilience
Some countries are better positioned to weather this energy crisis than they would have been just a few years ago. That's because of the rapid growth of renewable energy, battery systems and electric vehicles. NPR interviewed me for this excellent piece:...