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:
Italy Weighs Options as Damaged Russian LNG Tanker Drifts in the Mediterranean
A Russian LNG tanker, the Arctic Metagaz, was struck by Ukrainian naval drones and left drifting in the Mediterranean between Italy and Malta. The vessel’s 30 crew were evacuated, and while the hull remains afloat, the amount of LNG on board is unclear. Italian authorities are weighing options, favouring a tow by a specialist firm and rejecting any port docking due to safety concerns. Malta has issued a safety perimeter, warning ships to stay clear.
New Research Reveals How Semiconductor Electrodes Can Achieve Green Hydrogen Production
University of Jyväskylä researchers used a new constant inner potential density functional theory to model semiconductor electrochemistry, revealing that lowering the electrode potential creates polarons on TiO₂ surfaces that activate the hydrogen evolution reaction. State‑of‑the‑art Raman, electron resonance and photoelectron...
Can This New Coalition Help Bring Down Energy Costs? – This Week in Cleantech
This week’s Cleantech roundup highlighted four pivotal energy topics. The EPA, under the Trump administration, rescinded the 2009 endangerment finding that anchored greenhouse‑gas regulation under the Clean Air Act. Exelon’s executive outlined a $38 billion capital plan that prioritizes affordability while...
Ethanol Market Outlook: EV Shift, E15
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to present a webinar titled "Understanding the Ethanol Market" for the Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska. During the session, I shared my insights on several key topics, including: - EV transition and...
Hinkley Point C | TBM Readied for 620m Long Fish Return Tunnel
Engineers at Hinkley Point C have begun tunnelling a 620‑metre, 1.8‑metre‑diameter fish return tunnel using a TBM dubbed Sarah Guppy. The tunnel is one of three fish‑protection systems – alongside low‑velocity intake heads and an ultrasound acoustic deterrent – that together cost...
Nexwell Power Secures Financing on 250MW Spanish PV Portfolio
Nexwell Power has closed a €167 million multi‑tranche financing to fund a 248 MW solar PV portfolio in Spain. The portfolio, acquired from Q Energy, comprises seven plants in Andalusia and Aragon, with several projects already mechanically complete and others slated for early‑2026...
Living the Unseen War: Egyptians Feel Ripple Effects of Iran Conflict
Egypt raised domestic fuel prices by 14‑17% after the Strait of Hormuz closure, prompting immediate transport fare hikes and higher food costs for ordinary Egyptians. The surge in energy prices has accelerated inflation, with staple items like bread and tomatoes...
IDB Invest Coordinates Financing for Paraguay’s First Green Hydrogen Fertilizer Project
IDB Invest coordinated a $420 million debt‑financing package, contributing $156 million, to launch Project Villeta – Paraguay’s first green‑hydrogen‑based fertilizer plant. The $650 million investment will produce about 262,460 tons of fertilizer annually, with roughly 90% earmarked for export, leveraging the country’s 100% hydroelectric grid. A...
Blaming the Green Deal for Rising Energy Prices Is Simple — but Wrong
Politicians on the right blame the EU Green Deal for soaring energy costs and weakened competitiveness. The article argues that price spikes stem from post‑COVID demand, Russia’s war‑induced supply shock, and chronic underinvestment in renewables rather than climate policy. Renewable...
Increased Spacing Between Solar Module Rows Boosts Agrivoltaics Viability
U.S. researchers at Colorado University introduced an economic framework that evaluates how wider spacing between solar photovoltaic (PV) rows can make agrivoltaic systems viable for large‑scale, mechanized farming. Simulations on a 160‑acre Colorado site across potatoes, onions, sugar beets and...
When It Comes To Energy Dependence On Other Countries, Americans Have An Easy Choice
The post argues that the United States should prioritize domestic oil and gas, especially Canadian supplies, over reliance on China for energy security. It highlights how Middle‑East conflicts, such as the recent Iran war, make imported crude volatile. The author...
5 Big Energy Stories - 3.13.2026: The Fear Premium Returns to Oil Markets With a Vengeance
Oil markets are once again being driven by a fear premium, pushing Brent crude up by roughly $15‑$20 per barrel despite ample global supply. The premium, first noted after 9/11, reflects traders’ risk‑aversion to geopolitical shocks and supply‑chain disruptions. Recent...
Trump Is ‘Wrong’: Europeans Slam US Decision to Ease Russia Oil Sanctions
European leaders, including Germany’s Friedrich Merz, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, condemned the Trump administration’s decision to temporarily lift sanctions on stranded Russian oil. They argue the move will replenish Moscow’s war chest and undermine the G7’s unified pressure on Russia...
Statkraft Joins Leading Power Companies in Call to Safeguard EU ETS and Strengthen Europe’s Competitiveness
Statkraft, together with seven other leading European power firms, has sent a joint letter to EU leaders urging the protection of the EU Emissions Trading System, the internal electricity market, and marginal pricing. The coalition warns that weakening these mechanisms...
A Political Pitch for European Oils
European voters’ climate concern has surged to 14%, reflecting a post‑Russia‑Ukraine energy shock that reshapes political sentiment. The shift has prompted a wave of incumbent defeats and signals a move away from aggressive ESG policies toward energy security. European oil...
India's Modi Reaches Out to Iran as Energy Crunch Fears Grip the South Asian Nation
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, seeking safe passage for Indian vessels as Iran threatens to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed. The closure jeopardises roughly half of India’s crude‑oil imports and its primary...
Short-Term Pairs Trade Favours the Dollar
The market is adjusting to heightened geopolitical risk after coordinated US‑Israeli strikes on Iran, which have effectively shut the Hormuz Strait and intensified regional drone attacks. These developments are pushing oil prices higher for a longer period, bolstering the U.S....
Burundi Signs Deal with Bezos, Gates-Linked Miner
Burundi has signed a three‑year memorandum of understanding with U.S. miners KoBold Metals and Life Zone Metals to explore lithium, cobalt, copper and other critical minerals. The deal, witnessed in Washington, DC, includes a commitment to digitise Burundi’s geological data by July...
Energy Edits Newsletter for March 13, 2026
India’s energy sector is confronting a "triple challenge" of security, sustainability and affordability, as highlighted by Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri’s recent Lok Sabha address. The government cited global disruptions – including 124 million barrels of Russian oil on water, a...
NXT Conclave 2026: PM Modi Unveils India’s Energy Strategy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the NXT Conclave to unveil India’s comprehensive energy strategy, emphasizing expanded domestic infrastructure and reduced reliance on imports. He highlighted a surge in strategic petroleum reserves to over 5 million tonnes, a tripling of LPG connections,...
ERG S.p.A. Stock Under Pressure After Results: ERG Increases Revenue and EBITDA 2025 - 1 Euro Dividend and Focus on...
ERG S.p.A. posted 2025 adjusted revenue of €752 million and EBITDA of €540 million, both up modestly from the prior year. Net profit slipped 11% to €155 million, pressured by higher depreciation and financing costs. The company added roughly 150 MW of new capacity,...
AI's Real Race: Securing Massive Energy Financing
AI is forcing the debate about energy and infrastructure. As hyperscale data centers expand, critics argue they are pushing up electricity demand and prices. Tech companies say they will absorb the costs or invest in alternative energy, but the long-term economics...
Shell Sees Encouraging Signs at Sirius-1X Exploration Well Offshore Egypt
Shell reported encouraging initial indications from its Sirius‑1X exploratory well offshore Egypt, which reached its target depth of 2,115 metres. The well, part of a four‑well Mediterranean campaign, leverages data from the earlier Mina West 2 drill to reduce additional exploration risk....
Analyst Warns of 'Big, Big Risk' For Oil Over Weekend
SEB chief commodities analyst Bjarne Schieldrop warned of a “big, big risk” to oil over the upcoming weekend, citing potential damage to Iran’s Kharg island export hub. He noted Brent crude surged 9.2% to $102.4 per barrel, trading near its...
ArcLight to Buy InfraBridge’s Stake in North American Power Assets
ArcLight Capital Partners has agreed to buy InfraBridge’s 50 % stake in the Invenergy‑managed AMPCI Thermal Power (IATP) portfolio, a collection of 11 power generation assets delivering about 5.4 GW across North America. Invenergy will retain its ownership share and continue operating...
Terence Corcoran: Oil and the Art of Forecasting
Oil prices have surged above $100 a barrel, prompting wildly different forecasts. The U.S. Energy Information Administration sees prices staying above $95 for two months before falling to $70 by late 2026, while Wood Mackenzie warns of possible spikes to...
Fuel, Energy Prices Raise the Pressure as California Officials Take Next Steps on Climate
California regulators are revising the state’s cap‑and‑invest climate program, extending it through 2045 and tightening the carbon cap by 118 million tons by 2030. The draft shifts free allowances from natural‑gas to electric utilities and aims to generate $180.7 billion in statewide...
Galetech Invests £3m in UK Renewables
Galetech Group, an Irish renewable‑energy developer, announced a £3 million investment in the United Kingdom over the next five years to expand its renewable‑energy services. The funding will enable the creation of up to 30 highly‑skilled jobs by 2030 and broaden...
Sif Chief Warns of Offshore Wind Slowdown
Sif CEO Fred van Beers warned that offshore wind activity has fallen to a very low level in the short term, despite a healthy long‑term outlook. The Dutch steelmaker posted adjusted EBITDA of €48 million for 2025, up from €38.4 million in...
CATL Makes Progress on Its Solid-State Battery
CATL filed a new WIPO patent detailing a sulfide‑based solid‑state battery architecture that promises 500 Wh/kg energy density. The company has begun pilot production and reports technology maturity at level 4, aiming for automotive‑grade cells by 2027. To support scaling, CATL reserved...
Posco, Sila to Collaborate in Next-Gen Battery Technologies
Posco Future M, the battery materials arm of South Korea’s Posco Holdings, has signed a strategic agreement with U.S.‑based Sila Nanotechnologies to co‑develop next‑generation silicon‑based anodes. Sila’s Titan Silicon anode, built from nano‑engineered silicon particles, promises substantially higher energy density...
Hyundai-LGES, Huayou in Battery Recycling Partnership in Indonesia
Hyundai Motor Group’s Indonesian JV with LG Energy Solution, PT Hyundai LG Indonesia Green Power, has teamed up with Zhejiang Huayou Recycling to process both production waste and end‑of‑life EV batteries. The $1.1 billion Karawang plant, operational in 2024, will ship waste to Huayou’s local...
Romania Seeks IEA Membership, Embraces All‑Fuel Energy Strategy
I welcome the formal request just received from Romania to become an @IEA Member From my meetings with its leaders, I know 🇷🇴 has a strong focus on energy security & an ‘all fuels & all technologies’ approach, based on a...
OPEC Analyst Explains Iran War Impact on Oil
🎙️ NEW PODCAST 🎧 In the latest episode of the Oil Ground Up podcast, I spoke with @ncitayim for a view on the Iran war from one of my absolute favourite OPEC and Middle East oil analysts, reporting from the Gulf. (Link...
Ashtrom Secures $200m in Financing for Texas Solar Project
Ashtrom Renewable Energy has closed a $200 million financing agreement with BHI, the U.S. arm of Bank Hapoalim, to fund the El Patrimonio solar project near San Antonio, Texas. Construction began in 2025 with completion slated for 2027. The 370‑megawatt facility will...
EU Proposes Long‑overlooked Solution to Hormuz Crisis
EU has a solution for the Hormuz issue Why wasnt this considered before? @realDonaldTrump @WhiteHouse
Natural Gas Switch Costs More Than Solar, Batteries
Switching from coal to natural gas is not the “gift” you think it is. The infrastructure costs are enormous. Far cheaper to move to solar and batteries. The administration has hurt LNG security in a big way with this conflict. https://t.co/VIukiTxMxx
Don’t Use Oil Price Chaos to Hike Prices Says Miliband
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband warned that firms will not be allowed to profit from the recent surge in global oil prices caused by Middle East tensions. The Competition and Markets Authority has been placed on high alert to curb...
Iran's Chaos Tactics Spike Energy Prices, Cheap Laser Defense Emerges
Iran's chaos strategy is disrupting energy markets and sending prices soaring. Plus: laser defense tech that costs less than your morning coffee. 🟢 Open https://t.co/ZW0OOnRdSV
Renewables Safeguard Rinehart’s Lithium Venture Amid Fossil Crisis
As always, the quarterlies tell the truth. "We are 80 pct renewable:" Wind and solar shield Gina Rinehart's big lithium play from fossil fuel crisis https://t.co/pGF3RZbT0n
Extended Hormuz Closure Accelerates Alternative Energy Shift
What are the longer term ramifications of an extended closure of the Strait of Hormuz? Growth in alternative energy sources? What else?
Brent up 66% YTD, Still Near Century Average
BRENT crude prices have risen by more than two-thirds since the start of the year but in real terms they remain moderate at only a little over the average since the start of the century: https://t.co/MsEc6Lww8F
Suspending Jones Act Could Lower U.S. Fuel Costs
"What the Jones Act does and how a Trump suspension could affect fuel prices" https://t.co/goGJwDm2EN https://t.co/s2CTtPeu6A
Block Iran's Oil Ports to Cripple Regime, Open Hormuz
Iran is a one-trick pony. It exports oil. Those exports pay for everything else, including its military. Shut down its oil exports and Iran implodes. Iran's ports need to be blockaded immediately. That's the fastest way to open up the...
U.S. Energy Firms Begin Re‑entering Iraq After War
We've all heard the claim that the Iraq War was a war for oil, but American energy firms barely wanted to touch Iraq after Saddam fell. Things might be shifting now. Full Newsletter: https://t.co/5iqjffXWpl #crudeoil #iraq #chevron #geopolitics https://t.co/tn3Jsb1BTc
Iran Conflict Threatens China's Small-Scale Oil Refineries
NEW ODD LOTS: What War in Iran means for the 'teapot' oil refineries in China. @tracyalloway and I talk to @Erica_Downs_ about what the closure of the Strait of Hormuz means for Chinese energy security. https://t.co/ZdGwLQJV8E
US Eases Russian Oil Bans as Iran Fuels Price Surge
Great @business reporting by @DanielPFlatley on US moves to ease restrictions on buying Russian oil. This is all backwards. Russia and Iran are making money while the Strait of Hormuz is shut and global oil prices spike. Iran's oil exports...
New Nuclear Rules Raise Radiation, Workers Exposed Outdoors
Kathryn Porter saying our Nuclear Power Station regulations are so insane, there is a policy of improving Radiation Levels with each new Station. Trouble is we now are in a situation where a Worker is exposed to higher Radiation outside...
Iran's War-Era Oil Exports Surge, Prices Likely Drop
According to this excellent @WSJ story, Iran is today exporting more oil than before war broke out. That’s insane. First order of business for the US Navy is to stop any and all ship traffic out of Iran. That won’t...
Iran's Oil Surges Amid War; Call to Blockade Ports
Iran is a gas station posing as an Islamic Republic. Iran's oil exports are reportedly up since war broke out. That's nuts. First order of business must be to blockade Iran's ports. If that hurts China, all the better. Have...