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:
North America Drops 8 Rigs WoW
Baker Hughes reported that the North America rig count slipped to 756 this week, eight rigs lower than the previous week. The U.S. portion rose slightly to 551 rigs while Canada fell to 205, driving the regional decline. Oil rigs in the United States increased by four, offset by a two‑rig drop in gas rigs and a modest rise in horizontal rigs. Year‑over‑year, the continent is operating 70 fewer rigs, underscoring a sustained contraction in drilling activity.
Oil Shortage Sparks Surge in AI and Drone Spending
Right now globally, as we speak, we've got basically about sixty to eighty days. If you just shut down oil everywhere, the world has on the water and in reserves about two months of oil. So every day that we...
Energy Spike Could Lift Eurozone Inflation to 2.3%
First scores on doors I've seen ... and it's boringly close to what we have been telling readers in the past week. At the current futures curve in oil, you get 2.3% in 2026 (roughly), with gas not doing much...
Offshore Lease Bidding Falls Off a Cliff in Trump’s Second ‘Big Beautiful’ Gulf Sale
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s second "Big Beautiful Gulf" auction (BBG2) yielded $46.98 million in high bids, a steep decline from the $279.4 million generated in the inaugural sale. Only 38 bids from 13 firms covered 25 blocks on roughly 141,000...
Trump Lit the Fuse. Now Gas Prices Are Exploding
Gasoline prices in the United States jumped from $2.98 to $3.58 per gallon within two weeks, with California hitting $5.40. The surge follows a series of geopolitical shocks tied to former President Trump’s foreign‑policy moves, including renewed sanctions on Russian...
Saudi's Strategic Oil Storage Shields Global Supply
◾️Saudi Arabia deserves more recognition for its prudent, forward-thinking approach—strategically prepositioning oil in storage facilities around the world to hedge against potential supply disruptions. ◾️What @AlexLawler100 missed in this story is going back to previous reports to see that...
Revolutionizing Nordic Imbalance Settlement with Unicorn Systems
Unicorn Systems has upgraded the Nordic Balance Settlement (NBS) model, enabling the new Independent Aggregator role for balancing services across Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The enhancement, built on the Damas MMS:E platform, introduces 15‑minute settlement, expanded invoicing products and...
2 U.S. Senators Propose Gas Tax Holiday Until October in Response to Rising Prices
Two Democratic senators, Mark Kelly and Richard Blumenthal, introduced the Gas Prices Relief Act to suspend the 18.4‑cent‑per‑gallon federal gasoline tax until October 1. A companion bill will be filed in the House by Rep. Chris Pappas. The proposal aims to...
![[Episode #271] – China Update 2026](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://cdn.xenetwork.org/ets/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/powerpress/ETS-PodcastArtwork-full.png)
[Episode #271] – China Update 2026
In this episode, host Chris Nelder talks with CREA analyst Lauri Milivirta about China’s paradoxical energy trajectory: record additions of coal‑fire capacity alongside rapid growth in wind, solar, storage, and EVs, resulting in flat or falling CO₂ emissions. Milivirta explains...
'Largest Ever' Oil Reserve Release Agreed by 32 Countries
The episode explains that 32 IEA member countries have agreed to release a record 400 million barrels of emergency oil reserves—the largest ever—to curb soaring energy prices amid the US‑Israel conflict in Iran. IEA Executive Director Faith Beryl notes this release is...
Maersk Forced to Ship Fuel From US, Europe as Asia Bunkers Start to Run Dry
Maersk has begun sourcing marine fuel from the United States and Europe to supply its Asian fleet, after recent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz left key Middle‑East and Asian bunkering hubs unable to meet demand. Chief commercial officer Karsten...
Pure Data Centres and AVK Deploy Europe’s First Large-Scale Microgrid
Pure Data Centres Group and AVK have commissioned Europe’s first large‑scale, 110 MW on‑site microgrid at Pure DC’s Dublin campus. The system comprises three 30 MW energy centres that deliver dispatchable power, combined heat‑and‑power capability, and waste‑heat recovery during early‑phase development. Designed...
World Leaders Will Release 400 Million Barrels of Oil to Stabilize Prices
World leaders agreed to release 400 million barrels from strategic reserves, the largest coordinated IEA drawdown ever, to counter a sharp Brent price surge after the Iran war began. Despite the announcement, Brent crude rose to about $91 per barrel, indicating...
Fuel Prices up by as Much as 80 Sen per Litre Amid Global Oil Surge
Malaysia will raise fuel prices from tomorrow, with RON97 climbing to RM3.85 per litre (up 60 sen) and diesel to RM3.92 per litre (up 80 sen). Unsubsidised RON95 will increase to RM3.27 per litre. The new rates apply until 18 March, while the...
Strait of Hormuz Strikes Fuel Fresh Fears over Bond Volatility
Bond market volatility spiked on Wednesday after three cargo vessels were struck near the Strait of Hormuz, pushing 10‑year U.S. Treasury yields from just above 4.14% to near 4.20%. The attacks revive concerns over oil‑supply disruptions, keeping Brent crude roughly...
Italy to Ask for Immediate EU ETS Suspension
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that Italy will request an immediate suspension of the EU Emissions Trading System for fossil‑fuel‑fired power generators, arguing the scheme adds roughly €30/MWh, or about a quarter of household electricity costs. The move is...
Iran Attacks Oil Facilities and Dubai Airport as Concerns Mount over Global Energy Supplies
Iran escalated its campaign against Gulf allies by launching drones that struck Dubai International Airport, wounding four people, and by hitting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian military also announced plans to target banks and financial institutions...
Flywheel and Sodium-Ion Battery Hybrids Target Short Power Spikes on Renewables
Flywheel energy storage is emerging as a fast‑acting complement to batteries for renewable‑rich grids. By converting electricity into kinetic energy, modern flywheels can inject power within milliseconds, smoothing short‑duration spikes that batteries alone struggle to handle. Recent designs, such as...
World Briefs | Russian Oil Output Dips Slightly in February Despite Sanctions Pressure
Russian crude output slipped 0.6% in February, falling to 9.184 million bpd, as sanctions pressure persisted but a U.S. waiver helped Indian imports rebound. Saudi Arabia simultaneously boosted production to over 10.1 million bpd, citing a contingency plan amid escalating U.S.-Israeli strikes...
Daily Memo: Oil Markets and Shipping Disruptions
The International Energy Agency’s member states voted unanimously to release 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency strategic reserves, a move that more than doubles the 182 million‑barrel drawdown in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. The sizable release is intended to...
How Will This Energy Shock Play Out?
The recent US‑Israeli war against Iran has ignited a fresh energy shock, pushing crude oil prices above $100 per barrel and tightening natural‑gas markets. Jim O’Neill draws parallels with the 1979‑1982 oil crisis, warning that producers cannot rely on sustained...
4 Affordability Solutions States and Utilities Can Implement Now
The article outlines four near‑term affordability solutions states and utilities can deploy to curb rising electricity bills: AI‑enabled load planning, advanced transmission technologies, demand‑side flexibility, and grid‑friendly large‑load tariffs. It cites pilots such as PJM’s AI partnership, PPL’s dynamic line...
Ex-Goldman Commodity King Warns 'No Policy Response Can Meaningfully Reverse Oil Prices'
Jeff Currie, former head of commodity research at Goldman Sachs, warned that the ongoing disruption of the Strait of Hormuz makes oil prices virtually unstoppable in the near term, and no policy response—such as strategic petroleum reserve releases or government...
BESS Asset Operation in CAISO Is Complex, but Lean Teams Can Leverage Advanced Analytics
Fullmark Energy’s 20 MW/80 MWh Johanna battery storage project in Santa Ana demonstrates how a lean engineering team can profitably operate in CAISO’s increasingly complex market. By deploying advanced analytics that calculate a true state‑of‑charge, the team avoids over‑bidding penalties and maintains continuous...
Middle East Conflict Squeezes India's LPG Supply, Spikes Black‑market Prices
The primary driver is the escalating conflict in West Asia involving Iran, Israel, and the US. This has effectively choked the Strait of Hormuz, the maritime gateway for nearly 90% of India's LPG imports. While the government has prioritized domestic supply...
US Ethanol Production Surges, Inventories Hit Four‑year Low
🇺🇸U.S. ethanol production last week hit 1.126M barrels per day, the third best weekly volume on record. However, ethanol stocks declined on the week to 25.6M barrels, which is actually the week's lowest reading in four years. https://t.co/kJtuRESZcN
Airbus Partners with RWTH Aachen on Fuel Cell for Regional Aircraft
Airbus, RWTH Aachen, DLR and other partners launched GENtwoPRO, a German‑funded project to develop a low‑temperature PEM fuel‑cell system for regional aircraft up to 100 seats. The initiative, part of the LuFo VII‑1 programme, targets megawatt‑scale power density and rapid...
South Australia’s Grid Goes Negative Thanks to Rooftop Solar
Grid demand goes below zero in South Australia. How? Not because of a blackout, but because rooftop solar provides so much electricity, there is no need for grid electricity. https://t.co/WucHygiIg9 @renew_economy 14 reasons why rooftop PV is useful https://t.co/4oFi4OUjKU
Iran Halts Goods, Yet Oil Still Flows Freely
While Iran has stopped the flow of many products thru the Strait, their maritime flow of oil is going well.
Countries Must Seek Energy Independence Through Renewables and Nuclear, Says John Kerry
Former US secretary of state John Kerry warned that the recent oil price surge caused by the war in Iran underscores the security risks of dependence on fossil fuels. He called for countries to achieve energy independence by accelerating deployment...
Fertilizer Stocks Surge Despite Oil Price Pullback
Crude oil has pulled back from its high of over $110/barrel, but fertilizer stocks are still moving, hitting multi-year highs. This corner of the market still appears to be expecting petro price pressure. https://t.co/r6Y5yIn6hu
India Backs IEA Emergency Oil Release, Pledges Market Stability
Very pleased to read the Government of India's supportive statement for @IEA's collective action to release emergency oil stocks to address disruptions in global oil markets – and that India stands ready to take appropriate measures to support global market...
Fund Trying to Turn New Mexico Desert Into an Advanced Tech Hub
New Mexico's sovereign wealth fund is backing a $1 billion Pacific Fusion project to build a desert‑based fusion research facility, while also pouring hundreds of millions into venture funds targeting defense and advanced tech. The fund’s revamped private‑equity program has posted...
Gazprom Thwarts Aerial Attacks on Southern Facilities
MOSCOW, March 11 (Reuters) - Gazprom on Wednesday reported aerial attacks on its facilities in southern Russia, including the Russkaya pumping station that exports natural gas via the TurkStream subsea pipeline to Europe, but added that all the attacks had...
Halting Non‑Iranian Tankers in Gulf Sends Shockwave
yes, managing to stop all non-Iranian oil tanker traffic in the Persian Gulf is a tremendous impact.
Buy the Dip and Hedge Risk on This Energy Services Stock, Using Options
SLB, the world’s largest oilfield services firm, fell nearly 10% as Iran‑related geopolitical tension pushed crude toward $120 per barrel, creating a valuation disconnect. The stock has rebounded to its $45 support level, suggesting buyer interest, and could test the...
Renewables Deliver Low‑Cost, Reliable Electricity Nationwide
Are wind and solar “expensive and unreliable,” as President Trump claims? https://t.co/UiE5Iz8PY4 Graph: WWS supply as a % of demand vs electricity price, by state https://t.co/Tpm8NCnpHF Table: WWS supply as a % of demand https://t.co/KP3uii4BqI Book https://t.co/irGIq6qRxE https://t.co/cY35RF0Ovo
California Utilities See Fire Liability Threatens Their Existence
"I think the utilities in California recognize that they are operating in a different world today: if they cause fires, they will not have a business." https://t.co/j6Ht8D35SR
Can Aii’s New Tool Deliver Granular Data Without Audit Fatigue?
Aii has launched the Energy and Carbon Benchmark, a voluntary tool that breaks down textile factory energy use by individual processes such as knitting and dyeing. The benchmark is designed to plug into existing platforms like the Higg Facility Environmental...
Oil Poised Above $102 as Pattern Confirms Bullish Move
Interestingly, crude oil is up after the IEA reserve release. If this head and shoulders pattern on the near term charts plays out, we are looking at oil back above $102 a barrel. https://t.co/WA4Ceo89fg
Murkowski Warns Against Treating SPR as a Piggy Bank
And shout out to @lisamurkowski, who has been on top of this issue for years and warning about using the SPR like a piggy bank for other things. And to current @EIAgov administrator Tristan Abbey @EIA_One who did such good...
Protecting Trillions in Energy Assets: How Molecular Traceability Is Helping Safeguard Global Oil and Gas Investments
SMX (Security Matters) PLC is rolling out molecular traceability technology that embeds invisible markers into crude oil, refined fuels and petrochemicals, giving each batch a permanent, verifiable identity. The system lets producers, traders and investors confirm origin and chain‑of‑custody at...
Aramco Restores 70% Flow, Yet Critical 30% Still Blocked
Saudi Aramco resumed 70% of oil shipments via Red Sea pipeline. Markets celebrated. But 30% is still offline. And the Strait of Hormuz — the main artery — remains contested. 70% of normal isn't normal. https://t.co/8vfhBzo9cZ
SPR Capacity Crippled by Decade‑old Modernization Neglect
Sure. But the technical release capacity of SPR is supposed to be 4.4mbd. https://t.co/TMmRyYNOeL It’s a fraction of that because we failed to modernize the SPR, as I recommended to Senate (3rd bullet) in testimony a decade ago. https://t.co/wGjrmZHFpr https://t.co/yFTv4lJfSw
Can the IEA Put a Lid on the Price per Barrel by Releasing Oil Stockpiles?
The International Energy Agency announced a historic release of 400 million barrels of emergency crude, the largest drawdown in its history and about one‑third of members’ total reserves. The move aims to temper soaring oil prices triggered by the U.S.–Israel conflict...
Europe Scrambles to Mitigate Prices After Trump’s Iran War
Europe rushes to deal with price fallout from Trump’s Iran war https://t.co/khA8dhNhMj via @johnainger @donatopmancini https://t.co/3tcyP5Pu0U
Hormuz Shutdown Spikes Brent Upside Risk Despite Parity
The Strait of Hormuz remains almost shut, even as the risk premium priced into Brent currently (blue) is on par with that after Ukraine (black). The Strait is 3 times more important for global oil supply than Russia, so risk...
Mississippi Approves 41 Natural Gas Turbines for Southaven Site
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Permit Board unanimously approved a permit for xAI to operate 41 natural‑gas turbines at its Southaven data‑center site. The decision was made during a meeting held on Election Day, drawing sharp criticism from the...
Japan's 80 Million‑Barrel Release Beats IEA's Forecast
Rather than the IEA's own 400 million barrels, the most important number right now is Japan's announcement that's releasing from Monday (March 16th) ~80 million barrels from its reserve. Those are actual flow barrels that will hit the market immediately...
Crude and Gas Prices Mirror Each Other After Nine Days
9 trading days into the conflict, crude and gas price trajectory has been very similar oil: https://t.co/O0orfuxpnw