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:
The G-7 SPR Bluff: Why 300 to 400 Million Barrels Changes Nothing
The G‑7 is debating a coordinated release of 300‑400 million barrels from IEA strategic petroleum reserves to mitigate the Hormuz supply crisis. Historical draw‑down rates have never exceeded about 2 million barrels per day, meaning the release would cover only a fraction of the 6‑7 million‑barrel daily production shortfall. The reserves are located in Atlantic‑basin caverns while the deficit is in the Pacific, and a global tanker shortage limits rapid shipment to Asia. With only three of seven members supporting the move and the IEA chief opposing it, the probability of a full‑scale release this week is estimated at 25‑35 percent.
Two Things You Can Control Right Now When Fuel Is Trying to Break You
Diesel prices are edging toward $5 a gallon, squeezing margins for owner‑operators and carriers. While macro forces such as Middle‑East tensions and Fed policy are beyond a driver’s control, two levers remain: where fuel is purchased and how much is...
How Critical Are Critical Minerals in the Brazil-US Economic Relationship?
Policymakers and experts convened to examine how critical minerals shape the Brazil‑US economic partnership. Brazil’s abundant rare‑earth and battery‑grade mineral reserves are increasingly vital to the United States’ energy‑transition agenda. The discussion highlighted supply‑chain vulnerabilities, especially reliance on China, and...
Port Pitching for Offshore Wind Hub Says Turbine Trade Could More than Double Its Shipping Traffic
Port of Hastings is positioning itself as Australia’s first dedicated offshore‑wind construction hub through the proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal (VRET). The hub could raise annual vessel visits from 150 to roughly 350, effectively doubling port traffic and supporting Victoria’s...
Renewable Fuels Summit Kicks Off with $80M Funding Boost
Australia's Renewable Fuels Summit opened with an $80 million government funding boost for industrial decarbonisation and the announcement of the country's first agricultural renewable gas plant. Analysts estimate the nation has enough feedstock to sustain a $10 billion‑a‑year renewable fuels sector, potentially...
Iran Threatens to Stop Oil From Leaving the Middle East
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it will block any oil export through the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to cut off a route that carries roughly 20% of global crude. The declaration coincided with heightened U.S. strikes in Iran and...
Reopen Hormuz Strait, Not Ban Oil Exports
Want to understand what's going on with rising oil prices and Iran? I gave a full breakdown on @tbpn. The basics: • There is absolutely no substitute for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, whether through rapid victory or through a well-protected convoy. •...
Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge Is a Pinky Swear That Doesn’t Solve Electricity Issues
Former President Donald Trump’s new "Ratepayer Protection Pledge" promises stable electricity prices for AI‑driven data centers, but the commitment contains no legal enforcement mechanisms. The pledge is positioned as a safeguard for tech firms facing volatile power costs, yet it...
Google’s “Renewable” Data Center Still Runs on Fossil Fuels
Google continues to lie about being "renewable"—this time by claiming a new data center will be powered by "wind and batteries." Let's do some honest journalism here: Google's data center in Minnesota will be connected to the local grid, powered largely by...
Queensland LNP Calls in Another Big Battery Project as Most Coal Dependent State Hit by Flight of Capital
Queensland’s Liberal‑National Party government has called in Trina Solar’s 200 MW Pleystowe battery project, adding it to a growing list of renewable schemes under state scrutiny. Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie received 733 submissions raising fire, noise, and agricultural land concerns, prompting...
Fukushima and the ‘Lessons Learned’ From Nuclear Disasters
Marking fifteen years since the 2011 disaster, Fukushima remains a focal point for global nuclear safety debates. International bodies such as the IAEA have used the accident to revise safety standards and promote a narrative of technical resilience. Critics argue...
Hormuz Tensions Spike Oil, Pressure Global Markets
Oil prices are spiking as the frozen Straits of Hormuz has become the epicenter of the conflict. As of Sunday night’s futures open, WTI futures are trading at $108, which could make the...
‘Fukushima: A Nuclear Nightmare’ Review: An Emotional Choice
HBO’s new documentary “Fukushima: A Nuclear Nightmare,” directed by James Jones, revisits the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi disaster through archival footage and first‑hand testimonies. The film underscores the frantic efforts of plant workers to avert a larger catastrophe and the lingering...
Diesel Nears $5 per Gallon National Average as Spot Van, Reefer Rates Retract
Diesel prices jumped nearly a dollar, with the EIA reporting a national average of $4.86 per gallon for the week ending March 9, the highest level since December 2022 and approaching the $5 mark. California remained the costliest market at $6.10 per...
US Natural Gas Balance
The latest US Natural Gas Balance report shows inventories climbing by 0.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) to a total of roughly 2.9 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). Production dipped about 1% as several key processing plants underwent scheduled maintenance, while demand...
Unlocking Existing Grid Capacity With Dynamic Line Rating
Dynamic line rating (DLR) replaces static worst‑case assumptions with real‑time sensor data and fine‑scale weather forecasts, letting operators gauge the actual thermal capacity of transmission lines moment‑by‑moment. Case studies across Europe, the United States and Asia report capacity gains of...
As Gas Prices Soar, Trump Is Ignoring the Lessons of the Last Oil Crisis
The U.S. faces a new oil shock as the Strait of Hormuz closure drives gasoline prices above $3 per gallon, echoing the 1973 embargo. While domestic shale production and higher vehicle fuel economy have reduced the economy’s gasoline intensity, the...
Oil Swings $21 in Two Hours—Unprecedented Volatility
Absolute insanity: In just 2 hours, oil prices have now fallen -$10/barrel and risen +$11/barrel, with prices now nearing $90/barrel again. This is unprecedented volatility.
Wednesday: Oil Slumps on Stockpile Hopes
The episode covers a sharp drop in oil prices toward $80 a barrel as markets anticipate the release of strategic stockpiles amid Middle East tensions, while Australian consumer confidence falls and business sentiment turns negative. It highlights China’s surge in...
Robust Optimization Highlights Transmission’s Untapped Grid Potential
Rapid demand growth is straining the electric grid—and the planning models used to expand it may be making things worse. Current deterministic approaches to grid planning systematically undervalue opportunities to build assets that are robust and adaptable to the many...
Scoop: U.S. Asks Israel to Halt Strikes on Iran's Energy Infrastructure
The Trump administration asked Israel to stop further strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure, especially oil facilities. This marks the first time Washington has reined in Israel since the joint operation began ten days ago. Officials said the request stems from...
High Oil Prices Slightly Lift Inflation, Minimal GDP Hit
‼️$100 oil prices have a surprisingly modest impact on the US economy: A persistent oil shock through 2027 would push headline inflation up +0.7 percentage points at peak, while core inflation and unemployment each rise just +0.1 percentage points. Real GDP effect...
Extreme Crude Oil Price Swings Linked to Inflation
New free article: Tail Events in Crude Oil Plus Inflation-Adjusted Prices. Link in reply below. 👇 https://t.co/zZ0F6nhkje
Resurgence of Stellarators and Impact on IP
Recent breakthroughs in superconducting magnet fabrication and AI‑driven field optimization have revived stellarator research, pushing the technology toward commercial fusion power. U.S. firms such as Type One Energy are planning grid‑scale stellarator plants with integration targets by 2030. Patent activity...
UK Seeks Experts to Craft AI-Driven Energy Policy
UK government issues open call for experts to shape AI energy policy #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/hQ1EUBbdg9
South Korean ESS Supplier Opens Indiana Factory
South Korean ESS component supplier will build US factory in Indiana #energysky -- via Solar Power World: https://t.co/IHTPPbh5vU
What Is the ‘Acid Rain’ in the Wake of U.S. Bombings in Iran?
The Conversation essay reports that black, acidic rain fell over Tehran after U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on oil depots, a byproduct of massive pollutant release. It explains that the rain contains sulfuric and nitric acids, hydrocarbons, ultrafine PM2.5 particles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons...
Regulators and Eversource Collude, Raising Fixed Fees 43%
Here's a blow-by-blow of how utility regulators and utilities collude to screw you. In this case, Eversource, New Hampshire's largest utility, got a 43% increase in the fixed monthly charge consumers pay. 43% https://t.co/zDXDvQwYc7
STEO Lacks Scenario Modeling for Strait Closure Policy
Important to note that the EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) doesn’t take a firm position on discretionary White House policy. I actually really like the STEO, but it’s not built for a moment like this, which demands Strait closure duration scenarios,...
Flexibility as a Standard? New AI Data Center Offering Will Enhance Grid Reliability
InfraPartners and Emerald AI announced a new Flex‑Ready Data Center design that embeds AI‑driven flexibility into the facility’s core architecture. The solution pairs InfraPartners’ Upgradeable Data Center platform with Emerald AI’s Emerald Conductor software to enable real‑time load modulation, reducing...
Energy Secretary's Tweet Triggers $80 Oil Dip
Why you reeeeally need to think before you tweet if you’re the Energy Secretary. Oil prices fell under $80 bc of this. US official: ‘Not true’ Navy successfully escorted oil tanker through Strait of Hormuz https://t.co/nI7oZeeaDh
Pakistan Deploys Navy to Guard Oil Lifelines Amid Saudi Ties
Pakistan says it has launched a naval operation to protect its “energy lifelines.” In some ways expected: oil importing nations in Asia may step in protecting their own tankers. (Importantly, Pakistan has a defence treaty with Saudi Arabia, and buys...
Spain’s Wind-Farm Bargain
Spain’s Castilla‑La Mancha town Higueruela transformed from a declining community into a renewable‑energy hub after a wind farm was installed 25 years ago. Today, taxes and lease fees from Iberdrola supply roughly 40% of the municipal budget, funding libraries, youth...
Navy Halts Escorts, Raising Hormuz Supply‑Chain Risks
US Navy refusing to escort commercial ships thru the Strait. Saying the risk is too high. Is the end of the war not as close as some infer? Is supply chain risk escalating? Can a prolonged war fracture some of...
China’s Solar Surge Outpaces Declining US Installations
US solar installation: Down 14% between 2024 and 2025. Chinese solar installation: Up 14% between 2024 and 2025. Last year China installed more than 7 times more solar capacity than the US. So much for energy dominance... https://t.co/te4ziwFqlX
Iran Says Current Oil Disruption 4‑20× Worse than Past Crises
Foreign Minister of Iran claiming current oil disruption is 4-20x more severe than previous oil crises https://t.co/33VOGTSEeb
Singapore Boosts 2030 Solar Goal to 3 GW
Singapore raises 2030 solar target to 3 GW #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/PpRx1O5JTA
Hybrid Solar‑Battery Farm Begins Construction, Sheep Included
Solar, storage and sheep: First sod turned at game-changing hybrid PV and battery project #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/DQsJEXqpqz https://t.co/Xxr9iTs3j8
Princeton Deploys Massive Ground‑Source Heat Pump, Showcasing Campus Innovation
Universities provide an interesting testbed for adopting innovative technologies. Here is Princeton using what appears to be a very large ground source heat pump with 2,000 (!) boreholes. https://t.co/SowKV9ivJe
US Lifts Sanctions, Fueling Putin's War and Iran Intel
India and Russian oil with US sanctions lifted. Revenue for Putin’s illegal Ukraine war? And for providing intelligence to Iran on US military? Oh right. War criminal Putin said that did not happen.
Oil Demand to 2050 Drives Petrochemical Price Surge
Oil is deeply embedded in the economy. Whatever happens in the short term, demand contonies to grow through 2050.
Oil Prices Swing Amid Naval Escort and Mine Threats
Crude Oil has to be impossible to trade right now Red = Transportation Secretary Chris Wright says the Navy escorted a ship through the Strait of Hormuz, -8.3% Blue = Social Media post deleted, +5.49% Green = repost below, potential mines in the...
State Collapse Boosts Lebanon's Solar Surge, Free EV Driving
One data point: the collapse of the state in Lebanon favored localism. It now has the highest solar penetration (even >> since 2023, 34% of total energy). Totally unregulated. You can use an electric car and drive for free...
West Coast Jet Fuel Shortage Hits Air Cargo, Passengers
Jet Fuel Shock Looms on U.S. West Coast as Asian Exports Dry Up. Air cargo and passengers to be affected. https://t.co/QUO2O9u8dm
Iran Mining Strait Could Fully Close Vital Shipping Lane
Uh. This would be REALLY bad. Up until now, traffic through the Strait has been functionally halted but it isn’t exactly *closed*, ships can are some are taking the risk. If Iran successfully mines the Strait, it’s *closed* closed.
Energy Secretary Retracts False Navy Escort Claim
Energy Secretary Deletes Post Claiming U.S. Navy Escorted Oil Tanker Through Strait of Hormuz https://t.co/AgwPq9migq
Energy Secretary's Deleted Claim Boosts Dollar, Trims Stocks
Reports indicate US Energy Secretary deleted his social media post claiming the US Navy escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. USD has turned better bid following the deletion. Stocks trim earlier gains. April WTI recovering off...
Hormuz Closure Nullifies OPEC+ Supply Pledges
The Strait of Hormuz carries 20% of global oil demand. It's still closed. OPEC+ pledged 206K bpd in April. Middle East producers are cutting because storage is full. Supply math doesn't work when the pipe is shut. https://t.co/EMaJvlSk4u
US Navy Escort Uncertainty Threatens Global Trade via Hormuz
Hormuz Disruptions, US Navy Escort Plans (or lack of) and Impact on Global Trade 1⃣Strait of Hormuz Update: March 10, 2026 2⃣Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Caine Statement on Escorts 3⃣UNCTAD Report on Hormuz Shipping Disruptions Video: https://t.co/vS32XQeQDb https://t.co/ZfQwkBUMGW
Submarine Reactors Prove SMRs Work, but Cost Skyrockets
Great perspective on the argument that naval submarine nuclear reactors prove that SMRs can work. Turns out they are crazy expensive. (Though this probably exaggerates cost somewhat.)