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:
Head of L.A.'s Department of Water and Power Resigns
Janisse Quiñones, who has led Los Angeles’ Department of Water and Power since 2024, announced her resignation to become chief executive of Luma, a private electric‑utility operator in Puerto Rico. During her tenure she bolstered grid and water reliability, guided wildfire response, oversaw a $2.6 billion Convention Center upgrade, and led the utility’s coal‑phase‑out. Her departure comes as LADWP confronts criticism over the empty Santa Ynez Reservoir during the 2025 Palisades fire and plans $650 million of underground power lines. An interim general manager will be named while the agency pursues its 2035 clean‑energy goal.
Foreign Entity Rules Are Throwing a Wrench in Energy Storage Financing
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) rules now tie clean‑energy tax credits to the origin of battery materials, demanding at least 60% of value from non‑prohibited countries and increasing this share each year. Compliance pushes...
TerraPower Nuclear Reactor in Wyoming Gets Federal Permit
TerraPower, the Bill Gates‑backed nuclear startup, secured a unanimous Nuclear Regulatory Commission construction permit for its Natrium advanced reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The approval marks the first U.S. commercial reactor permit in nearly ten years, allowing the company to begin...
UK Airport Hopes Hydrogen-Powered Ground Equipment Will Cut Emissions
Exeter Airport in the UK is conducting a second two‑week winter trial of hydrogen‑powered ground support equipment, focusing on a dual‑fuel (hydrogen/diesel) ground power unit operating in cold, inclement weather. The trial follows an April test that deployed a hydrogen...
Delayed Publication of US Sustainable Aviation Fuel Prices for March 3
Fastmarkets announced a delay in publishing the United States sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) price data for March 3. The postponed release covers three benchmarks: base cost ex‑works in Houston, delivered price in Los Angeles, and delivered price in Chicago. These prices...
EU Unveils Maritime Industrial and Ports Strategies to Boost Shipbuilding, Security, and Decarbonization
The European Commission unveiled two coordinated initiatives—the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy and the EU Ports Strategy—to reinforce Europe’s shipbuilding capacity, secure port operations, and accelerate the sector’s shift to clean energy. Key measures include a Maritime Value Chains Alliance, a...
Qnetic Raises $7.1 Million
Qnetic, a leading provider of long‑duration flywheel energy storage, closed a $5 million financing round, its biggest to date. Combined with a $2.1 million equity crowdfunding effort last year, the company has raised $7.1 million over the past twelve months. Early RegCF investors...
Qatar LNG Shutdown Sends Global Gas Markets Into Turmoil
Qatar Energy declared force majeure on its LNG exports, halting production at the Ras Laffan plant amid the escalating U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The shutdown, which affects roughly 20% of global liquefied natural gas, is expected to last at least...
Expect Abrupt Fossil Fuel Decline During Energy Transition
Today on Volts: for the next few decades, we'll be in the "mid-transition," with clean energy systems growing as FF systems decline. Those FF systems will not decline smoothly -- there will be thresholds, "cliffs," where they suddenly crumble --...
Fujairah Oil Facility Catches Fire From Drone Debris
On March 3, 2026, debris from a drone intercepted by UAE air‑defence systems ignited a fire at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone. Authorities quickly contained the blaze, reporting no injuries and resuming normal operations within hours. The incident occurred as...
Gulf Oil and Gas Crisis Sparks Calls for Renewables Investment
The war between the United States, Israel and Iran has disrupted oil and LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz, halting Qatari LNG production and sharply raising global energy prices. About one‑fifth of world oil and LNG passes the strait,...
Intersolar & Energy Storage North America Delivers Expert Insights, Innovative Solutions and Impactful Connections at Flagship Event
Intersolar & Energy Storage North America’s flagship event took place Feb 18‑20 in San Diego, drawing 314 exhibiting companies and a cross‑section of installers, EPC firms, manufacturers and consultants. The three‑day program featured hands‑on workshops, a 28‑session conference with keynotes on federal...
Mara Blue Launches Feasibility Study for Ireland’s First Marine Biorefinery in Castletownbere
The Mara Blue initiative has launched a feasibility study for Ireland’s first full‑scale marine biorefinery on Dinish Island near Castletownbere. Led by Munster Technological University in partnership with Pure Ocean Algae and the Castletownbere Fishermen’s Co‑op, the study is co‑funded...
Ensuring People’s Well-Being Amid Fears of War Escalation
Rising tensions between Iran and Israel have revived concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for nearly one‑fifth of global oil shipments. Analysts outline three scenarios: a contained but prolonged missile exchange, a broader regional war...
Italy Must Boost Renewables to Cut Import Risks
Italian Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin told the KEY Energy Transition Expo that Italy must accelerate renewable deployment, upgrade its grid and shorten permitting to curb reliance on imported fuels after recent Middle‑East shocks. He emphasized expanding solar,...
Shippers and Oil Traders Seek Details on Trump’s Convoy Plan
President Donald Trump announced a U.S.‑backed plan to guarantee free flow of energy shipments through the Persian Gulf by offering insurance backstops and naval escorts for commercial tankers. The proposal comes as recent attacks have choked the Strait of Hormuz,...
North American Oil Data Deck (March 2026)
The March 2026 edition of the North American Oil Data Deck, a subscription‑only, 47‑page visual report, shows petroleum liquids output falling 353 kbpd month‑over‑month to 31,075 kbpd, the lowest level since August. U.S. crude production slipped for a second straight month, while Canada...
North America Drops 11 Rigs WoW
North America’s weekly rig count slipped 11 units to 764, with the United States reporting 550 rigs and Canada 214. The U.S. saw a net loss of one rig, driven by a two‑rig decline in oil rigs while gas rigs...
Vattenfall and Terralayr Launch Nationwide First: Go-Live of Virtual 5 MW Battery Portfolio for a Flexible Power Grid
Vattenfall and Terralayr have activated Germany’s first virtual battery portfolio, aggregating eight large‑scale storage units into a 5 MW decentralized network managed through Terralayr’s LAYR platform. Vattenfall will optimize energy trading while Terralayr supplies the digital and physical infrastructure, with plans...
Why Bigger Batteries Can Make Sense for Facilities
Industrial facilities are re‑evaluating battery energy storage systems (BESS) as installation costs remain largely fixed regardless of capacity, making larger batteries economically attractive. Scott Childers of Stryten Energy notes that a 1 MWh unit spreads upfront expenses over more discharge hours,...
Kongsberg Maritime, Seadrill, Hanwha Drilling to Develop Remote Dynamic Positioning Technology
Kongsberg Maritime, Seadrill and Hanwha Drilling have formed a strategic alliance to create next‑generation remote Dynamic Positioning (DP) technology for offshore rigs. The partnership will blend Kongsberg’s automation and communications platforms with Seadrill’s and Hanwha’s operational expertise. It aims to...
TCL Sunpower Presents Shingle TOPCon Solar Panels for Rooftop PV
TCL Sunpower has launched two new shingled‑module TOPCon series for rooftop solar, expanding its P Class portfolio. The residential RES Black line offers 465‑475 W modules with up to 23.8% efficiency, while the commercial COM series delivers 580‑600 W and up to...
Jupiter Power Receives Approval for 2.8GWh Massachusetts BESS
Jupiter Power secured state approval for its 700 MW, 2,800 MWh Trimount battery energy storage system in Everett, Massachusetts. The project repurposes a 100‑acre former ExxonMobil oil depot, turning a heavily contaminated brownfield into a clean‑energy hub. Leveraging Hithium’s lithium‑iron‑phosphate modules, the...
3 Oil & Gas Drilling Stocks Backed by Strong 2026 EPS Growth
Zacks’ latest industry overview highlights three oil‑and‑gas drilling companies—Noble Corporation, Nabors Industries and Transocean—with projected 2026 EPS growth ranging from 48.6% to 400%. Despite a bearish Zacks Industry Rank and a 74% drop in 2026 earnings estimates, the sector has...
Trina Solar Unveils 485 W TOPCon PV Panel with 24.3% Efficiency
Trina Solar unveiled its third‑generation Vertex S+ G3 dual‑glass TOPCon modules at the Key Energy trade show in Rimini, delivering up to 485 W power and a record 24.3% conversion efficiency. The five variants span 465‑495 W, feature a –0.26% /°C temperature coefficient,...
Defect Networks Boost Performance of Next Generation Perovskite Solar Cells
A study by the Institute of Science and Technology Austria reveals that networks of flexoelectric domain walls generate internal electric fields that separate and transport charge carriers in solution‑processed lead halide perovskites. Using a novel silver‑ion electrochemical staining technique, researchers...
Brent Likely to Dip Toward $50 Despite Recent Surge
$50 or $100 Year-End for Brent Crude? It took an unprecedented closure of the Strait of Hormuz to push the front-month Brent crude oil future to extend 2025's high -- now what? December Brent is near $69 and will become front...
Solar Flare: A Perfect Storm for Solar Stocks
Solar stocks rallied sharply as SolarEdge and Enphase posted strong Q4 2025 results. SolarEdge reported a 70% revenue jump, 23.3% non‑GAAP gross margin and $43.3 million free cash flow, while Enphase delivered EPS of 71 cents and a 46.1% margin. Both...
CHC Helicopter Wins Equinor’s Crew Change Contract for Brazilian Field
CHC Helicopter’s Brazil unit has won Equinor’s crew‑change contract for the ultra‑deepwater Bacalhau field, commencing in February 2026. The agreement deploys an S‑92A helicopter from CHC’s Jacarepaguá base to transport personnel 185 km offshore. CHC highlights its local infrastructure, fleet upgrades,...
Day 5 Iran Update: Hormuz Shut Down 94%, US May Insure Ships & Escort Through Hormuz | Rapid Read 4...
On March 4, 2026 Israel’s air campaign struck Tehran, Qom and key Iranian military sites, including the first recorded air‑to‑air kill by an F‑35 against an Iranian jet. Iran retaliated with roughly 40 ballistic missiles aimed at U.S. bases in...
Good News, Bad News, Stupid News
Barclays released a research paper flagging the risk of stranded transition assets, suggesting that wind and solar projects could lose value despite soaring oil and gas prices. The paper arrives amid heightened geopolitical tension in the Middle East, which has...
Next Step in a Peaceful 10-Hour Truck Driver Rest Period: Lithium Batteries
Dragonfly Energy showcased its lithium‑iron‑phosphate battery‑powered auxiliary power unit (APU) at the Truckload Carriers Association meeting, targeting the 10‑hour mandatory rest period for drivers. The battery, charged by the truck’s alternator, can run the sleeper‑cab’s heating, cooling and electricity without...
Fund Managers Slightly Boost Dutch Gas Positions Pre‑crisis
INVESTMENT MANAGERS purchased the equivalent of 12 terawatt-hours (TWh) of futures and options in the European benchmark Dutch TTF contract over the seven days ending on February 27. Nearly all the buying came from repurchases of previous bearish short positions....
New SONAR Dashboard Tracks Surging Diesel and Oil Prices
In light of the surge in diesel and oil prices overnight, we have added a new fuel dashboard in SONAR. https://t.co/cAWkSzmzsr
Trump Sends Interior Secretary to Venezuela for Oil Revival
President Trump deployed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to Venezuela as part of his bid to revive oil & mineral production there. In between conversations with oil and mining executives, Burgum is now meeting w/ interim President Delcy Rodriguez. https://t.co/beZPI3VM4I https://t.co/vc6M08u0pz
Yield Rise Minimal Despite Growing Middle East Tensions
Mideastern commodity force majeures beginning to populate my X feed Western company evacuations of Mideastern countries beginning to populate my X feed Western investor consensus still heavily weighted to this being a short conflict. Yet 10y UST yields are only up to 4.08%?...
Bitcoin's Drop Signals Inevitable Low‑price Commodity Slump
Can we avoid typical low-price cures toward $40 crude, $3.5 corn in 2026? Bitcoin bear market prove otherwise starts at about $74,000 https://t.co/TATxs2Sdkc
FERC Scrutinizes PSE&G Rates After Faulty PJM Data
I filed a comment @FERC in a proceeding about PSE&G's transmission rates. In 2024, FERC found that PSE&G provided faulty info to PJM in a process that led PJM to designate PSE&G as developer of a $546M transmission project. FERC decide...
U.S. Gasoline Demand Drops as Per‑Capita Use Plummets
U.S. Gasoline Demand Fell Further amid Long-Term Structural Shift: Plunging Per-Capita Consumption. Even as miles driven rose to a record. https://t.co/8h6llBxdie https://t.co/2aI68HuTGs
EU Leaders Push for Measures to Cut Power Prices
EU leaders set to call for measures to lower power prices https://t.co/23kSOba0ij via @E_Krukowska @europressos https://t.co/5KEoG1V75b
Near‑white Heterojunction Solar Cell Advances BIPV Integration
Japanese scientists build near-white heterojunction solar cell for BIPV applications #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/1dx2fKV7Rf https://t.co/FZ34CaIJGY
Australia's Utility Solar and Wind Reach 5 TWh in February
Australia utility-scale solar and wind hits 5TWh in February 2026, says Rystad Energy #energysky -- via pv-tech: https://t.co/CISL1ziXNm
Washington Bill Boosts Home Solar, Yet Amendments Spark Concern
Washington’s HB 2296 could improve home solar economics, but advocates say recent amendments are cause for concern #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/Gk1kpkblMA
Google Installs World’s Largest Iron‑air Battery for Data Center
Google to deploy world’s largest iron-air battery for US data center #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/tsK8YqzJko
Crude Oil Nears Peak, Iran's $200 Threat Unfounded
$USOIL - Crude oil is already showing initial signs of topping as it did last June. I can't believe that some people are gullible enough to believe, that empty threats made by Iran about $200 crude oil prices, are actually...
Record $470‑483B Grid Investment Driven by Renewables
Grid investment is rising fast. BloombergNEF reports record spending in 2025 of 470 to 483 billion US dollars, up 17 percent on 2024. This reflects structural change: more renewables, electrified transport & heating + rising demand from data centres. https://t.co/4l1nzdMy3j
Virginia Urges Utilities to Maximize Existing Grid Capacity
Virginia to utilities: Do more with the existing power grid #energysky -- via Canary Media: https://t.co/zWtmgZDDTa
Italy's New Rules Risk Favoring Gas over Renewables
Italy’s new energy provisions could boost gas use, undermine renewables and storage competitiveness #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/ekdqmPRdKr
US LNG Can't Quickly Replace Lost Qatari Cargoes
"There is little US LNG producers can do to immediately replace lost Qatari cargoes" https://t.co/ZAZe4MzpoI "American export plants are running nearly full tilt with most cargoes locked into long‑term contracts." https://t.co/3nYYZwRyaA
Markets Wobble as Oil Spikes; US Vows Tanker Protection
For a few hours yesterday morning, markets looked very scary. Brent was going vertical, USD was rising like crazy and S&P 500 was plummeting. The US calmed things down by promising to insure and escort oil tankers, but one Iranian...