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:
Turbines on Farmland Can Help Not Hinder Nature
Wind turbines sited on agricultural land occupy a modest 15‑25 metre concrete base, leaving the majority of the field available for crops or livestock. UK planning rules require acoustic assessments, and measured noise typically matches rural background levels. Ecological surveys and buffer zones are mandated to protect wildlife, with micro‑siting used to avoid sensitive habitats. Claims that turbines significantly alter local weather lack scientific support, according to renewable platform Caeli’s Hans‑Georg von Lewinski.
Analysts Warn of Largest Oil Supply Disruption in History
Analysts at S&P Global warn that the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran could cause the largest oil‑supply disruption ever if tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz collapses. Recent data show only five tankers transited on March 1 versus the usual 60,...
Europe's Gas Reserves Plunge, Refilling Hinges on Middle East Routes
EUROPE has depleted its gas inventories faster than average this winter in the expectation there would plenty of LNG to refill them over the coming summer. EU storage sites are on average just 30% full down from more than 82%...
Preemptive Thermochromic Smart Coating for Visual Friction Damage Recognition and Corrosion Protection in Offshore Structures
Researchers have developed a sandwich‑structured thermochromic smart coating that visually signals friction‑induced heating on offshore steel cables by fading from blue to colorless. The coating incorporates silica‑encapsulated TC@SiO2 microcapsules between polyurea and epoxy layers, delivering a wear rate of 5.86 × 10⁻⁵ mm³·N⁻¹·m⁻¹...
Valorization of Plastic Waste Into Hydrogen: Ni–Co/Al2O3–ZrO2 Nanocatalyst for Efficient Steam Reforming of Low‐Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
Researchers demonstrated a solvent‑assisted steam reforming process that converts low‑density polyethylene into hydrogen using a 20 wt % Ni–Co/Al₂O₃–ZrO₂ nanocatalyst. By dispersing LDPE in ethylene glycol, the method achieved 95 % feed conversion and a 92.7 % hydrogen yield under optimal conditions (S/C 9, 500 °C,...
The Potential of Nuclear-Powered Ships Moves to the Forefront at Posidonia 2026
At Posidonia 2026, CORE POWER will host a high‑level executive briefing on civil maritime nuclear propulsion, signaling a shift from theoretical debate to concrete industry engagement. Leaders from shipping, finance, ports and energy will discuss fourth‑generation molten‑salt reactors that could...
Greenvolt and Reel Partner on 157MW Project
Greenvolt Power and Danish trader Reel have formed a strategic partnership to optimise the 157 MW Høegholm hybrid solar‑and‑battery project in Denmark. The site combines 97.36 MW of PV with a 60 MW/120 MWh battery storage system, slated for PV commissioning in Q1 2026 and...
Diamine Grafting of Pyrazole‐Based MOF‐303 for Diluted‐Source CO2 Capture
Researchers grafted ethylenediamine onto the pyrazole‑based MOF‑303 via pyrazole deprotonation, creating the amine‑functionalized MOF‑303#EDA. The material captures 0.71 mmol g⁻¹ CO₂ at 298 K and 450 ppm, and reaches 2.5 mmol g⁻¹ at 0.15 bar. Breakthrough experiments demonstrate stable cyclic performance, confirming its suitability for point‑source capture....
Arabian Drilling Reactivates Fleet as GCC Offshore Contract Starts
Arabian Drilling has reactivated two previously recalled rigs and launched its first international offshore contract within the GCC. The offshore fleet utilization now stands at 91% and total fleet utilization at 82%, with a third land rig entering service on...
Rock Tech and Siemens Plan Lithium Converter in Canada
Rock Tech Lithium and Siemens have signed a non‑binding MOU to replicate the German lithium‑conversion plant in Canada’s Red Rock, Ontario. The German facility, under construction in Guben, will produce 24,000 tonnes of battery‑grade lithium hydroxide annually, while the Canadian version targets...
Ocean Winds Signs Celtic Sea Lease
Ocean Winds, the 50‑50 joint venture of EDPR and ENGIE, has signed a lease with The Crown Estate for a floating offshore wind site in the Celtic Sea, marking the third Round 5 lease awarded. The development is planned in phases...
Atomic‐level Geometric Engineering Modulating D‐s Hybridization of Ordered RuGa Intermetallic for Efficient Hydrogen Electrocatalysis
Researchers introduced an atomically ordered RuGa intermetallic that deliberately disrupts ruthenium’s geometric symmetry, weakening its hydrogen binding strength. This geometric engineering yields a catalyst that outperforms conventional Ru/C in both hydrogen oxidation (HOR) and evolution (HER), delivering a 1.02 mA cm⁻² exchange...
GE Vernova Invests $30m in Italy
GE Vernova is allocating roughly $30 million to expand its Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, manufacturing hub, adding about 50 new jobs. The upgrade will introduce additional production lines for advanced dry‑type bushings, including resin‑impregnated paper and synthetic technologies, capable of handling voltages up...
Risk Off as Market Ponders New Energy Crisis From Iran Conflict.
The episode analyzes how the escalating Iran‑Israel conflict is triggering a fresh energy crisis, especially in Europe, where gas spot prices have surged 70% and oil is trading above $80 per barrel. Hosts discuss market reactions: a brief rally in...
Oil and Beyond Oil: What Might Be the Economic Implications of Iran’s War on Asia?
The United States and Israel have launched a military strike on Iran, prompting analysts to model two outcomes: a swift conflict that keeps oil prices near a baseline of $80 per barrel, and a drawn‑out war that could push prices...
‘The Market Design Must Evolve’: Eku Energy on Energy Storage in Australia’s NEM
Eku Energy warned that Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) must redesign its rules to fully integrate large‑scale energy storage. The utility highlighted bottlenecks in price signals, scarcity pricing, and ancillary service markets that discourage storage investment. It called for clearer...
Australia’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program Surpasses 6.3GWh Installations
Australia’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program has crossed the 250,000‑installation milestone, delivering roughly 6.3 GWh of distributed storage across homes, small businesses and community sites. Launched in July 2025, the scheme offers about a 30 % upfront rebate via the Small‑scale Technology Certificate mechanism....
PODCAST: Ireland's Grid Problem
John Reilly, head of renewables at Bord na Móna, warned that rising dispatch‑down levels are forcing about 30 % curtailment on Irish on‑shore wind sites, weakening the business case for new projects. The de‑commissioning of the 6.5 MW Bellacorick farm clears the...
Iranian Drone Attack Halts LNG, Sparks Dual Energy Shock
🚨 IRAN WAR DAY 4 — A DIFFERENT SHOCK 🚨 Day 4 changes the calculus. This isn't just an oil story anymore. QatarEnergy — the world's largest LNG supplier, covering 20% of global supply — halted all production after Iranian drones...
China May Need US Cooperation on Iran Energy
Here is a picture of @TheMichaelEvery being interview by a large Dutch man in Cape Town and in the process being hit by the epiphany that the geopolitical irony of the Iran situation is that China might be put in...
PV-Powered Refrigerated Trailer Completes Long-Distance Australian Trial Run
Protran Solutions successfully completed a 1,671 km round‑trip between Sydney and Brisbane using a battery‑electric refrigerated trailer equipped with roof‑mounted solar panels. The Sunswap Endurance trailer consumed 85.9 kWh total energy, generating 58.9 kWh from solar while retaining 62 % battery capacity after 32 hours...
Petronas Sees No Disruption From Mideast War for Now
Petronas said it has seen no direct impact on its operations from the ongoing Middle East conflict, though it is monitoring the situation closely. The Malaysian oil‑and‑gas giant holds exploration concessions in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region and maintains long‑term LNG...
Understanding U-Value: The Foundation of Energy-Efficient Envelopes
The article explains that a building's envelope acts as a thermal regulator, and its performance hinges on the thermal transmittance, or U‑Value. U‑Value quantifies heat flow per square meter per degree Kelvin, linking directly to insulation quality. The piece outlines...
IRS Adds Backup Reporting for CCS Credits Pending EPA System
IRS and Treasury set backup reporting for CCS tax credits if EPA electronic reporting is not ready by June 2026. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/carbon-capture-tax-credit-guidance-sets.html
Qatar’s LNG Crisis: The Massive Geopolitical Risk Premium—And How You Can Profit From It
Qatar, the world’s largest LNG exporter, faces a supply crunch as regional geopolitical tensions and export‑capacity constraints tighten the market. The disruption has injected a hefty risk premium into spot and forward LNG prices, pushing contracts up 15‑20% year‑over‑year. Buyers...
Myuna to Mine on with Eraring Contract Secured
Centennial Coal's Myuna Colliery in New South Wales has reached a new commercial agreement with Origin Energy. The three‑year deal guarantees the supply of thermal coal to Origin’s Eraring Power Station. The arrangement removes months of operational uncertainty and secures...
From Fundamental Understanding to Modification Strategies of Cobalt Molybdates in Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction
The review examines cobalt molybdate (CoMoO4) as a non‑noble metal catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), highlighting its abundant resources, bimetallic synergy, and structural flexibility. It contrasts the adsorbate evolution mechanism with the lattice‑oxygen participation mechanism, showing how Mo⁶⁺...
Queensland LNP Adds Four-Hour Bundaberg Big Battery to Proposed Call-In List
Queensland’s planning minister Jarrod Bleijie has issued a call‑in notice for Iberdrola Australia’s up‑to‑500 MW Bundaberg Regional Battery after more than ten community and council requests raised safety, environmental and site‑suitability concerns. The council failed to issue a statutory decision, prompting...
![Does that Use a Lot of Energy? [Update]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-zaI!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4c8580da-7d05-440a-af86-1252c027606b_1024x1024.png)
Does that Use a Lot of Energy? [Update]
A prototype web tool now lets users compare the energy use of everyday products and activities, turning raw watt‑hour data into intuitive visualizations. Recent updates, driven by extensive community feedback, add rough energy‑cost equivalents for several countries, making the information...
Dartbrook Gets Six-Year Extension
The New South Wales government has extended the development consent for the Dartbrook thermal coal mine by six years, now running until 5 December 2033. The extension secures the mine’s 6 Mtpa coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) operations. The decision arrives amid...
New Berkshire Hathaway CEO Ignores Financial Risks of Fossil Fuels in First Letter to Shareholders
Greg Abel, the new CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, used his first shareholder letter to stress rising electricity demand and wildfire threats, while declaring the CEO also serves as chief risk officer. He did not address how Berkshire’s extensive fossil‑fuel holdings,...
DC's Limited Tricks Can't Stop High Oil Prices
DC won’t let high oil prices hurt Americans Good luck As @rory_johnston frames it, here are the options • SPR release (here we go again) • Sanctions relief on Russia (err... not great) • Gas tax holiday (2022 redux) You can’t print barrels https://t.co/3KCAj8NtGr #Oil #EnergyMarkets...
VLCC Rates Hit New Sky-High Record: $424,000 Per Day
VLCC charter rates surged to a record $424,000 per day after the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran, as the Strait of Hormuz was officially closed to traffic. Spot rates for Middle‑East‑to‑China voyages jumped well above $400,000, dwarfing the recent $100,000‑plus benchmarks....
Windy February Sets New Generation Records, Big Batteries Put the Squeeze on Gas
Australian NEM closed the summer of 2025‑26 with February 2026 wind generation records across all states except Tasmania and Victoria. Queensland posted a record 508,780 MWh, while Western Australia’s Warradarge farm led with a 60.5% capacity factor. Big utility‑scale batteries discharged 245 GWh,...
Ships Still Transit Strait of Hormuz Despite Closure
Strait of Hormuz Traffic March 2, 2026 The past 24 hour ship passages through the Strait of #Hormuz after #Iran declared its closed.
Valero Set for 1‑2 Weeks More Upside
$VLO rising to near nose-bleed territory in the short run, but w/ Crude likely to approach high 70's before a peak, i expect another 1-2 weeks of strength out of VLO before this stalls out @IBDinvestors @marketsurge Big push...
Energy Crunch Threatens BOE Missing Inflation Target
Energy crunch risks the BOE missing its inflation target for another year https://t.co/FWCJnvjnZJ via @tomelleryrees https://t.co/zZtUBjDKCz
CES Data Reveals True Battery Lifecycle Impacts
Looking forward to speaking at @_InterBattery in Seoul next week 🇰🇷. Will present CES data on the real lifecycle of batteries🔋♻️– and what it means for carbon footprint, residual value, and the future supply of recycled materials. Reach out if attending and...
Mission300 Powers Africa, Nearing 40 M Connected Users
From mini-grids in Nigeria to grid upgrades in Zambia #Mission300 is delivering results across #Africa to reach our goal of connecting 300M people to electricity by 2030. Mission 300 is #PoweringAfrica and we’ve already helped connect nearly 39 million. https://t.co/YG3s3MHusm https://t.co/0DjS3v3XTI
Renewables: Our Only Path to Energy Independence
A 93% spike isn’t a ‘trend’ - it’s a stick-up. Gas is a ransom. Carbon is a conflict mineral. Fossil fuels are war. Renewables are the only real declaration of independence. Stop being vassal states. Move decisively to cut the cord....
Europe Faces Looming Energy Crisis: Key Takeaways
What does the potentially emerging energy crisis mean for Europe? Yesterday I was in a media briefing with 75 journalists. Here is a snippet of what I told them. https://t.co/3dT441Yllq
Rising Gas Prices Highlight Need for Renewable Electrification
Gas prices jumped again this morning and are on track to double - a stark reminder of our exposure to fossil fuel volatility. The real solution isn’t more drilling, but moving away from combustion: electrify, use renewable power, and boost energy...
2022 Traders Rediscovered JKM‑Equity Link Amid Gas Surge
Everyone that traded during 2022 just collectively remembered the relationship between JKM and Japanese/Korean Equities that we all forgot when natural gas prices were calm.
China's Oil Stockpiles Offer Buffer Against Price Spikes
“Can China act as a buffer? China has been loading up on cheap, sanctioned oil, putting some of it away in storage. In a report, analysts at Morgan Stanley said China could slow down on its purchases if oil prices...
LNG Supply Shocks Expose Energy Transition’s Fatal Flaw
Qatar LNG offline — unprecedented. U.S. exporters win, importers lose, says @seb_kennedy Ukraine & Iran wars expose a core flaw in the “energy transition” narrative. All energy depends on supply chains — break them, you break energy. No supply chains, no energy. Plan B? #LNG...
World's Largest LNG Plant Offline, Yet Unnoticed
Can you believe that all of the people down there are unaware that the world’s largest LNG plant is offline? https://t.co/nG6uMfgyuH
Iran Denies Ras Tanura Attack, Blames Israel
Ras Tanura was attacked by Iran based on all reliable reporting @RyanRozbiani A Tasnim denial is just that, not independent confirmation. #Iran #RasTanura #OilSecurity #MiddleEast #FactCheck #Geopolitics @VandanaHari_SG
Hormuz Traffic Plummets, 150 Tankers Stranded, Oil Halted
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is running 70% below normal. Roughly 150 tankers are stranded in the Strait. If that’s not bad enough, the IRGC adviser, Sardar Jabari, stated, “Not a single drop of oil will leave the region.” https://t.co/A4WO3ah53J
Virya Energy Gets $99M EBRD Funding for Polish Solar Expansion
Virya Energy secures US$99 million EBRD equity to scale Polish solar portfolio #energysky -- via pv-tech: https://t.co/j7xHWsrvZt
New Study Maps Hail Damage, Testing, Mitigation for PV
When hail hits PV: New research maps damage, testing, and mitigation #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/pDzrq6rY3M