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:
Petronas Posts Lower Annual Profit
Malaysia's national oil company Petronas reported a 2025 profit after tax of MYR 45.4 billion ($11.6 bn), down from MYR 55.1 billion in 2024. The decline reflects lower sales volumes, Brent prices under $70 per barrel, and the divestment of its 74% stake in Engen Group. Production slipped to 2.42 MMboepd, while the firm launched 26 new projects, made 28 final investment decisions and recorded 12 discoveries. Petronas also expanded its LNG footprint with 563 cargoes and a joint venture with Eni, ending the year with MYR 204.4 bn in cash.
PM Modi Inaugurates POWERGRID Transmission Projects Worth ₹3,600 Crore in Rajasthan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated POWERGRID transmission projects in Rajasthan valued at over ₹3,600 crore. The rollout includes a 765 kV Bhadla‑III–Sikar‑II line and a new Bhadla‑III substation, expanding capacity for 20 GW of Renewable Energy Zones and 8.1 GW of solar zones. These...
Africa Reckons with Oil Price Spike as Iran War Widens
The United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran, triggering a sharp rise in global oil prices. Brent crude surged 13% before settling 8.5% higher, marking its biggest daily jump in nearly three years. The conflict has halted...
RTS Wind Group Names Kevin Jones Chief Executive
RTS Wind Group announced Kevin Jones as its new chief executive, bringing over 18 years of wind‑sector operational leadership. Jones most recently served as global head of operations at Skyborn Renewables and held senior roles at Vattenfall and Summit Renewable...
PV-Assisted Heat Pump Prototype with Dual Condenser Reaches 7.59 Coefficient of Performance
Spanish researchers have built a dual‑condenser air‑to‑water heat pump that synchronises domestic hot‑water production with daylight, dramatically increasing photovoltaic self‑consumption. The prototype replaces the single condenser with an additional top‑mounted unit and uses a minute‑level control algorithm. Tests showed solar...
AI Solves a Key Barrier to Making Hydrogen Cars More Affordable
Korean researchers at KAIST and Seoul National University used artificial intelligence to redesign hydrogen fuel‑cell catalysts, discovering that zinc directs platinum and cobalt atoms into a high‑performance intermetallic structure. The AI‑predicted Zn‑mediated catalyst outperforms commercial platinum catalysts in activity and...
Maritime Vessel Uptake of Alt Fuels Proceeds ... Slowly
In February 2026 DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight recorded 17 new orders for alternative‑fuel vessels, 14 of which were LNG‑powered container ships. The remaining three orders were for dual‑fuel ethane gas carriers. Overall, 37 alternative‑fuel vessels were ordered in the first...
Israel Pauses Leviathan Gas Production
Israel’s Energy and Infrastructure Minister ordered a security‑driven suspension of production at the offshore Leviathan gas field, prompting Chevron to declare force majeure. The pause halts the field’s 12 billion cubic metres per year output, which supplies Israel, Egypt and Jordan,...
Emerging Technologies Redefine Backup Power Systems
Commercial building backup power is shifting from idle diesel generators to hybrid systems that combine battery energy storage, renewable sources, and AI-driven controls. Facility owners are driven by sustainability mandates, grid instability, and the need for operational resilience against extreme...
RWE Investigates Turbine Blade Incident in Wales
RWE is investigating a turbine blade detachment at the 57.4 MW Brechfa Forest West on‑shore wind farm in south Wales. The incident involved a Senvion MM92 turbine and prompted a 50‑metre safety zone while the fallen blade was removed. RWE has...
OEG Expands CTV Fleet with Fulmar Delivery
OEG has expanded its offshore wind support fleet with the delivery of the new crew transfer vessel Fulmar, following successful sea trials. The 24‑person, high‑speed CTV will operate in UK waters and has already secured a charter to service the...
Osaki Electric Signs EMS Development Pact with Kyocera, Taiwan Plastics
Osaki Electric has entered a development pact with Kyocera and two Taiwan Plastics Group affiliates to co‑create an AI‑driven energy management system called SmaRe:C. The platform integrates solar generation, lithium‑iron‑phosphate battery storage and an edge AI terminal to optimise electricity...
UK Needs Earlier, Joined-Up Planning to Unlock Land for Data Centres, Aecom Argues
Aecom’s new report warns that the UK’s data‑centre boom will stall unless landowners, planners, utilities and infrastructure providers coordinate far earlier in project pipelines. It identifies grid reinforcement, water capacity and planning consent as recurring bottlenecks that delay "powered land"...
Mint Explainer | The Hidden Climate Cost of Your AI Query
Artificial intelligence workloads are increasingly hosted in purpose‑built data centres that consume massive electricity and water, raising environmental concerns. The International Energy Agency says a typical AI‑focused data centre uses as much power as 100,000 households, and the largest under...
EVs Not Just for the Middle Classes
Electric‑vehicle ownership in England is expanding beyond affluent early adopters, with 2025 data showing purchases across almost every deprivation decile except the poorest ten percent. The shift is driven by a thriving second‑hand market that lowers upfront costs and by...
Robotic Fish Turns Ocean Plastic Into Power
I’ve spent years watching robots optimize warehouses and generate content. Now one is designed to repair the ocean. That feels different. A UK design student built a robotic fish that swims like a real marine creature while collecting microplastics. As it moves, it...
South Africa’s Move to Greener Energy Is Creating New Jobs, but Benefits Aren’t Evenly Spread
South Africa’s green transition is boosting employment, with green jobs rising from 12.4% of the labour force in 2022 to 14.8% in 2024. Growth is concentrated in utilities, mining, construction and finance, driven by government procurement and sustainable‑finance policies. However,...
Stargate Hydrogen Seals First UK Partnership
Stargate Hydrogen has signed its first UK partnership with Seacht Group, a UK energy and engineering firm, to develop green hydrogen projects. The deal combines Stargate’s ceramic‑based electrolysis technology with Seacht’s local market knowledge, positioning both firms to pursue multiple...
Indonesia’s Geothermal Quest: Where Massive Potential Meets Structural Reality
Indonesia holds roughly 24‑29 GW of technically recoverable geothermal resources but operates only about 2.71 GW, a fraction of its potential. A new partnership between Star Energy Geothermal and US firm SLB aims to de‑risk the Sekincau field and assets in North...
India's Godavari Biorefineries to Start Grain-Based Distillery in June Quarter
India’s Godavari Biorefineries will commission a 200 kilolitres‑per‑day grain‑based distillery in the June quarter, adding the ability to switch between sugarcane and corn as feedstock. The move addresses margin pressure from fixed cane payments and volatile sugar prices, while leveraging the...
Middle East Tensions Likely Push Rand Lower, Fuel Costs Up
Prolonged tension in the Middle East. Rising oil prices, if sustained, and a weaker Rand. Add the increased fuel levies announced in the budget speech on top of macro concerns, and taking the governor’s conservative nature and the new 3% inflation...
Navitas Exhibiting Solutions for AI Data-Center, Grid and Energy Infrastructure, Performance Computing, and Industrial Electrification
Navitas Semiconductor showcased a suite of GaN and SiC power solutions at APEC 2026 in San Antonio, targeting AI data centers, high‑performance computing, grid infrastructure, and industrial electrification. The company unveiled a 10 kW 800 V‑to‑50 V GaN‑powered DC‑DC platform delivering 98.5% efficiency...
RENA Secures 1.2 GW TOPCon Equipment Order in India
RENA Technologies won a contract to deliver a 1.2 GW TOPCon wet‑chemical processing line for Celloraa Energy’s new solar‑cell factory in Gujarat, India. The equipment suite includes InEtchSide 4+, BatchPolyClean N600, BatchEtch N600 and BatchTex N600, and is designed to halve water consumption while eliminating...
Russian Arctic LNG Tankers Keep Red Sea Route Despite Middle East Turmoil
Russia’s Arctic LNG shadow fleet continues to transit the Red Sea corridor despite heightened Middle‑East tensions, using the shortcut to reach Asian markets. At least seven ice‑class and conventional carriers have been tracked moving through the Bab el‑Mandeb and Suez...
Hedge Funds Ramped up Oil Longs Ahead of Iran Attack
Hedge funds significantly increased long positions in crude oil as tensions between Iran and Israel escalated, anticipating a potential supply shock. Data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission shows a roughly 15% rise in net long exposure, equivalent to about...
MSEDCL Subsidised Rooftop Solar for BPL/EWS: ₹45,450/kW for Low-Consumption Homes
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) announced a subsidised rooftop solar offering of ₹45,450 per kilowatt for BPL and EWS households consuming under 100 units monthly. Under the SMART scheme, beneficiaries receive a ₹30,000 subsidy via the PM Suryaghar...
For Oil Prices, It’s The Fear Not The Barrels
The death of Iran’s supreme leader and subsequent missile exchanges have raised alarms about a possible Straits of Hormuz shutdown, which could cut 10‑20 million barrels per day from global supply. Analysts debate the price impact, with some warning that panic...
South Korea Faces Renewable Energy Safety Concerns
South Korea’s National Assembly approved amendments that dramatically reduce setback distances for renewable‑energy installations, shifting authority from local governments to the central government. The change comes amid a spate of high‑profile accidents, including a wind turbine collapse, a turbine‑blade fire,...
Iranian Drone Hits Strategic Saudi Oil Facility
Iranian‑operated drones struck Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura refinery on March 2, igniting a fire and prompting an immediate shutdown of the plant. The complex processes roughly 550,000 barrels of crude per day and serves as a key export terminal for the kingdom....
Iranian Drone Strike Shuts Major Saudi Refinery, Raising Oil Risk
Saudi Arabia has reportedly shut down Ras Tanura, one of the world’s largest oil refineries, following an Iranian drone strike. This is not just a regional headline. Ras Tanura is a critical node in global energy supply. Any prolonged disruption could...
Renewables Cut Fossil Dependence; Petrol Becomes Luxury
The Iranian conflict highlights another reason why Net Xero is critical. Ramping up renewables reduces our dependency on global fossil fuel markets. Pretty simple really. Petrol will become a luxury purchase
European Gas Jumps 25% as Iranian Crisis Threatens Global Flows
European natural‑gas futures surged up to 25% on March 2, marking the steepest rise since August 2023. The spike followed reports that tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—responsible for roughly 20% of global LNG shipments—was largely halted amid escalating Middle‑East fighting....
LOGISTEED and REXEV Advance EV Truck Electrification
LOGISTEED and REXEV have launched a joint demonstration to integrate electric trucks into LOGISTEED’s delivery fleet in Japan, applying REXEV’s energy‑management platform. The project targets three cost‑saving levers: peak‑demand charge reduction, schedule‑based charging aligned with market prices, and using idle...
Iranian Conflict Expands, Fuels Oil Surge and Market Volatility
🚨 IRAN WAR DAY 2 — MONDAY MARKET OPEN 🚨 Day 2 confirms the war is widening, not containing. ~48 Iranian officials confirmed dead including Khamenei. Iran is retaliating across the Gulf — hitting Dubai, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and targeting...
Batteries Accelerate Data Center Grid Connections, Cutting Costs
Great conversation with @Edison_Electric this morning focused on using new technologies to get more data centers connected to the grid faster. Connecting data centers to the grid is critical to bringing electricity rates down. Batteries are key. https://t.co/6SD5BHtq4g
Flow Power Goes Bigger on Firmed Solar, with Purchase of Shovel Ready PV and Battery Project
Flow Power has purchased the shovel‑ready Dunedoo Energy Project in regional New South Wales, adding a 55 MW solar farm and a 60 MW battery energy storage system to its portfolio. The assets come with State Significant Development status and all necessary...
Heating Oil Spikes 15% as Gas Hogs Headlines
While gas prices will get all the attention, it is worth pointing out the near 15% increase in heating oil this morning.
Energy Math, Security, and Geopolitics Drive Transition Solutions
Thanks to Vijay and the whole team @TheEconomist for the invitation to deliver a keynote this morning about challenges—and solutions—facing the energy transition. I focused on energy math, energy security, and energy geopolitics—with today’s oil & gas price spikes top...
Lloyd’s Register Grants Approval for Hybrid Nuclear Vessel
Lloyd’s Register has issued an Approval in Principle for a hybrid nuclear‑ready power concept co‑developed with Australian ship designer Seatransport. The design merges micro‑modular nuclear reactors (1.2‑2.6 MW) with diesel‑electric propulsion on 73‑metre and 90‑metre amphibious stern landing vessels. Recent sea...
Qatar Reports Attack on Ras Laffan LNG Hub
Qatar says Ras Laffan energy complex has been attacked It isn’t clear what part of the facility. But it is home to Qatar’s massive LNG export plant — the world’s biggest
China’s Solar Surge Cuts Emissions Amid Rising Energy Use
China’s latest energy data offers a signal worth paying attention to. In 2025, emissions from energy and industry fell by 0.3%, modest, but notable, even as total energy consumption rose by 3.5%. The key driver? A continued surge in solar...
Single‐Crystal NCM‐Enabled Multifunctional Separator Design for High‐Performance Lithium‐SPAN Batteries
Researchers unveiled a trilayer composite separator (PP|SC‑NCM|PP) that integrates single‑crystal NCM811, BP2000 carbon, and Li‑Nafion to boost lithium‑sulfur (Li‑S) battery performance. The design creates dedicated Li⁺ transport channels, buffers localized electrons, and catalyzes solid‑state redox reactions within sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN)...
Ten Recent Technology Advances That Asset Allocators Should Have on the Radar
The CFI.co briefing outlines ten technology breakthroughs that are reshaping the risk‑return landscape for energy and infrastructure investors. Record‑setting photovoltaic efficiencies, sodium‑ion and iron‑air storage, grid‑forming controls, enhanced geothermal, high‑temperature heat pumps, solid‑state batteries, larger offshore turbines, iridium‑light PEM electrolyzers,...
How America’s Power Regions Chose Their Futures and How That Has Played Out
In 1996 FERC issued Order 888 and later Order 2000, prompting a split between regions that adopted organized wholesale markets and those that retained vertically integrated structures. Regions such as PJM, ISO‑NE, NYISO, MISO and CAISO built RTOs/ISOs, delivering billions in annual...
A Safer, Smarter Approach to Weld Inspection: Why Advanced Ultrasonic Testing Is Redefining Industry Standards
Advanced ultrasonic testing is overtaking radiographic methods for weld inspection in oil and gas, driven by safety, speed, and data demands. Technologies such as PAUT, TOFD, and the newer Plane Wave Imaging combined with Total Focusing Method deliver radiography‑grade image...
Advancements in Ammonia-to-Hydrogen Technology Support Decarbonization
Amogy has unveiled a next‑generation ammonia‑cracking system that converts ammonia to hydrogen at lower temperatures and higher efficiency, enabling carbon‑free power generation for fuel cells and hydrogen engines. The technology is being piloted in Pohang, South Korea with a 1‑MW unit,...
The Real Barriers to Power Sector Carbon Capture
Post‑combustion carbon capture for power is technically mature, yet projects stall due to integration complexity, financing structures, and risk allocation. While the Global CCS Institute reports 77 operating facilities and a pipeline targeting 337 Mtpa by 2030, only a dozen power‑generation...
Cross-Asset Vols Spike on Iran Risk as Oil Surges
Cross‑asset implied volatilities surged after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, with oil 1‑month vol jumping 7 points and the skew inverting through the 6‑month curve – a pattern last seen during the 2022 Russia‑Ukraine war. Credit volatility also spiked,...
Beyond Reactors: The Full Fuel Cycle Investment Needed for a Nuclear Future
Nuclear power’s resurgence in the United States hinges on more than reactor designs; a fully domestic fuel cycle is essential for sustainable growth. The nation currently depends heavily on imported uranium, especially from Russia, prompting the 2024 Prohibiting Russian Uranium...
India's LNG Tankers Divert Away From Strait of Hormuz
Escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz forced Indian LNG carriers to reroute, leaving only one of Petronet's three captive tankers able to unload at the Dahej terminal. The 138,000 m³ Disha is stalled at Ras Laffan, while Aseem diverted away...