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:
EQT Chief Calls for Reforms After Blowout Natural Gas Spot Prices During Winter Storm Fern
Winter Storm Fern caused U.S. natural‑gas spot prices to surge above $80 per MMBtu, marking one of the highest spikes on record. EQT Corp.’s MVP system operated at full capacity, but the event highlighted the strain on existing pipeline infrastructure. CEO Toby Rice urged policymakers to accelerate permitting and approve additional pipelines to prevent future bottlenecks. The CEO emphasized that reliable gas delivery is essential for the nation’s energy resilience.
Various Project Ramp-Ups Set to Boost Global Lithium Output in 2026
Global lithium production surged 19.7% in 2025 to 338,300 tonnes and is projected to climb another 15% in 2026, reaching 389,100 tonnes. The acceleration is driven by rapid ramp‑ups in Argentina, China, Australia, Mali and Zimbabwe, each adding new projects...
CleanChoice Energy Triples Capacity with Solar Acquisitions in North Carolina
CleanChoice Energy announced the acquisition of two utility‑scale solar projects in North Carolina—Sumac (103.92 MW) and Sweetleaf (118.3 MW)—adding 222.2 MW of capacity and tripling its portfolio. Construction is slated to start early 2027 with grid interconnection to the PJM market expected in...
Viridien Partners with NVIDIA to Advance HPC for Seismic Imaging Workflows
Viridien announced a partnership with NVIDIA to accelerate its seismic imaging workflows using NVIDIA's high‑performance computing platforms. The collaboration will optimize Viridien’s algorithms for GPU accelerators, including tensor cores and mixed‑precision techniques, aiming to boost imaging speed, accuracy, and efficiency....

Plaid Promises Welsh Communities Share of Renewable Energy Profits
Plaid Cymru announced that a future Welsh government would require renewable projects larger than 10 MW to allocate a 15‑25% community‑ownership stake, ensuring locals share in profits. The party also plans to create a national energy body to manage large‑scale wind...
Press Release: Eaton Square’s Silicon Creates Partnership with Klear to Strengthen Critical Mineral Supply Chains
Australian‑founded Eaton Square announced that its Silicon subsidiary will integrate with U.S. capital‑intelligence firm Klear, creating a unified solution for sourcing, financing and managing critical minerals. The combined platform leverages AI to provide end‑to‑end operational and treasury visibility, offering verified...

As Trump Obliterates Climate Efforts, States Try to Fill the Gap
Democratic‑led states are accelerating climate initiatives as the Trump administration moves to roll back federal greenhouse‑gas regulations. Colorado proposes a $2,000 tax credit for new electric vehicles, Virginia is streamlining approvals for large solar farms, and California aims to make...
India Keen to Diversify Crude Oil, Coking Coal Sources; Eyes High-Quality US Supplies: Piyush Goyal
India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal said New Delhi will diversify crude oil and coking‑coal supplies, targeting high‑quality U.S. coal to reduce reliance on a few geographies. He highlighted a $100 billion aircraft demand from the United States over the next five...
IEA’s Net‑Zero Work Supports Energy Security and Stability
Net zero & climate analysis are fully compatible with the IEA’s mission of promoting energy security, economic stability & cooperation among member states @AzizSapphire @SecretaryWright is right that IEA went too far but wrong saying that net zero was all it...
UK Trial Shows Potential of Hydrogen Powered Ground Handling Equipment
A successful trial at Exeter Airport demonstrated that hydrogen‑powered ground handling equipment—including a hydrogen internal‑combustion tug, a fuel‑cell baggage tractor and a hybrid hydrogen‑diesel GPU—can be safely integrated into live airport operations. The Zero Carbon Turn project, backed by the...
SemiQ Debuting SiC Power Solutions for AI Data Centers and High-Power Infrastructure at APEC
SemiQ Inc unveiled its third‑generation silicon‑carbide (SiC) power modules at APEC 2026, targeting AI‑driven data centers, high‑power industrial equipment, and electric‑vehicle applications. The QSiC Gen3 lineup delivers a 30% cut in specific on‑resistance and turn‑off energy losses, simplifying cooling and boosting efficiency....
Volkswagen Launches The All-New Caravelle PHEV In South Africa
Volkswagen is set to launch the all‑new Caravelle plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) in South Africa mid‑2026, joining a market where PHEV sales surged 280% year‑over‑year to 2,808 units, representing a 0.47% share of new‑vehicle sales. The Caravelle rides on VW’s MQB...

DG Matrix, Which Builds Solid-State Transformers to Handle up to 2.4 MW and Boost Data Center Power Efficiency, Raised a...
DG Matrix, a startup developing solid‑state transformers (SSTs) for data centers, announced a $60 million Series A round led by Engine Ventures. The company’s SSTs can handle up to 2.4 MW, promising higher efficiency and reduced footprint compared with legacy transformer technology....
Egypt LNG Supply Shaped by Israel–Egypt Gas Interdependence
Egypt’s LNG export volumes are increasingly tied to domestic power demand and Israeli pipeline imports, according to Cedigaz analysis. Israel’s offshore gas surplus now flows to Egypt, stabilizing its electricity system but leaving LNG output dependent on residual gas. Fluctuations...

What It Takes to Thrive in Residential Solar for 20 Years
Residential solar has shifted from simple ownership to complex financing, inflating soft costs despite falling panel prices. Companies that prioritize operational discipline, lean processes, and transparent pricing are better equipped to survive policy volatility. Reducing soft costs through workflow consolidation...
Slow Start to Global 2026 BESS Deployments in January, China Continues to Dominate
Global grid‑scale battery energy storage system (BESS) deployments slowed sharply in January 2026, with only 3.5 GW/10.5 GWh coming online – a 25 % drop from the same month last year. China, still the dominant market, added 1.9 GW/6.2 GWh, reflecting a 30‑50 % decline amid...

1606 Corp to Acquire Plot of Land in Texas for AI Data Center Development
1606 Corp signed a non‑binding term sheet to acquire roughly 132 acres in Lufkin, Texas, including a 55 MW natural‑gas power plant and a 50,000 sq ft warehouse for an AI‑focused data center. The transaction is priced at about $11.67 million, combining $7.5 million in...

Russian Drilling Falls in 2H25 – What Does It Mean?
The episode examines the sharp decline in Russian oil and gas drilling in the second half of 2025, with total meters drilled falling 3.4% year‑over‑year and the share of horizontal wells dropping from 67.8% to 59.3%. It links the slowdown...

Energy Transition Underpins Dry Bulk Sector
Electric‑vehicle sales have surged nearly 700% this decade, driving a rapid rise in spodumene shipments from Australia to China and doubling bulk volumes since 2023. Panamax vessels now carry almost half of the 7 million tonnes of dry bulk moved last...

Illinois Governor Pritzker to Call for Two-Year Suspension of Data Center Tax Incentives – Report
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker plans to request a two‑year suspension of tax incentives for new data centers, pending a study of the sector’s impact on the state’s electricity grid and residential bills. Current incentives grant up to 20 years of...

DHT VLCC Clocks $90,000 a Day on One-Year Deal
DHT Holdings has secured a one‑year charter for its 2012‑built VLCC DHT Opal at $90,000 per day, starting this month. The rate underscores how tight the market has become for the world’s largest crude carriers, with Gulf‑China spot earnings now...
Kenya Awards Key Transmission Work to Power Grid
Kenya has awarded a $311 million power transmission contract to a joint venture of India’s Power Grid Corp and Africa50. The PPP will design, build, operate and maintain two high‑voltage lines serving western and northern Kenya, addressing chronic supply gaps. The...

Hellenic Cables Nets BC-Wind Cable Contract
Hellenic Cables has been awarded a contract by DEME to supply roughly 70 km of 66 kV inter‑array submarine cables for Ocean Winds’ 390 MW BC‑Wind offshore project in the Polish Baltic Sea. The agreement covers design, engineering, manufacturing, testing and delivery of...
India Can Curb Clean Cooking Costs by Scaling Biogas, Electric Stoves: IISD Report
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) reports that India can lower clean‑cooking costs by scaling decentralized biogas and electric stoves alongside LPG and piped natural gas. While LPG connections have doubled since 2016, 37% of households still rely on...

The New Rules Behind ERCOT Prices with Andrew Reimers
In this episode, Andrew Reimers, deputy director of the ERCOT Independent Market Monitor at Potomac Economics, explains how ERCOT’s market design—particularly operating reserves, scarcity pricing, and the December 5 real‑time co‑optimization—shapes price signals that drive new generation investment in Texas....
Long-Term Trade-Offs of Agrivoltaics on Pear Farming
A four‑year study in Victoria, Australia examined overhead solar panels in a blush‑pear orchard. The agrivoltaic systems cut sunburn and hail damage and boosted energy output, especially with a 5° west tilt that produced about 10% more electricity. However, shading...

U.S. Solar Power Hits Record 304 TWh, Ten‑Fold Growth
U.S. SOLAR GENERATION increased to a record 304 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) or 304 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2024. Solar generation had increased ten-fold over the previous ten years from 29 billion kWh in 2014. Data prepared by the U.S. Energy Information...
At Mumbai Climate Week, Niti Ayog VC Suman Bery Highlights Growth, Gender Inclusion and India's Clean Energy Push
At Mumbai Climate Week, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery linked India’s economic growth to increased women’s workforce participation and the nation’s push for energy self‑sufficiency. He cited Nobel laureates to argue that faster growth draws more women into the...

Are We Doing Enough to Design for Low Temperature Heat in Net Zero Buildings?
The UK Climate Change Committee warns that net‑zero building designs often ignore low‑temperature heat distribution, embedding inefficiencies from the earliest stages. Heat pumps perform best at 35‑50 °C, yet many projects still design for legacy 70‑80 °C boiler systems, compromising seasonal COP...
ISA Unveils Global Mission to Fast-Track AI-Enabled Clean Energy over 120 Countries
The International Solar Alliance announced a Global Mission on AI for Energy at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, targeting more than 120 member countries. The programme aims to fast‑track AI‑enabled clean‑energy solutions for planning, grid management and decentralized solar,...

India Relaxes Chinese Equipment Import Curbs for Power, Coal Amid Project Delays
India has begun easing its 2020‑era restrictions on Chinese equipment, allowing state‑run power companies to import limited transmission components and considering similar exemptions for coal‑sector gear. The move responds to mounting shortages and project delays that threaten the country’s ambitious...
Indo-UK Offshore Wind Task Force Launched, India Crosses 272 GW Non-Fossil Fuel Power Capacity
India’s non‑fossil electricity generation capacity has crossed 272 GW, driven by 141 GW of solar and 55 GW of wind. In the current fiscal year the country added over 35 GW of solar and 4.6 GW of wind, pushing clean power to more than half...

ZEPA Launches Battery-Electric Container Handling Standards, Load Tool
The Zero Emission Port Alliance (ZEPA) introduced a load‑profile explorer, transition guide, and updated voluntary standards to accelerate battery‑electric container‑handling equipment adoption. The standards aim to reduce design fragmentation and improve interoperability, while total‑cost‑of‑ownership data shows electric gear remains pricier...

Money Box Live: Do Electric Cars Add Up?
In this Money Box Live episode, presenter Felicity Hannah explores the true cost of owning an electric vehicle, from purchase price and charging infrastructure to range anxiety on long trips. Guests Stuart Masson of The Car Expert and Melanie Shufflebotham...
The New European Sovereignty Stack: Energy, Minerals, Compute
The episode examines Europe’s modern sovereignty as an industrial and supply‑chain challenge, focusing on semiconductors, rare‑earth minerals, and energy infrastructure. Guests highlight Europe’s heavy reliance on imports, a thin venture‑capital ecosystem, and the need for coordinated capital to close the...

Enverus Launches Marketplace for Buying and Selling Minerals, Backed by Industry-Leading Data and Analytics
Enverus unveiled the Minerals Marketplace, a secure, fee‑free platform that directly connects buyers and sellers of mineral and non‑operated interests. Leveraging Enverus data on over 250,000 owners and about 85% of U.S. royalty revenue, the service offers real‑time cash‑flow and...

Fossil Fuels Waste Two-Thirds of Energy; Clean Tech Thrives
The remarkable inefficiency - and destructiveness - of the fossil fuel energy system: two-thirds of all primary energy inputs are wasted, and do not convert into useful energy >When petrol powers a car, three-quarters of the energy is wasted as heat...
Data Isn't Worthless; Misinterpretations Are
I strongly disagree with your statement that "the IEA is a worthless source of any data" @carldean1960 How can data be worthless? Interpretations of data & using data to push agendas can be worthless but not the data itself

AboitizPower Agrees to Supply 30 Megawatts to Negros Cooperative
Aboitiz Power Corp. will supply Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) with 30 MW of electricity, combining 10 MW of solar generation and 20 MW of baseload power. The mixed supply aims to meet rising demand in the cooperative’s franchise area while smoothing the...

IEA Backs Ukraine’s Energy Resilience Amid Infrastructure Attacks
Important exchange with Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister @Denys_Shmyhal We discussed 🇺🇦's efforts to ensure energy security this heating season and beyond – amid ongoing attacks on critical infrastructure @IEA will continue to closely support 🇺🇦's energy sector resilience https://t.co/tQQpcbUtpO

Dow Shuffle: Exxon's Rise, Salesforce's Decline
One August 31, 2020, Exxon Mobil was kicked out of the Dow. It was replaced by Salesforce. Exxon is up 271% and Salesforce is down 32%. https://t.co/euMlopjZdV

How Japan Should Respond to Trump’s Project Vault
The Trump administration’s Project Vault earmarks about $12 billion to create a U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve, a public‑private partnership that purchases, stores and manages a diversified portfolio of essential raw materials. Japan’s current METI‑JOGMEC approach evaluates projects individually, which could...
Markets Replace Climate Ambition, Accepting Risk for Profit
The podcast’s takeaway is that climate policy is becoming “pragmatic” & markets will take over from climate ambition But markets helped create the problem, and ambition never cut emissions. Calling this realism is just accepting catastrophic risk for profit @RystadEnergy #ClimateReality...

Critical Minerals and Energy Drive Global Economic Competitiveness
Very good meeting with 🇺🇸 US Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy & Business Affairs @CalebOrr__ We discussed developments in global energy markets, the importance of critical minerals for energy & economic security and energy’s role in boosting competitiveness https://t.co/Z4YDq3jEJG
Japan to Offer Support for Exports of Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells
Japan announced a new subsidy scheme to support overseas installations of flexible perovskite solar cells, aiming to accelerate the export of its homegrown renewable‑energy technology. The program targets projects in Southeast Asia, with Indonesia and Thailand identified as early beneficiaries....

Austria to Host 2027 IEA Energy Innovation Forum
Pleased to meet with Austrian State Secretary for Energy Elisabeth Zehetner at the #IEAMinisterial I thanked the State Secretary for Austria’s offer to host the 2027 IEA Energy Innovation Forum – we look forward to working together to build on the...
Rig Counts Mislead; Production Trends Need Context
Rig counts are a weak, context-dependent signal of future production @chigrl Fewer rigs in Russia don’t mean much after a decade of fracking conventional fields. Apply the same logic to the US and you’d wrongly conclude sanctions killed output here. #OilMarkets...
Thoughtful Electricity Growth Talk Leaves Key Questions Unanswered
Good to see my friends have a thoughtful conversation on how we meet our electricity growth needs. I think the talking points were a bit thick and many questions remained unanswered.

Singapore and IEA Pledge Deeper Cooperation on ASEAN Power Grid
Excellent meeting with Singapore's Minister Tan See Leng at the #IEAMinisterial on Southeast Asia's growing role in global energy markets @IEA & 🇸🇬 will continue cooperating closely to support the delivery of the ASEAN Power Grid Vision and other key priorities...
US Energy Chief Declares Net‑Zero 2050 Impossible
Net-zero by 2050 has “zero point zero chance of happening,” says US Energy Secretary Chris Wright ahead of the biennial IEA ministerial meeting in Paris. (This ministerial meeting will mark a turning point in global energy policy making across industrialised...