Today's Energy Pulse
Scania pilots vehicle‑to‑grid charging for heavy‑duty electric trucks
Scania demonstrated one of the first vehicle‑to‑grid (V2G) systems for heavy‑duty electric trucks using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS). The pilot showed bi‑directional power flow, letting trucks feed stored electricity back to the grid while parked at depots. Real‑time communication between the truck, charger and energy‑management platform enabled dynamic charging and discharging.
Also developing:
U.S. Electricity Prices Keep Rising
U.S. electricity prices climbed 6.7% year‑over‑year in April 2026, with the 12‑month trailing average up 6.5% and regional spikes of 21%‑25% in New Jersey and Washington, D.C. The rise mirrors a five‑year trend driven largely by natural‑gas fuel costs. Meanwhile, political opposition forced the cancellation of 20 data‑center projects in Q1 2026, a new record, as local pushback intensifies. China unveiled a 16‑MW floating offshore wind turbine—the world’s largest single‑unit platform—while the Tennessee Valley Authority boosted nuclear generation to 41% of its mix, and Bill Gates‑backed Type One Energy announced plans for a UK fusion plant.
Oil Prices Fall Below $100 as U.S.-Iran Tensions Keep Traders Focused on Strait of Hormuz Risks
Oil prices slipped below the $100 mark on Thursday as geopolitical risk in the Middle East resurfaced. Brent crude fell 1.85% to $99.40 a barrel while U.S. WTI rose to $93.21, reflecting mixed market reactions. President Donald Trump warned that...
India’s Military Turns to Green Energy Options as Iran War Prompts New Strategy
India’s armed forces are accelerating a shift toward renewable energy as oil and gas prices spike amid the Iran‑Israel conflict. The army plans to replace natural‑gas stoves with biogas units and is testing solar, wind and green fuels for bases...
US Rare‑Earth Strategy Stalls as Permitting Delays Push Buyers to Non‑Chinese Sources
U.S. rare‑earth development is being held back by permitting that can add a decade to projects, while fresh procurement rules in the United States and Europe are nudging customers toward non‑Chinese producers such as Australia’s Lynas. The twin pressures expose...
China’s New Hydrogen Push Could Be a Step Towards Cleaner Steel
China’s ministries have launched a new hydrogen pilot rewarding five city clusters to accelerate low‑carbon hydrogen use, especially in steelmaking. The programme earmarks about CNY 8 bn (~$1.2 bn) in subsidies over four years, with up to CNY 1.6 bn (~$232 m) per cluster, and seeks...
Spain Allocates €212m for Offshore Wind Ports
Spain’s government has provisionally set aside €212 million (about $231 million) from its Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan to upgrade six coastal ports for offshore wind and marine‑energy projects. The targeted facilities are Gijón, Las Palmas, Tarragona, Castellón, and the combined ports of...
Stantec to Oversee New Tees Valley Energy-From-Waste Plant
Stantec has been selected to provide technical oversight and advisory services for the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility, a 450,000‑ton‑per‑year energy‑from‑waste plant in Redcar. Developed by Viridor for a consortium of seven North‑East local authorities, the plant will treat residual...
South African Miners Pivot to Atlantic Diesel Supplies
South African mining firms are redirecting diesel purchases from the Middle East to suppliers in the United States and Brazil. The shift follows a sharp rise in diesel prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which now...
PJM Floats Options for Capacity Market Overhaul
PJM Interconnection released a white paper outlining three reform frameworks for its capacity market, aiming to secure reliable power supplies across its 13‑state region. The proposals include stabilizing the existing market with long‑term contracts (Path A), introducing differential reliability that could...
Kenya Stalls $1 Bn Microsoft AI Data Centre over Power Shortage
Kenyan President William Ruto announced the suspension of a $1 billion Microsoft‑G42 data centre, citing insufficient electricity capacity. The halt highlights the clash between soaring AI demand and limited grid resources in East Africa.
WTI Crude Peaks Near $120; Bonds, Grains Stabilize
Peak Inklings: $100 Crude, 5% T-Bonds, $5 Corn and Gas, $12 Soy Roughly $120 a barrel in WTI crude oil may be reaching its peak potential, akin to $147 in 2008 and $130 in 2022. Staying below $100 would reinforce the...
India Must Integrate Crude, Gas, LPG and Battery Storage Under One Policy: S&P Global's Gauri Jauhar
India needs a single energy‑storage policy that integrates crude oil, LPG, natural gas, battery storage and power systems, S&P Global’s Gauri Jauhar said. She highlighted that the 2026‑27 Union Budget boosted allocations for coal‑gasification by over 800% and battery storage...
Electricity Prices Went Up In April — But Not Because of Iran
Electricity prices in the United States rose 6.7% in April 2026 compared with the same month a year earlier, and the 12‑month trailing average climbed 6.5%. The increase follows a five‑year pattern of steady growth driven chiefly by natural‑gas fuel...
Crude Oil Lower-High Pattern Holds, Fueled by US Stocks
Crude Oil Pump-Then-Dump Pattern Appears Intact The crude oil pattern of lower highs since 2008 is being tested in 2026 and looks intact. My graphic shows a top potential determinant for maintaining the lower-lows trend -- the lofty US stock market. Full...
SMRs v Renewables: Mini Nuclear's Costs Judgement Day Is Coming
The European Commission unveiled its first Small Modular Reactor (SMR) strategy, projecting up to 53 GW of SMR capacity in the EU over the next 25 years. Early deployments are expected around 2030, with projects in Canada, the UK, Czechia and Sweden...
First Chinese Tanker Attacked Near Hormuz As Beijing Urges Waterway Reopened
A Chinese-owned refined‑products tanker was struck and set ablaze near Al Jeer port in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first Chinese vessel hit in the three‑month U.S.–Iran conflict. The incident came as Iran escalated attacks on commercial ships following a...
5 Big Energy Stories - 5.7.2026: Oil Spills, Peace Deals, New Drills, and More
An apparent major oil spill was reported off Iran's Kharg Island early Thursday, though Tehran has not confirmed the incident or its source. The spill coincides with Iran’s recent practice of loading decommissioned tankers as on‑shore storage reaches capacity. Meanwhile,...
Drop in Residential Solar Drives German PV Installations Down in Q1 2026
Germany’s solar market slowed in Q1 2026, with total PV installations falling 6% YoY to 3.51 GW. Residential systems dropped 21% to 850 MW, while commercial rooftop projects fell 33% to 600 MW. Ground‑mounted solar was the sole bright spot, climbing 20% to nearly...
ReNew Energy Cuts Solar Output as India’s Grid Wastes Up to 15% Power
ReNew Energy Global Plc said it will curb solar generation because India’s transmission network cannot absorb peak supply, wasting as much as 15% of its electricity on some days. The shortfall threatens the company’s earnings and highlights chronic grid bottlenecks...
Reform Hits Back Against RenewableUK Chief in Row over Wind Farm Support
Reform UK has pledged to scrap Contracts for Difference (CfD) for wind and solar farms if it wins power, prompting RenewableUK chief Tara Singh to warn the move would erode investor confidence and raise project costs. Singh, a former Shell...
Tata and JSW to Spend $1bn Building India’s Way Out of Chinese Battery Dependence
India’s EV sector, heavily reliant on Chinese battery cells, faces supply‑chain risk after Beijing tightened export controls on graphite, lithium‑processing equipment and cell‑making machinery. In response, Tata Group and JSW Group have pledged just under $1 billion to fund multi‑year R&D...
Delfin Signs Long-Term LNG Supply Deal with Gunvor
Delfin Midstream’s subsidiary Delfin LNG has signed a 20‑year contract to supply 0.3 million tonnes per annum of LNG to commodity trader Gunvor. The cargo will be delivered FOB from the FLNG1 floating facility located about 40 nautical miles off Louisiana....
Sinopec Books LNG Bunker Newbuild
China’s Sinopec Clean Energy has placed an order for a 12,000 cu m LNG bunkering vessel with Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (CIMC SOE). The contract, valued at roughly RMB 565 million (about $83 million), was awarded through Sinopec’s 2026 LNG bunkering vessel tender. The...
Organic Flow Battery Company CMBlu Closes €50 Million Series C
CMBlu Energy announced the close of a €50 million (US$58.8 million) Series C round, pushing its valuation past the $1 billion mark. Samsung Ventures led the new capital while all existing backers, including Strabag SE, reinvested. The funding supports rollout of the SolidFlow organic‑redox‑flow battery,...
Excelerate Reroutes Newbuild FSRU to Jordan Amid Iraq Delays
Excelerate Energy has secured a nine‑month interim charter for its new‑build FSRU Excelerate Acadia with Jordan’s National Electric Power Company, slated to start mid‑2026 at the Aqaba LNG terminal. The charter is expected to add roughly $20 million of adjusted EBITDA...
Powerful US Utilities Secretly Fund ‘Grassroots’ Groups to Sway Cities Away From Switch to Public Power
Private utilities are deploying a network of industry‑funded front groups to undermine municipalization efforts in cities such as Ann Arbor, Michigan, San Diego and St. Petersburg. In Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor Responsible Energy Coalition received nearly $2 million from DTE...
U.S. Diesel Stocks Hit 20-Year Low Amid Hormuz Closure
U.S. DISTILLATE STOCKS have fallen to the lowest for the time of year for more two decades as closure of the Strait of Hormuz creates a worldwide shortage of diesel and similar fuels. Since the war began, distillate inventories have...
The Balcony Solar Boom Is Coming to the US
US states are moving to legalize plug‑in balcony solar, a small, plug‑and‑play photovoltaic system that can generate up to 800 W. Utah already passed a law exempting low‑power certified panels from interconnection permits, and more than two dozen states, including New...
Gas Prices Keep Rising, but Do Big Oil Companies Plan to Drill More? Not so Far
Oil majors such as Chevron, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips are keeping production plans steady despite Brent crude trading above $100 per barrel after the Iran‑Hormuz conflict disrupted supplies. Executives cite uncertainty over the war’s duration and a disciplined capital strategy that...
IPPs Complete 840MWh of Bulgaria BESS, Projects Progress Elsewhere in Southeast Europe
Independent power producers are rapidly scaling battery energy storage across Southeast Europe. Enery commissioned a 150 MW/601.8 MWh BESS in Bulgaria, now the largest operational system in the CEE region. Parallel projects include Rezolv’s 240 MWh storage paired with 225 MW solar, Moldova’s 60 MWh...
Solar Foundation Manufacturer American Steel and Aluminum Expands Production
American Steel and Aluminum (ASA) opened a 5,000‑square‑metre plant in Syracuse, New York, its second facility in the city. The expansion targets surging demand from renewable‑energy projects, data‑centre builds, and defence contracts. ASA recently introduced a domestically produced solar‑ground screw to...
Norway's Final Coal Mine Shuts, Atmosphere Remains “Fine”
The last coal mine in Norway (in Svalbard) just closed. Pretty ironic choice of words here: "the atmosphere is fine" (they mean the mood among people) https://en.highnorthnews.com/business/end-of-norwegian-mining-on-svalbard-as-norways-last-coal-mine-closes/1110556
VIDEO – Energy Storage Summit 2026: What Technology Will Be Deployed for LDES?
At the Energy Storage Summit 2026 in London, a panel of six experts examined which long‑duration energy storage (LDES) technologies best address emerging grid needs. Moderated by Sam Wilks, the discussion highlighted the role of LDES in bridging multi‑hour to multi‑day...
SPIE Secures Cable Termination Work on Poland’s Bałtyk 2 & 3 Offshore Wind Farms
SPIE Global Services Energy has been awarded a contract by Seaway7 to perform inter‑array cable termination and testing for Poland’s Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms. The work, handled by SPIE’s Wind Connect unit, will begin in the second quarter...
Shell Latest Oil Giant to See Profits Surge Due to Iran War Impact
Shell reported first‑quarter profit of $6.92 bn (≈$6.48 bn UK‑converted), up from $5.58 bn a year earlier, driven by soaring oil prices after the Iran‑related Strait of Hormuz shutdown. The surge in Brent crude to above $120 a barrel widened trading spreads and...
Eni, BP Make Offshore Gas Discovery in Egypt via Onshore Directional Drilling Op
Italy’s Eni and Britain’s BP announced a new natural‑gas find in Egypt’s Nile Delta, producing roughly 50 million cubic feet per day. The discovery came from the Nidoco N‑2 well, drilled on‑shore but reaching a reservoir about 3 km offshore using advanced...
Chevron Wins Exploration Deal in Neglected Malta
Chevron has signed an exploration study agreement to evaluate four offshore blocks off Malta’s south coast, marking its latest push into the Mediterranean basin. The deal, sealed on April 24, calls for desktop geological and geophysical analysis using existing data. Only...
Brent Crude Slides Below $100 on US‑Iran Deal Hopes
Good morning. Brent crude is currently trading below $100 per barrel on hopes for a US-Iran deal (CNBC chart). #oil #energy #economy #markets
WTI Oil Peaks in May, June, December; Dips March, August
Oil (WTI) -- Months Annually - 10 yr average Seasonality Best May +7.6% June +4.4% Dec +3.1% Worst Mar -2.8% Aug -2.4% Nov -2.2% Bloomberg "SEAG" Function.
How Ireland’s ‘Stable’ Political Landscape Facilitates Long-Term Renewable Energy Planning
Ireland’s renewable sector benefits from a rare cross‑party political consensus that delivers predictable, long‑term policy. The stability has encouraged investors to commit to power purchase agreements (PPAs) and contracts for difference (CFDs). In May 2026 the country added 1 GW of...
SEforALL and AfDB Unite
A productive discussion on deepening collaboration between @SEforALLorg and @AfDB_Group to accelerate #energyaccess across #Africa. Key priorities included #cleancooking, renewables, carbon markets, green industrialization and linking energy access to jobs & economic growth. https://t.co/wEu9rHWcSQ
75% of World Imports Fossil Fuels, Spend $1.7 T Annually
The underlying logic is simple: 75% of the world's population lives in net fossil fuel importing countries. They collectively spend $1.7 trillion a year on those imports. EVs, solar panels, and batteries don't need constant replenishment the way oil does....
Global X ETFs Launches US Electrification ETF: ZAPP
Global X ETFs Europe has launched the Global X US Electrification UCITS ETF (ticker ZAPP) on the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Börse Xetra, with further listings pending. The fund targets European investors seeking exposure to companies that stand to...
Quiet Hurricane Season Still Threatens US Power Grid
This Atlantic hurricane season could be on the quiet side. But seasons with a lower number of storms can still do major damage to the US power grid https://t.co/YNJRTdjMyz
Industrial Fossil Dependence Exposed; 90% Could Go Electric
Fuel shocks keep exposing the same structural weakness: industry hooked on fossil fuels has nowhere to hide when supply is disrupted. @CanaryMediaInc covers our High Voltage report showing up to 90% of industrial energy demand could be electrified.. https://t.co/COOap1S5DF https://t.co/64Y1YG9UqI
India Hikes LPG Price 48% Amid Middle East Conflict
#IndiaWatch🇮🇳: India just hiked the price of the 19kg commercial LPG cylinder by ₹993. That’s a STAGGERING jump of almost 48% since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran. RESTAURANTS AND CATERERS SHOULD SEND A BILL FOR DAMAGES TO TRUMP...
Shell's Q1 Profits Jump as Iran War Lifts Prices
Shell says its profits surged in the first quarter as the Iran war drove oil and gas prices higher https://t.co/oiET1zMQ1V
Brent Projected to Average $170+ by Q2 2027
Once cumulative oil losses are fully priced, the base case starts to look a lot like the adverse case @Mgubel The path is volatile, but it pulls Brent toward a ~$170+ average by Q2 2027. #Oil #Brent #EnergyCrisis #DemandDestruction #Commodities #EnergyMarkets...
Energy Transition's Financial and Political Hurdles Explored
Professor Emily Grubert joins the Zero podcast to discuss the difficulty of managing the financial and political costs of the energy transition https://t.co/lmaFu7dp1J
CNA Acquires Severn Gas Plant for £370M,
#CNA bought the Severn Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine power station for £370m. Built in 2010 and expected to deliver annual EBITDA of £30 - £60 million from 2027, and accretive to EPS from first FY after completion.