Know What's Happening in Energy
Know What's Happening in Energy
Renewables snag $400M of Philippines investment approvals, solar leads with $293M project
Renewable energy projects accounted for roughly 48% of the Philippines Board of Investments' approved outlay of P47 billion ($840 million) in the first two months of 2026. The energy sector secured about P22.4 billion ($400 million), highlighted by a P16.4 billion ($293 million) solar venture by Cleanenergy 2 Power.
Also developing:
Iraq has instructed international oil companies operating in the country to curb output, invoking force majeure retroactively to March 3 because export routes through Basrah are effectively blocked. The loss of roughly 3.4 million barrels per day of export capacity follows a near‑halt of transit through the Strait of Hormuz and full‑capacity crude storage. Baghdad has cut its own production to about 1.5‑1.6 million b/d to prioritize domestic refining, while northern Kirkuk exports resumed at 250,000 b/d to Turkey. Companies in Kurdistan have already halted production after militia attacks on energy infrastructure.
Texas grid operator ERCOT is overhauling its interconnection process to cope with a surge of data‑center, crypto‑mining and other large‑load projects that total over 200 GW of pending requests. The new "Batch Zero" framework groups all projects of 75 MW or larger...
Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) unveiled the Smart Electric Life platform, consolidating 39 energy‑related services that were previously scattered across seven government and utility agencies. The digital hub features tools such as “Find My Benefits,” bill‑simulation calculators, and the Plus...
The IMF has been slow to deliver a comprehensive analysis of the Iran crisis and the de‑facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, despite its mandate to safeguard global financial stability. Standard IMF publications such as the World Economic Outlook...
Under Biden-era industrial policy, the US was building a domestic battery industry at record pace to supply the growing market for US-built EVs. The GOP axed the policies driving EV demand, making most of those battery plants unnecessary. Now, in...
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum that Petrobras could join Pemex in deep‑water oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, targeting depths around 2,500 metres. The proposal follows Petrobras’ push to expand overseas and replenish its reserves,...
Echion Technologies and GUS Technology announced the commercial launch of XNO® fast‑charging, high‑power battery products at Battery Japan. The cells, produced at GUS’s Zhongli plant in Taiwan, can reach 80% state‑of‑charge in five minutes, operate at –30 °C, and retain over...
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a short‑term general license allowing the purchase of Russian crude already on board vessels, effective March 12 through April 11. The waiver follows a similar 30‑day exemption for India and aims to dampen market turbulence caused...
Texas Instruments announced a push toward 800‑volt power architectures to meet the exploding energy needs of AI‑driven data centers. By moving from legacy 48 V systems to 800 V, TI aims to cut copper usage, lower losses, and improve power density as...
The Nuclear Scaling Initiative released a 73‑page report that maps critical bottlenecks in the U.S. advanced nuclear supply chain, highlighting fuel shortages, downstream manufacturing constraints, and a skilled‑labor gap that together create a market‑paralysis cycle. It recommends coordinated actions by...
Oil Prices and the Information War Global oil prices have risen surprisingly little given the war between the United States, Israel and Iran has triggered “the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market” according to the International...
Mexico currently sources about three‑quarters of its natural gas from the United States, importing over 7 billion cubic feet per day. President‑elect Claudia Sheinbaum announced a plan to cut that reliance dramatically, aiming to halve imports by 2030 through expanded domestic...
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are evolving from idle backup assets into active tools that cut electricity costs and boost facility resilience. By charging during low‑price periods and discharging at peak demand, BESS enables daily peak‑shaving and supports microgrid configurations...
Gasoline supply shortage already hitting here in the U.S.? For context, I took this picture minutes ago. Anyone else seeing this sort of thing?
The numbers are clear: Middle East oil crisis is already 3x WORSE than the UNREALIZED FEAR in 2022 @Rory_Johnston explains: in April 2022 fear was 3 Million Barrel per day (mb/d) shut in for Russian Crude (DIDN'T HAPPEN). In 2026...
The Texas Railroad Commission secured EPA approval to issue Class VI carbon‑storage permits, shifting authority from the federal level to the state. This primacy is intended to streamline applications, with a $50,000 filing fee, an annual $50,000 idle‑well charge, and a...
The war between Israel and Iran has escalated into direct strikes on oil and gas infrastructure, effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz and pushing crude prices above $100 a barrel. Missile attacks have damaged the South Pars gas field and...
The Hong Kong‑flagged tanker Sea Horse, loaded with Russian diesel originally bound for Cuba, has diverted to Trinidad and is expected to arrive on Monday. The change follows a U.S. Treasury decision to tighten a waiver, now excluding sales to...
Three weeks after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, oil prices have surged to $96 per barrel for WTI and $110 for Brent, reflecting heightened Middle‑East supply risk. Natural‑gas prices rose modestly, yet U.S. LNG exporters Cheniere Energy...
Fuel Cell Systems partnered with Swarco UK & Ireland to install the United Kingdom’s first fuel‑cell‑powered variable message sign (VMS) on the National Highways network at the M6 Lancaster Motorway Services. The deployment uses an Efoy Pro 12000 direct methanol...
The episode examines how recent attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, sparked by the US‑Israeli conflict with Iran, are driving volatile oil and gas prices and threatening global supply chains. The International Energy Agency urges governments to cut demand by promoting...
Assuming the USS Boxer is heading to the Middle East, and considering that she only left San Diego two days ago, she won't be near the Persian Gulf until mid-April. If the reinforcements are intended to reopen the Strait of...
Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers JinkoSolar, LONGi Green, Tongwei and Aiko booked more than 4.67 GW of overseas module orders in March. Europe accounted for 51.1 % of the volume, Australia 42.5 %, with the remainder split across Asia‑Pacific and the Middle East. JinkoSolar led...
Texas led the nation in oil and gas employment in 2025, with 476,777 workers—about a quarter of all U.S. industry jobs—despite a modest dip from the previous year. When indirect and induced effects are included, the sector supports roughly 2.5 million...
IOCL raises industrial diesel prices sharply ⛽ ₹87.57 ➝ ₹108.59 Impact : The diesel price hike by Indian Oil Corporation will raise costs for industries and transportation, leading to higher prices of goods and increased inflation.
Renewable developer Newave Energia and steelmaker Gerdau have commissioned the 452 MW Solar de Barro Alto photovoltaic plant in Goiás, Brazil. The project cost R$1.3 billion (US$240 million) and comprises roughly 731,000 solar panels. Gerdau will purchase 40 % of the output to power...
The commentary warns that adopting crop‑based biofuels to decarbonise shipping could exacerbate Africa’s land pressure and food insecurity. Shipping accounts for roughly 300 million tons of fuel annually and 3 % of global emissions, so even modest biofuel uptake would demand large...
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced imminent revisions to the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the creation of a €30 billion "ETS Investment Booster" fund. The short‑term changes will adjust benchmarks for free allowances and strengthen the Market...
AI‑driven workloads are set to push U.S. data‑center electricity demand up 22% in 2025 and nearly triple by 2030, straining an already stressed grid. Grid operators such as PJM warn that extreme‑weather events could push generation capacity to its limits,...
Scotland’s government has allocated £41,000 to Unite the Union to run the Grangemouth Jobs Prioritisation Scheme, tying public investment to local employment. Over the past year, £11.4 million has funded low‑carbon projects such as Celtic Renewables and MiAlgae, with 316 workers...
This story is being replicated in other regions too, e.g., Central Asia, where the China story now includes renewables, manufacturing, and more ... "Where early engagement centered on oil, gas and mining, recent years show a marked shift towards clean...
Headlines that the US is thinking about taking Kharg island are pushing up Brent (lhs) and causing stocks to tank (rhs). Taking Kharg doesn't reopen the Strait and could turn into a fiasco. Better to embargo Iranian oil and force...
3w into conflict, gas prices on higher trajectory than in 2022 (Ukraine invasion). WTI 1M/6M spread off peak inversion, so are implied vols for WTI. 2YR inflation expectations on similar trajectory as 2022. LT inflation exp not reacting much...
Iran War Puts Global Energy Markets on the Brink of a Worst-Case Scenario | WIRED Quoted here with the always on point @Rory_Johnston https://t.co/mDCdbWwTqc
Is it reasonable to say that a long-term, structural decline in global oil demand would not necessarily translate into lower prices, and could plausibly turn into significantly higher prices in the future?
Michael Cembalest from @JPMorganAM talks on Open Circuit about his Eye on the Market report. One topic we discuss is a $250B Marshall Plan from China that will accelerate electrification efforts around the world. https://t.co/bYsQ3TDtQa
The US is on track to add 86 GW of new power capacity in 2026... 51% of that will come from SOLAR. Energy transition is happening.
Global airlines are preparing for "shortages", i.e. there simply is no jet fuel available. But they are talking about prices as a completely separate matter... Wow... https://t.co/FPxwGrm5c0
Georgia becomes the first U.S. state to declare a fuel tax holiday as gasoline and diesel prices surge in the back of the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran. Georgia will waive for 60 days a 33 ¢ per gallon tax on...
The final report on the Iberia Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) blackout is out. A lot of people will be blaming renewables and talk about inertia. But the cause was bad voltage control and that's surprisingly easy to fix. Let me explain. https://t.co/d2slhAOHGu
This is exactly what James Gutman predicted on the latest episode of @EnergyEmpirePod. EVs are selling out in the top 50 emerging markets given the $250B “Marshall Plan” being rolled out by China. https://t.co/75BxCTbmpS
Excited to join @RaviReports on @ForeignPolicy FP Live next week to talk about the energy implications of the crisis in the Gulf. Tune in--Live On March 26, 2026 | 11:00am ET https://t.co/GLSeORmDP9
If you're an oil analyst and you haven't been on at least 7 podcasts this week talking about the Strait of Hormuz and $200 oil what are you even doing w/your career?
CHINA ALREADY GOT ITS FIRST WIN FROM THE WAR IN IRAN In today's newsletter, I wrote about how the long term trend of countries reducing their oil imports by substituting them with Chinese tech is already accelerating since the start of...
Bessent un-sanctioned Russian oil AFTER WaPo reported Russia was helping Iran targeting US assets the way the US has been helping UKR target Russian assets... ...& yet Wall Street consensus overwhelmingly remains that "Bessent has everything under control." Fade that view, hard
"At least 107 fuel stations across the state of New South Wales (NSW) in Australia have run out of diesel as panic buying has outstripped supply, premier Chris Minns said today." https://t.co/zXWc5xVLPK
Here is something I had not realized. Functionally, the US' strategic petroleum reserve may have less capacity than the stated figures. Should stocks fall below a certain threshold, it could damage the structural integrity of the actual storage facility. https://t.co/AIeGeWdXWV...
So apparently a utility is able to build transmission for data centers without charging ratepayers? Utilities have almost universally said this would be bad policy.
Lower prices, lower yields, lower oil. Either that, or a new war in the Middle East. https://t.co/mnkr6zwlk9
FLOWS before SPROS: While the announced volume of IEA coordinated SPR release is equal to a 4-week full Hormuz disruption. The SPR release RATE still means the supply losses compound over time. FYSA: Back in my days at DOE, the short-hand...
