Today's Energy Pulse
Oil prices tumble over 5% after Rubio backs Iran talks
Crude prices dropped more than 5% following Senator Marco Rubio's comment that the United States will give Iran every chance to succeed in negotiations. The slide pushed WTI below $89 a barrel as markets priced in renewed hopes for a diplomatic deal.
Also developing:
Cost of Poles and Wires Jumps Sharply, but Regulator Says Cost to Consumer Still Likely to Fall
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) approved higher five‑year revenue caps for Victoria’s five distribution network service providers, ranging from $2 billion to $5.3 billion AUD (≈$1.3‑$3.5 bn USD). Despite revenue jumps of up to 50 % for some networks, the regulator projects a modest drop of $6‑$38 AUD (≈$4‑$25 USD) per household on the distribution component of electricity bills between 2026‑31. The decisions also allocate $119 million AUD (≈$78 million USD) for grid‑resilience projects and $112 million AUD (≈$74 million USD) for reliability upgrades. AER’s outlook hinges on rising demand from electrification, data‑centre growth, and higher wholesale prices falling as Victoria’s renewable mix expands.
U.S. Net Energy Exports Are Mostly Gas, Not Oil
Most US energy net exports are natural gas, not oil The US is far from immune or isolated from geopolitical energy shocks Energy is the economy. Politically expedient lies will be discovered by the people when the economy sucks for them. #EnergyIndependence #OilMarkets...
Michigan’s Clean Financing Model Guides US Regions
What Michigan’s Clean Community Financing Ecosystem can teach other US regions #energysky -- via RMI https://t.co/A3QoZJQkua
Neoen Launches Italian Solar Park to Power Equinix Data Centers
Neoen has commissioned a new photovoltaic park in Italy that will feed renewable electricity directly to Equinix’s data‑center portfolio. The partnership underscores a growing trend of tech firms locking in clean power through dedicated solar assets.
New US Aluminum Smelter Stalled by Power Deal
Oh: "America’s big new aluminum smelter is still waiting on a power deal" https://t.co/NPWJ41tJV8 https://t.co/2Ubxlr18FN
Anaconda Invest Posts 39% Q1 Gain by Betting on Energy, Says Trump Irrelevant
Anaconda Invest SA, a boutique Swiss hedge fund, posted a 39% return in the first quarter of 2026 by maintaining long positions in oil while deliberately ignoring President Donald Trump’s public statements about a possible Iran cease‑fire. The performance outstripped...
ASEAN Ministers Warn Middle East War Threatens Energy Security and Regional Growth
ASEAN economic ministers issued a joint communique warning that the war in the Middle East threatens global energy security and could markedly slow growth in the region. They highlighted that the Strait of Hormuz transports roughly one‑quarter of the world’s...
Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM): Our Calculation of Intrinsic Value
Exxon Mobil’s latest discounted cash flow (DCF) model estimates an intrinsic share price of $94‑96, well below its current market level of roughly $148. The analysis uses an 8% discount rate, a 2% terminal growth assumption, and projects free cash...
Venture Global (VG) Closes $1.75B Senior Secured Credit Facility for Calcasieu Pass LNG Project
Venture Global Inc. closed a $1.75 billion senior secured term loan B facility on April 10, using its Calcasieu Pass Funding subsidiary. The loan, led by Goldman Sachs with Barclays, Natixis and Wells Fargo as co‑arrangers, will fully redeem Stonepeak Bayou Holdings II’s...
The Power Market: Three Applications, One Ecosystem
IDTechEx projects the global power electronics market to surpass $65 billion by 2036, driven by a 10% CAGR fueled primarily by data‑center expansion and electric‑vehicle (EV) adoption. Silicon IGBTs remain prevalent, but wide‑bandgap (WBG) devices—especially SiC MOSFETs—are set to dominate EV...
US Steel Launches $2B Low‑carbon Iron Plant in Arkansas
US Steel to build $2B lower-carbon iron plant in Arkansas #energysky -- via Canary Media: https://t.co/vivIDpxg6N
Realizing the Strait of Hormuz's Strategic Importance
Thinking back to a few months ago when you had either never heard of or thought about the Strait of Hormuz in decades https://t.co/W8AMqVrYUw
The $320Bn Li-Ion Battery Market for EVs in 2036 (Video)
IDTechEx released a video projecting the global lithium‑ion battery market for electric vehicles to reach roughly $320 billion by 2036. The forecast assumes a compound annual growth rate of about 15 % as EV sales expand across passenger cars, commercial trucks, buses...
Japan’s Mimura Declines to Comment on Yen Intervention Talk
Japan’s vice finance minister for international affairs, Atsushi Mimura, declined to comment on any direct yen intervention but reiterated that Tokyo remains prepared to act in the crude‑oil futures market. He said authorities are “always ready to act regarding crude...
LONGi Sets New World Record 28.13% Efficiency for Silicon Solar Cells
LONGi Green Energy announced that its Hybrid Interdigitated‑Back‑Contact (HIBC) silicon cell achieved a certified 28.13% photoelectric conversion efficiency, breaking its own January record. The same technology delivered a 26.4% efficiency module, the highest ever certified, underscoring a rapid move from...
2026 NFPA 855 Updates Redefine Energy Storage Standards
NFPA 855: 2026 edition updates and what they mean for energy storage projects #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/HuN5CYTVfW
Trump Bets on Quick Iran Oil Crunch. Experts See Prolonged Pain and Rising Costs.
The Trump administration is pressing its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, claiming Iran’s oil storage is on the verge of collapse within days. White House officials argue the pressure will force Tehran to meet U.S. demands as gasoline...
NH3 Clean Energy Strengthens Financing Case with Strong Public Benefits Forecast for WAH2 Clean Ammonia Project
NH3 Clean Energy secured a positive independent public‑benefits assessment from ACIL Allen, showing a Benefit‑Cost Ratio of 3.07 for its WAH2 clean‑ammonia project. The study forecasts the project will add roughly $4.8 bn to Australia’s GDP and generate $4.1 bn in real...
Pennsylvania PUC Moves Toward Higher Energy Tariffs for Data Centers
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission voted unanimously to adopt a model tariff that will charge data centers and other high‑load users for grid upgrades, targeting facilities over 50 MW. The move aims to protect residential customers from cost shifts while prompting...
Wind Farm Customers Want “Shape”, And Investors Need Certainty – and Both Are Struggling to Get It
Australian wind development has stalled, with only the Uungula project under construction in New South Wales, despite federal Capacity Investment Scheme incentives. Squadron Energy CEO Rob Wheals warned that investors need revenue certainty beyond the typical 10‑15‑year PPA, given wind...
France Announces 2050 Fossil‑Fuel Phase‑Out Roadmap, Coal by 2030, Oil by 2045
France unveiled a comprehensive roadmap to end all fossil‑fuel use, pledging to phase out coal by 2030, oil by 2045 and gas for energy by 2050. The plan consolidates existing climate policies and signals a rare, deadline‑driven approach among major...
Molecular Interface Tweak Boosts Perovskite Solar Cell Reliability
Researchers announced a molecular‑level interface modification that markedly improves the reliability of perovskite solar cells, overturning the prevailing belief that such tweaks compromise performance. The breakthrough, reported on April 29, 2026, could accelerate commercial rollout of high‑efficiency, low‑cost solar technology.
US Proposes New Coalition to Restart Traffic in Hormuz
The United States is mobilizing an international coalition called the Maritime Freedom Construct to reopen commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where talks with Tehran have stalled. The plan designates the State Department as a diplomatic hub and U.S....
Genie Energy Ltd (GNE) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Genie Energy reported a 24% rise in consolidated revenue to $138.3 million, driven by strong electricity sales and higher per‑meter consumption. Gross profit fell 21% as wholesale commodity costs compressed margins, with gross margin dropping to 21.7% from 33.9% a year...
Chevron Corp (CVX) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Chevron reported $2.8 billion quarterly earnings and $3 billion adjusted earnings, with operating cash flow of $10.8 billion. The company repurchased $3 billion of shares, raised the quarterly dividend 4% and posted record worldwide production, including over 1 million barrels per day in the Permian....
Portland General Electric Co (POR) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Portland General Electric reported GAAP net income of $62 million ($0.56 per share) and non‑GAAP earnings of $73 million ($0.66 per share) for Q2 2025, highlighted by a 16.5% surge in industrial load driven largely by data‑center customers. The company...
Trump Gives the Go-Ahead for a Major New Canada-U.S. Oil Pipeline
President Donald Trump approved the Bridger Pipeline Expansion, a 650‑mile, 3‑foot‑wide line that would transport up to 550,000 barrels of Canadian crude daily through Montana and Wyoming. The project, dubbed “Keystone Light,” avoids Native American reservations and relies on existing...
Why Has NESO Stripped Batteries From Many UK Solar and Wind Projects in the Grid Queue?
National Electricity System Operator (NESO) has stripped grid‑scale battery storage from a large number of solar and wind projects awaiting connection in the UK grid queue. The move follows recent reforms that cleared more than 221 GW of renewable capacity but...
IEA: Battery Recycling Innovation Accelerating Rapidly
A joint European Patent Office and International Energy Agency study shows battery‑circularity patents surged 42% annually from 2017 to 2023, outpacing the 16% growth in rechargeable‑battery patents overall. The report highlights that up to 1.2 million EV batteries will reach end‑of‑life...
CIP Acquires Orsted’s European Onshore Wind Business, Launches Perigus Energy
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has completed the €1.44 bn ($1.7 bn) acquisition of Ørsted’s European on‑shore renewables business, rebranding it as Perigus Energy. The new entity controls about 826 MW of operating assets and a multi‑gigawatt pipeline in Ireland, Germany, the UK and...
One Month to Oil at $200
Oil prices are edging toward the $200 per barrel mark, with analysts projecting the level within a month. After a brief overnight dip, Brent futures settled at $114 on April 30, reflecting volatility amid a stalemate in the Gulf region....
Dam Opponents Urge Hawke’s Bay Regional Council to Halt Funding for Makaroro River Project
Opponents of the Tukituki Water Security Project presented an 828‑person petition to Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, demanding a public commitment not to fund the proposed Makaroro River dam. The government recently approved a NZ$18 million loan (≈US$10.8 million) for the project, which...
PBF to Move WTI to US East Coast on Jones Waiver
PBF Energy announced it will run West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude at its Delaware City, DE (171,000 b/d) and Paulsboro, NJ (100,000 b/d) refineries in Q2, leveraging a temporary Jones Act waiver. The waiver, first issued on March 17 and extended through August 15,...
Oil Prices Surge Again as Trump Weighs Options to End Iran War and Hegseth Faces Lawmakers
Oil prices jumped to $126 a barrel as the United States weighs military options to end the Iran war and maintains a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump was briefed by the top Middle East commander on potential...
DEAL Desk: Nantum AI Latest Acquisition as OEMs Shift Digital Strategy From Build to Buy
Johnson Controls (JCI) announced it has acquired Nantum AI, formerly Prescriptive Data, to accelerate AI‑driven energy optimization across its smart‑building portfolio. The deal gives JCI an established machine‑learning platform that originated as an in‑house solution for New York real‑estate firm Rudin....
Old Oil Field Powers New 1MW Data Centre
👏👏👏👏👏👏 A hearty congratulations to Pilot Energy + Kala Data in Western Australia who have successfully plugged a cute little 1 megawatt data centre into some spluttering fossil fuel turbines located at a decaying, dying oil field run by...
Sixty Nations Agree to Landmark Climate Accord
U.S. first‑quarter 2026 GDP grew 2% as AI‑driven private investment outpaced consumer spending, though the gain fell short of Wall Street forecasts. The ongoing Iran‑Hormuz conflict has driven crude oil toward $120 a barrel, prompting Trump to consider a maritime...
Delays at Kidston Pumped Hydro (Operations Not Expected Till July 2027)?
The Kidston Pumped Hydro project, a 250 MW storage facility registered on the National Electricity Market in November 2025, has slipped its commercial‑operations date from the original October 2026 target to late July 2027. The delay was first noted in AEMO’s MT PASA DUID Availability...
Australia’s Data Centers Match US at 50% Grid Growth
Australia's data center lobby insists it is nothing like the US. But a new report shows data centres drove 50% of the past year of demand growth in Australia's biggest grid: exactly the same proportion as the US. Quick new...
Another Wind Farm to Be “Paired” With Delayed Giant Shock Absorber Battery, but the Comms Will Be Costly
New South Wales EnergyCo has approved adding the White Rock wind farm as a fourth generator to pair with the delayed Waratah Super Battery under the System Integrity Protection Scheme (SIPS). The Waratah battery, intended to provide 850 MW/1,680 MWh of standby...
ConocoPhillips Stays in Cruise Control Despite Price Surge
ConocoPhillips, the U.S. independent oil producer, announced it will keep its upstream operations on a “cruise control” mode through the end of 2024. The company said it will not accelerate drilling or capital spending despite oil prices soaring above $90...
Zambia Raises Diesel and Kerosene Prices as Global Oil Costs Climb
Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board lifted diesel to K33.99 per litre (≈$1.77), kerosene to K35.05/L (≈$1.83) and Jet A‑1 to K37.98/L (≈$1.98) for May 2026, while petrol stayed at K27.15/L (≈$1.42). The hikes mirror sharp global oil price jumps—diesel up 23.11%, kerosene and...
Electrified Homes Save Money, Driving Canadian Adoption
Electrified Homes Cost Less I love my electrified home: heat pump, electric hot water, all appliances, etc. Sachi Gibson, the Canadian Climate Institute, explains why more Canadians are choosing electric homes. #cdnpoli https://youtu.be/eHhCvsU2T_E
Over
A 2024 study, using satellite data, found no evidence of electricity use at night for 1.18 billion people. That means 14% of the world is unable to access modern life. Calls to rapidly reduce fossil fuel use are calls to keep...
EIA Report Shows Expanding US-Venezuela Oil Trade
U.S. imports of Venezuelan crude have risen sharply, reaching the highest weekly volumes since late 2018, according to the Energy Information Administration. The surge reflects a modest easing of sanctions that now permits limited PDVSA shipments to U.S. refineries. Imports...
Energy Minister Vows to Halt Renewable Investment Before Election
“They will smash renewable energy investment:” State energy minister goes on attack as election looms #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/lamGiSKs2o https://t.co/csj4OrhhmB
PJM Reopens as Solar Output Plummets
PJM Is Back Open For Business. Where Did All the Solar Go? #energysky -- via Heatmap News https://t.co/TwRabvjMUM https://t.co/FC95M6bCzk
U.S. Shale Gas Fuels Petrochemical Edge Over Europe, Asia
Many countries in Asia and Europe are beginning to feel the pressure, but the U.S. has a leg up on everyone else. Thanks to the shale revolution, America's cheap and abundant natural gas is used to produce its petrochemicals. #natgas #petrochemical...
China Beats 2030 Solar Target, US Falls Behind
China hit its 2030 solar goal five years early. 90% of new power capacity in China is wind and solar. They've installed 1,500 gigawatts... half of total global solar capacity. Compare to 300 gigawatts in the US. We're falling behind on...
Ameresco Finishes Two Solar Installations for Maryland Schools
Ameresco completes two solar projects for Maryland school district #energysky -- via Solar Power World: https://t.co/CzT8LGiEej