Today's Energy Pulse
Scania pilots megawatt‑scale V2G for heavy‑duty electric trucks
Scania demonstrated one of the first vehicle‑to‑grid systems for heavy‑duty electric trucks using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS). The pilot showed bi‑directional power flow, allowing trucks parked at depots to feed electricity back to the grid, with real‑time communication between the truck, charger and energy‑management platform enabling dynamic charging and discharging. The test marks a step toward integrating large‑capacity EVs into grid balancing.
Also developing:
The Download: Storing Nuclear Waste and Orchestrating Agents
Political support for nuclear energy is at a high point, yet the United States still lacks a permanent repository for the roughly 2,000 metric tons of high‑level nuclear waste generated each year. Simultaneously, AI research is shifting from chat‑based models to orchestrated networks of agents that can automate complex white‑collar tasks, a change likened to the assembly‑line revolution in manufacturing. The newsletter also highlights headline‑making developments such as Elon Musk’s testimony in the OpenAI trial, the White House’s plan to bypass Anthropic’s blacklist, and Clear’s push to make facial biometrics a universal identity layer.
Dancing Volts
An official investigation into the Iberian Peninsula blackout concluded the outage was triggered by a sudden voltage surge, though the root cause of the surge was not disclosed. The incident, the first of its kind in modern electricity history, has...
Bangladesh Launches 495MW Solar PV Tender
Bangladesh’s Power Development Board has opened a tender for 495 MW of solar PV across ten sites, with bids due by 28 June. Successful developers must post a security deposit of roughly US$5,000 per megawatt and locate projects near existing or under‑construction...
Goldman Sachs Hikes Oil Forecasts Amid Hormuz Shutdown
"Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted oil-price forecasts as the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz spurs 'extreme' inventory draws." -BBG
Bill Protection Empty as Coal Costs Already Exceed Base
The government just guaranteed your electricity bill will be protected. Coal is already at RM21.28 per million BTU — above the RM19.14 base rate — and the harder test hasn’t started yet. The July maintenance window at Kerteh hasn’t arrived. The...
Malaysian Fuel Prices April 30-May 6, 2026 – RON95 up 10 Sen, RM3.97; RON97 to RM4.90; Diesel Unchanged
Malaysia's Ministry of Finance announced weekly fuel prices for April 30‑May 6, 2026. Unsubsidised RON95 climbs 10 sen to RM3.97 ($0.87) per litre and RON97 rises 5 sen to RM4.90 ($1.08). Diesel B10 and B20 remain at RM5.12 ($1.13) per...
Critical Evolution of Japan's Carbon Credit Market
In this episode of ESG Currents, host Homa talks with Yuuki Mori, General Manager of the Carbon Credit Market Office at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, about Japan’s emerging carbon credit market and its integration with the upcoming Green Transformation Emissions...
Community Conflict Poses ‘Enormous Risk’ to Renewables Developers
A new IHRB report reveals that community conflict has cost a renewables developer roughly $200 million over ten years, representing 3.3 GW of stalled capacity and more than $4 billion in unrealized clean‑energy investment. The analysis shows these expenses are often hidden, dispersed...
Diesel, LPG Subsidies for Hong Kong Public, Commercial Vehicles Amid Fuel Price Hikes
Hong Kong announced temporary subsidies for diesel and LPG to offset sharp fuel price increases linked to the Middle East conflict. The diesel subsidy of HK$3 per litre (about $0.38) will run for two months, costing roughly HK$1.8 billion ($230 million). A...
Lower Residential Demand After 25D Tax Credit Ends Impacts Enphase’s Q1 2026 Revenue
Enphase Energy reported a 17% drop in first‑quarter 2026 revenue, falling to $282.9 million, as US residential solar demand slumped after the Section 25D tax credit expired. The decline was driven by a 23% fall in US sales, which still represented 83%...
A Third Offshore Wind Farm Enters Into Full Service
Vineyard Wind, the 800‑megawatt offshore project off Massachusetts, entered full service this week as the state activated 20‑year power purchase agreements that lock in electricity at $69.50 per megawatt‑hour. Governor Maura Healey estimates the contracts will save ratepayers roughly $1.4 billion...
5 Big Energy Stories: Starving Iran, Transiting the Strait, Exposing Congressional Fools, and More
President Trump has directed senior aides to prepare an extended naval blockade of Iran, aiming to choke the regime’s oil exports and force a nuclear capitulation. The move follows a cease‑fire that ended major bombing campaigns in early April. Blockade...
France Presents 'First of Its Kind' Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Roadmap
France has become the first major economy to publish a comprehensive fossil‑fuel phase‑out roadmap, unveiled at the Santa Marta Conference. The plan calls for ending coal use by 2030, phasing out oil by 2045, and eliminating gas for electricity generation by...
Van Oord’s First Sea-Going USV Makes Multi-Day Offshore Debut
Van Oord’s newly christened sea‑going USV, VO:X Barentsz, completed its first multi‑day offshore operation at the Hollandse Kust West wind farm, supporting monopile and cable installation alongside vessels Boreas, Nexus and Subsea Viking. The 7‑meter autonomous craft is the fifth...
US Investment Giant Swoops for Stake in European Wind Developer
Blackstone’s infrastructure fund is committing up to $2.3 bn for a 24.7% stake in Danish renewables developer Eurowind Energy. The investment gives the U.S. giant a foothold in a company active in on‑shore wind, solar, battery storage and biogas across 16...
US Natural Gas Glut Shields Economy From Iran War Energy Crisis
The Iran war has driven natural‑gas prices sky‑high in Europe and Asia, but a massive supply glut in the U.S. Permian Basin has pushed domestic gas futures below $3 per MMBtu and even into negative territory, with prices hitting –$9.60...
Lightshift Energy Looks to Distributed Energy Storage to Address PJM’s Data Centre Issue
Lightshift Energy is rolling out 20 MW‑or‑smaller battery units at existing distribution substations to sidestep PJM’s costly, years‑long transmission projects. The approach promises 12‑24‑month deployment, avoiding $5‑$20 million interconnection upgrades and cutting land use versus comparable solar farms. By peak‑shaving, rural cooperatives...
Oslo Implements New AC Charging Pricing Model
Oslo, home to the world’s highest EV concentration, has replaced its time‑based public AC charging fees with a consumption‑based model effective April 22. Drivers now pay for the kilowatt‑hours consumed, a service surcharge based on the city’s spot electricity price, and...
Why Smart Money Is Quietly Piling Into This Lithium Stock
The U.S. Department of Energy has taken a 5% equity stake in Lithium Americas and secured a matching economic interest in the Thacker Pass joint venture, aligning federal policy with the project’s success. The company is financing its $1.3‑$1.6 billion 2026...
NFPA 855: 2026 Edition Updates and What They Mean for Energy Storage Projects
The 2026 edition of NFPA 855, the U.S. standard for stationary energy‑storage systems, introduces sweeping updates that affect chemistry coverage, hazard analysis, and fire‑safety testing. Hazard Mitigation Analysis (HMA) becomes the default requirement for most installations, while new chemistries such as...
Bajel Projects Wins Mega Orders in West Asia and North Africa
Bajel Projects announced it has won two 500 kV overhead transmission line contracts in the Middle East and North Africa, together worth more than ₹400 crore (approximately $48 million). The orders are part of a flagship grid‑reinforcement programme aimed at bolstering the MENA...
Woodside Firing on All Cylinders to Advance Australian Gas Project, Mexican Oil Development, and US LNG Terminal
Woodside Energy is accelerating three flagship projects across three continents. The offshore Scarborough LNG facility in Australia is 96% complete and on track for its first cargo in Q4 2026. In Mexico, the Trion oil development has reached 56% completion, targeting...
Brent $120+ Needed to Hit 2005 Energy Index High
This Year May Test a Top Force in Energy - Elasticity If Brent crude oil can stay above $120 a barrel, the Bloomberg Energy Spot Index may top 2005's high. Both outcomes appear unlikely absent something very bad happening in the...
Energy Surge May Trigger Deflation, Crude Prices Collapse
Energy Surge Can Be a Lose-Lose for Crude Prices Spiking diesel, gasoline and natural gas prices, particularly in Europe and Asia, are curbing demand, and it's a question of magnitude and duration. My top takeaway from the energy crisis is that...
Pantheon Atlas to Build 500MW Solar-Plus-Storage Facility at US$58.5 Billion Croatian Data Centre
Pantheon Atlas LLC announced a $58.5 billion AI data centre in Croatia, featuring a 500 MW on‑site solar plant and a 2 GW/8 GWh battery storage system. The project will begin construction in 2027 with an initial €12 billion ($14 billion) investment and aims for full...
Data Center Debate: Are Energy Bills About To Explode?
The episode examines the looming energy crisis posed by the rapid expansion of AI data centers, noting that by 2030 they could consume twice today’s electricity—enough to power France and Germany combined—while the U.S. grid may lack sufficient capacity. Guests...
Russian LNG Update – Taking the Long Way Around
On March 3, 2026 a maritime drone struck the 130,000‑m³ Arctic Metagaz vessel, part of Russia’s shadow fleet serving the Arctic LNG‑2 project, forcing the crew to abandon ship. The incident underscored heightened security risks in the Mediterranean and prompted...
The Changing Economics of Renewable Electricity Procurement
Corporate electricity procurement is evolving from a back‑office sustainability task into a strategic, finance‑driven decision. Companies across transport, retail, hospitality and other sectors face rising demand from fleet electrification and tighter scrutiny of renewable claims. Uncertainty around Renewable Energy Guarantees...
RWE Inks Long-Term PPA with Breedon for UK Offshore Wind Farm
RWE has entered a 15‑year power purchase agreement with UK construction‑materials group Breedon, committing to supply roughly 70 GWh of renewable electricity each year. The power will initially come from the 576 MW Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm in North Wales, with a...
India Decries Attacks on Commercial Vessels in Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Shipping Threats
India’s UN envoy Yojna Patel labeled recent attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz as “deplorable,” underscoring the flashpoint’s impact on energy and trade. The remarks come as the U.S. expands sanctions on Iran’s shadow banking and shipping...
Macquarie Strategists Predict USA Crude Inventory Drop
Macquarie strategists forecast U.S. crude inventories will drop by 2.0 million barrels for the week ending April 24, following a 1.9 million‑barrel build the prior week. The model also anticipates a sizable 7.1 million‑barrel draw from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and modest increases in...
Powell’s Final FOMC Meeting Faces Inflation Spike and Nominee Warsh’s Balance‑Sheet Push
Jerome Powell presided over his last Federal Open Market Committee meeting on April 29 as U.S. inflation is projected to rise to 3.56% in April, a 116‑basis‑point two‑month jump driven by the Iran‑Israel conflict. At the same time, President‑elect Donald Trump’s...
Another Russian Oil Facility Burns After Zelenskyy Touts Ukraine’s Drone Reach
Ukraine’s security service says a domestically‑produced drone set fire to a Transneft oil pumping station in the Perm region, more than 1,500 km from the front line. President Zelenskyy posted video of the blaze, framing the strike as proof of Ukraine’s...
Noble Lifts Rig Utilization with Over $550M in New Drilling Contracts
Offshore driller Noble Corporation announced $565 million in new contracts, raising its backlog to $7.5 billion and lifting overall rig utilization to 68% in Q1, up from 64% a quarter earlier. The awards include a 1,115‑day extension of the Noble Courage with...
LONGi Sets New World Records: 28.13% Cell and 26.4% Module Efficiency
LONGi Green Energy announced on April 29, 2026 that its Hybrid Interdigitated‑Back‑Contact (HIBC) solar cell achieved a certified 28.13% conversion efficiency and its HIBC‑based modules reached 26.4% efficiency, the highest ever for crystalline silicon. The breakthroughs, certified in Germany and...
Physical‑paper Oil Price Gap Narrows to Six‑week Low
Lots of ink was spilled in recent weeks on decoupling between physical and paper oil prices (lhs). But here we are: the gap (rhs) is the narrowest it's been in 6 weeks. This after all the talk this gap could...
Wisconsin PSC Mandates Full Cost Recovery for Data Centers, Setting New Regulatory Baseline
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission approved a revised tariff from We Energies that forces large‑load data center customers to shoulder the full cost of electricity generation and grid upgrades. The decision, made after a year‑long review, establishes a stricter regulatory...
European Energy, Mars Sign PPA for Lithuanian Wind Project
European Energy and Mars have signed a long‑term power purchase agreement for the 161 MW Skuodas Wind Farm in Lithuania, slated for commercial operation in 2028. The wind farm is expected to generate about 490 GWh annually, supplying most of its output...
Fugro Wins Geotechnical Site Investigation Work on CIP’s New Offshore Wind Project in Taiwan
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has awarded Fugro a geotechnical site‑investigation contract for the 600 MW Fengmiao 2 offshore wind farm off Taiwan’s Taichung coast. Fugro will conduct seabed drilling and sampling with its Taiwan‑flagged vessel Pacific Hornbill, aiming to finish fieldwork by...
OPEC's Market Share Halves, Drives OPEC+ Collaboration
OPEC members accounted for about one-third of global petroleum production in 2024 down from a peak of about one-half at the time of the first oil shock in 1973. The organisation’s declining market share explains the increasing importance it has...
World Bank Predicts 24% Energy Price Surge by 2026
Thanks to the US-Israeli war on Iran, the World Bank estimates that energy prices will SURGE by 24% in 2026. WARS = MASSIVE COLLATERAL DAMAGE. https://t.co/s4wF67lMDm
Indian Rupee Slides as Oil Prices Surge, Losing 3.5% Since West Asia Conflict
The Indian rupee weakened by roughly 3.5% against the U.S. dollar after crude oil prices jumped from $63 to above $114 per barrel, a shift tied to the West Asia war. Reserve Bank of India officials warned of heightened external...
Trump's Hormuz Blockade Threatens Global Supply Chains
Trump. Extend Hormuz blockade. With no care of what it means. What will global supply chains do? And the global economy?
Oil Rises Ahead of Powell’s Final Meeting, Middle East Tensions
Oil Prices Advance Ahead of What Will likely be Powell's Last FOMC Meeting (as Chair): There are two dominant issues today. First, the ceasefire in the Middle East continues, but the blockade of Iran is an act of war, and...
Oil Price Standoff: Unclear Who Will Yield First
So is the idea that once oil hits $130 or $140 someone will cave but we just don’t know who? This is like a pro sports standoff heading into a strike but more annoying.
Battery Costs Plummet, EV Flexibility Powers Future Grid
Octopus boss Greg Jackson says we are facing "unprecedented technology change" such as "astonishing" drop in cost of batteries Says flexibility from eg EV charging and V2G is "the system of the future" https://t.co/bPflfH86ig
Trump Misreads Iran Oil Surge Despite U.S. Blockade
COLUMN: Donald Trump's assertion that Iran's oil industry is about to “explode” shows a misunderstanding of the effect of the US naval blockade. @Opinion https://t.co/j9w99iyoZN
Oil Hits Record, Yields Firm Ahead of Hawkish FOMC
Two issues dominate today. Oil prices have risen. July Brent is at a new record and June WTI is approaching the March high. Bond yields are firmer. Second, is the FOMC meeting, where a hawkish hold is expected. Warsh...
Europe to Quintuple Battery Capacity by 2030, Still Trails US
European battery capacity is expected to grow 5x in 5 years to 2030, says Aurora's Richard Howard – but it will still be behind the US https://t.co/ECA3wrhf3U
Oil Markets Stalled; Inflation Rising, Consumers Feel It First
Talks are stuck, Hormuz is still constrained, and paper oil is catching up to physical reality. UAE policy shifts don’t matter mid-crisis. Inflation is rising—and consumers see it before policymakers do. #OilMarkets #Inflation #Hormuz https://t.co/210C3G49T1