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:
Colombia and Netherlands Host Santa Marta Summit to Accelerate Fossil‑Fuel Phase‑Out
Colombia and the Netherlands co‑hosted the first Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, drawing over 50 countries to discuss concrete steps to phase out coal, oil and gas. The summit, set against the backdrop of Colombia’s massive coal‑export port, aims to turn ambition into actionable policy amid a global energy crunch.
Natural Gas Prices Weekly Update – JKM, TTF and Henry Hub (27 April 2026)
Last week natural gas prices diverged across regions: Asian spot LNG (JKM) climbed to the low‑$17 per MMBtu range, while European TTF rose to $15.4 per MMBtu, and U.S. Henry Hub slipped to $2.6 per MMBtu. The JKM rally was...
US Treasury Yields Jump to 4.35% as Middle East Conflict Fuels Inflation Fears
U.S. Treasury yields surged on Tuesday, with the two‑year note topping 3.85% and the 10‑year reaching 4.35%, the highest in about a month. The spike was driven by rising oil prices and heightened inflation worries amid the ninth‑week Iran‑related conflict,...
UAE Leaves OPEC, Stripping Cartel of 13% Capacity as May 1 Exit Takes Effect
The United Arab Emirates announced it will quit OPEC on May 1, ending a 59‑year membership and removing roughly 13% of the cartel’s production capacity. The move follows months of friction with Saudi Arabia and a desire to free up spare...
Capacity Cost Explosion: What PJM’s $80B Bill Means for the AI Buildout
The PJM Interconnection’s 2025 financial report shows capacity costs exploding from $2.69 billion to $10.39 billion—a 285% increase—while total market settlements rose 56% to $80.5 billion. Energy, congestion, and reserve expenses all surged, reflecting a grid strained by AI data‑center demand and broader...
UAE’s OPEC Exit Signals New Global Oil Order
The United Arab Emirates announced its exit from OPEC and OPEC+, citing a need for greater production flexibility that aligns with its broader diversification into logistics, finance, aviation, and technology. The move highlights growing strategic divergence among Gulf states, as...
‘Suicidal’ Model of Capitalism Leading to War and Fascism, Climate Summit Told
Colombian President Gustavo Petro opened the first global conference on phasing out fossil fuels in Santa Marta, warning that the current “suicidal” model of capitalism fuels war, fascism and climate catastrophe. The summit gathered ministers from 57 nations, with France unveiling a...
Cenovus Says Oilfield Extension Off Newfoundland Will Hike Emissions by 21 per Cent
Cenovus received provincial approval to add the West White Rose platform to its Newfoundland offshore oilfield, extending the field’s life by roughly 14 years and creating hundreds of construction jobs. The expansion will boost the field’s greenhouse‑gas output by about...
Have Electric Heat? Here’s How Much You Could Save with Heat Pumps
A new RMI analysis shows that swapping electric resistance heating for heat pumps can save a typical single‑family home about $1,530 a year, or roughly $23,000 over a pump’s life. If every eligible U.S. home made the change, annual savings...
EPC Contractor Hand-Picked for Southeast Asian LNG Cold Energy Utilization Project
CTCI Thailand, a subsidiary of the CTCI Group, has been awarded a THB 1.8 billion ($55 million) EPC contract to build the Olefins 3 Cold Energy Utilization Project (OCP) in Rayong, Thailand. The project will link PTT Global Chemical’s olefins plant with PE LNG’s regasification...
How Surfaces Steer Electrons Could Shape Better Batteries and Sensors
Researchers published a Nature paper showing that an electrode’s electronic density of states (DOS) directly controls the reorganization energy that governs interfacial electron transfer. By engineering graphene‑based van der Waals heterostructures with tunable hBN spacers, they demonstrated that higher DOS strengthens Thomas‑Fermi...
UK Energy Tsar Chris Stark: 'I Don't Worry Too Much About Data Centres'
UK clean‑power tsar Chris Stark told BusinessGreen he isn’t overly concerned that the surge in AI‑driven data‑centre demand will derail Britain’s climate agenda. He argues the nation’s expanding renewable capacity and grid‑flexibility measures can absorb the extra load without compromising...
UAE Withdraws From OPEC, OPEC+
The United Arab Emirates announced it will leave OPEC and OPEC+ on May 1, ending a membership that began in 1967. The move aligns with Abu Dhabi’s long‑term energy strategy, allowing it to boost output toward a 5 million‑barrel‑per‑day target by 2027. UAE...
Emirates Leaving the Ship
Abu Dhabi announced it will quit OPEC after almost six decades, prompting a modest dip in Brent crude as markets price in potential Emirati output gains. The move is framed as a capacity‑building step but signals a renewed strategic rift...
Ocean Winds’ First French Offshore Wind Farm Moves to Full Operation
Ocean Winds, the 50‑50 joint venture between EDPR and ENGIE, has installed the final turbine at the Îles d’Yeu and Noirmoutier (EMYN) offshore wind farm, completing construction and moving the 488 MW project into full operation. The farm comprises 61 turbines...
Japanese VLCC Exits Mideast Gulf After Talks with Iran
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi announced that a Japanese VLCC, likely the Idemitsu Maru, has cleared the Strait of Hormuz after nearly two months of delay. The tanker is carrying roughly 2 million barrels of Arab Light crude—about $160 million at current prices—and is...
Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold. Russia Deals Germany Impeccably Timed Oil Blow
Russia announced it will stop transiting Kazakh crude to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline starting May 1, cutting roughly 17% of the feed to the Schwedt refinery that supplies most of East Germany’s diesel, gasoline and heating oil. The move is...
How the Chinese Communist Party Has Kept the Economies of Iran and Russia Afloat
The U.S. House Select Committee on China released a report exposing how Beijing’s shadow‑fleet of opaque tankers has been buying sanctioned crude from Russia, Iran and Venezuela at deep discounts. Between 2025‑2026 the fleet moved roughly 69.3 million barrels—about $4 billion worth—most...
CNOOC’s First Quarter Profit Rises on Higher Oil Prices, Output
China's state‑owned offshore producer CNOOC reported a 7.1% rise in first‑quarter net profit to 39.14 billion yuan ($5.73 billion), helped by higher oil prices and higher output. Revenue climbed 8.6% to 116.08 billion yuan (≈$17 billion) as total production reached 205 million barrels of oil...
Oil Climbs Above $100 as US Pressures Iran
Oil prices are higher again as the US doubles down on Iran: With news that America's "blockade of the blockade" is now targeting Iranian ports longer-term, WTI oil has followed Brent in trading above $100 (CNBC table below). #economy #oil #markets
Germany's Green Policies and Gas Ban Hurt Economy
Germany committed ECONOMIC SUICIDE when it embraced GREEN MANDESS and then topped it off by stopping the importation of cheap Russian gas. IT'S TIME FOR THE GREEN RUSSOPHOBES TO TAKE THE EXIT DOOR. https://t.co/8eBgeLr9CL
How Much More Power Can the U.S. Grid Provide for AI?
A RAND analysis projects the U.S. electricity grid will deliver roughly 82 GW of net available capacity by 2030, split between 33 GW of front‑of‑the‑meter (FTM) resources and 49 GW of behind‑the‑meter (BTM) assets that shave peak demand. Most of the FTM growth...
Woodside Plans Review as Quarterly Revenue Tops Forecasts
Woodside Energy reported first‑quarter operating revenue of $3.26 billion, surpassing the $3.05 billion consensus despite a 1.6% decline in output to 45.2 MMboe caused by a cyclone at its Karratha gas plant. Average realised prices rose to $63 per barrel of oil equivalent,...
The Danish Wind Group Upending Orthodoxy to Grow Its Business
Denmark’s KK Group is reshaping wind‑energy supply chains by introducing modular turbine retrofits and a performance‑based financing model, which the CEO says will slash installation time and cut costs. The strategy also includes vertical integration to reduce supply‑chain expenses and...
It’s Time to Make a Plan for Nuclear Waste
Nuclear power is enjoying bipartisan support and a surge of private investment as tech firms seek reliable, low‑carbon electricity for data centers. The United States now generates about 2,000 metric tons of high‑level nuclear waste each year, but lacks a...
Celebrating 500 Subscribers to Bright Spots Substack
I just hit the first 500 subscribers to my new substack 'Bright Spots'. Bright Spots is about finding the places where the transition is actually working and asking why. Subscribe here for more: https://t.co/nBMZPS4HTp https://t.co/1NPsCqVu8g
More V4 Fast Chargers Needed on I‑5 Corridor
Love these high speed V4 chargers. Not enough of them on I-5 between Los Angeles and San Francisco https://t.co/JTgBsJaiFP
UGI to Sell Electric Division to Argo Infrastructure Partners for $470m
UGI Utilities is selling its Pennsylvania Electric Division to Argo Infrastructure Partners for roughly $470 million, a deal that includes working‑capital adjustments and is slated to close in Q1 2027 pending regulatory sign‑off. The division operates about 2,700 miles of transmission and distribution...
Hormuz Crisis Proves Clean Energy Urgency for Security
The disruption around the Strait of Hormuz shows us why the #energytransition can’t wait. Clean energy is not only the solution to volatility; it is also the most practical path to to deliver #climate, #energyaccess & national security across the world. https://t.co/6s1wqOACHg
Local Electronic Environment Regulation of Crystalline/Amorphous NiSe/NiFe(OH)x Heterostructure Enhancing Catalytic Activity of Alkaline Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Researchers have engineered a crystalline NiSe/amorphous NiFe(OH)x heterostructure that dramatically improves alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance. The catalyst achieves an ultralow overpotential of 233 mV at a current density of 100 mA cm⁻², and retains 93.7% of its activity after 250 hours at...
A New Bill Would Help VPPs Replace Peaker Plants in California
A California Senate bill, SB 913, would let virtual power plants (VPPs) compete with fossil‑fuel peaker plants by counting customer‑owned batteries, EVs and smart devices toward resource adequacy. The legislation passed the Senate Energy Committee and now heads toward a...
Local Policies to Get Buildings Off Gas Keep Winning in Court
Federal courts across the United States are consistently upholding local policies that require new buildings to be all‑electric, despite the 2023 Ninth Circuit decision that struck down Berkeley, California's gas‑ban ordinance. In six post‑Berkeley lawsuits, judges have rejected the Energy...
US Battery Startup Builds Factory in China After Nixing Kentucky Plant
EnerVenue, a Silicon Valley battery startup, abandoned a planned $264 million Kentucky factory and redirected $300 million of new funding to build a manufacturing line in Changzhou, China. The company claims its nickel‑hydrogen batteries can deliver 30,000 cycles, superior fire safety, and...
Interfacial Topology Engineering of Self‐Derived TiO2 Shells for Nucleation‐Controlled Fast Kinetics in MgH2
Researchers have developed a solvent‑free mechanochemical method that forms a high‑coverage TiO₂ nanolayer directly on magnesium hydride particles. The TiO₂ shell creates favorable band alignment, polarizing electrons and weakening Mg‑H bonds, which lowers the dehydrogenation activation barrier to 81 kJ mol⁻¹. This...
Norway Powers Ahead: Two‑Thirds of Homes Use Heat Pumps
Norway is the heat pump king of the world. They achieved the highest penetration of heat pumps anywhere in the world with now 2/3 of all homes using heat pumps. More in my next Bright Spots substack newsletter. Sign up here...
OYAK Cement Launches Turkiye’s Largest Industrial Solar Power Plant
OYAK Cement has commissioned Turkey’s largest industrial solar power plant in Beypazarı, Ankara, with a peak capacity of 115.5 MW and a grid connection of 97.8 MW. The 150‑hectare site houses 211,000 panels, expected to generate 182 GWh annually, raising the company’s renewable...
South Africa Film Sets Ditch Diesel in Green Energy Shift
South African film sets are swapping diesel generators for solar‑powered mobile energy, highlighted by Netflix's production of the second season of "One Piece" in Cape Town. Cinergy Mobile Power supplied a 150 kW solar array and a 400 kWh battery system, cutting...
Romania Signs First Hydrogen Train Contract
Romania’s Railway Reform Authority has signed a €229.3 million (≈$250 million) contract with Siemens Mobility to supply 12 Mireo Plus H hydrogen trainsets, including a 15‑year maintenance package. The first unit is slated for delivery in 2028, with passenger service expected to begin in...
Japan Secures First Oil Tanker Passage Through Hormuz
Japan is engaging with Iran for safe passage of its ships through Hormuz, says PM Takaichi 🇯🇵🤝🇮🇷 A laden oil supertanker linked to Japan (Idemitsu Maru) traveled through the strait yesterday. It's the first Japan oil carrier to leave the region...
State Stumps up $10.8 Million to Help Customers Electrify as City’s Gas Network Shuts Down
Western Australia will invest roughly $7 million USD to help Albany’s 8,000 LPG customers transition to electricity as the privately‑owned gas network is decommissioned. The $9 million AUD ($5.9 million USD) budget allocation targets social‑housing conversions, while $1.8 million AUD ($1.2 million USD) funds planning...
Ormat (ORA): The Best Geothermal Stock to Buy Now
Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA) remains a leading geothermal power developer, operating assets across the United States and abroad. On April 16, JPMorgan trimmed its price target to $106 from $108 while keeping a Neutral stance, citing a catalyst‑rich environment that includes...
BofA Maintains Buy Rating on Eversource Energy (ES)
Bank of America kept a Buy rating on Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) while lowering its price target to $72, down from $73. The firm forecasts first‑quarter adjusted earnings of $1.58 per share, slightly below consensus but higher year‑over‑year, driven by natural‑gas...
Here Is Why Weatherford (WFRD) Is Among the 7 Best Geothermal Stocks to Buy Now
Weatherford International (WFRD) was highlighted among the seven best geothermal stocks, and Piper Sandler raised its price target to $118 while keeping an Overweight rating. The company posted Q1 earnings of $1.49 per share and $1.15 billion in revenue, beating consensus...
Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight Rating on Constellation Energy (CEG)
Morgan Stanley maintained an Overweight rating on Constellation Energy (CEG) but lowered its price target to $360 from $385. Evercore ISI resumed coverage with an Outperform rating and a $380 target after Constellation completed a $26.6 billion acquisition of Calpine, creating...
TotalEnergies Hikes Dividend, Doubles Buybacks to $1.5B
BIG OIL 1Q EARNINGS: TotalEnergies boost quarterly buybacks again to the top of its guidance at $1.5 billion a quarter (up the lower bottom of ~$750 million more recently) and hikes dividend after a strong set of results in Jan-Mar...
Central European Giant Seeks Partner for Tender-Winning Baltic Sea Offshore Project
Poland's energy giant Orlen, the largest company in Central and Eastern Europe, announced it is looking for a joint‑venture partner to develop the Baltic East offshore wind project, which recently secured a competitive Baltic Sea tender. The project will enable Orlen...
Global Oil Dynamics Enter Volatile Phase After UAE Decision: Peter McGuire
The United Arab Emirates announced a surprise departure from the OPEC+ alliance, cutting roughly 12% of the bloc’s production capacity. The move caught markets off guard, prompting immediate price spikes as West Texas Intermediate hovered around $100 per barrel. Analysts,...
Kyodo News Digest: April 29, 2026
A Panama‑flagged Japanese‑owned tanker, Idemitsu Maru, loaded with 2 million barrels of crude, secured Iranian permission and transited the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending a May Day rally, vowed to sustain wage hikes as inflation pressures workers. Meanwhile, President...
Singapore's EMA to Study Geothermal Energy Systems
Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA) announced a feasibility study on geothermal energy systems, with consultant proposals due by 29 June and a selection expected by 2026. The study follows a 2024 assessment that identified potential subsurface heat zones, despite the...
Bloomberg Daybreak Europe: 'Lengthy' Hormuz Blockade (Podcast)
US equity‑index futures rose as investors positioned for a wave of big‑tech earnings and an upcoming Federal Reserve policy decision. Washington warned banks of secondary sanctions if they facilitate Chinese private refiners buying Iranian oil, heightening US‑China tension ahead of...