Energy Blogs and Articles
Energy Blogs and Articles
Energy Pulse
EMAIL DIGESTS
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EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
The FTC under new chair Andrew Ferguson quickly overturned Lina Khan’s condition that barred Scott Sheffield from Exxon’s board after the agency’s 2024 investigation into alleged price‑fixing between U.S. shale producers and OPEC. The reversal came just as a Middle‑East war pushed crude above $90 a barrel, reigniting political scrutiny of oil prices. Evidence suggests shale executives coordinated with OPEC to curb drilling, inflating profits while raising consumer costs. Ferguson’s move signals a shift toward lenient antitrust enforcement that could sustain higher energy prices.
The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, choking a key route for Middle‑East gas shipments, while Qatar has temporarily halted its LNG production, tightening global supply. Spot LNG prices have spiked above $30 per million British thermal units, prompting buyers to...
U.S. and Israeli forces intensified airstrikes on Iranian missile sites, prompting a wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks on Gulf energy assets. The Strait of Hormuz is now effectively closed, with traffic down 90‑94% and more than 200 tankers...
On March 1, Germany’s balancing market recorded an extreme negative imbalance price of ‑1474 €/MWh for a single 15‑minute interval. The price plunge was driven by an unexpected supply shortfall that outpaced intraday trading activity, leaving the system operator to procure balancing energy...
ASX Energy introduced Morning Peak and Evening Peak electricity futures eight months ago to address peak‑demand hedging needs in the NEM. Trading activity has been minimal, with only 58 Evening Peak contracts and zero Morning Peak contracts exchanged across NSW,...
Midstream master limited partnerships (MLPs) are trading at modest high‑single‑digit EV/EBITDA multiples, well below historic averages despite stronger balance sheets and disciplined capital allocation. Over recent years, operators have cut leverage, simplified structures, and shifted focus to free‑cash‑flow generation. Private‑equity...
Indonesia’s 2020 ban on raw‑nickel exports sparked a surge in domestic smelting and processing, positioning the country as a textbook case of resource‑based industrialisation. Yet its clean‑technology ambitions remain modest: EV exports totaled only US$12 million in 2024, dwarfed by Thailand’s...
PD Ports completed a large‑scale logistics operation for northern England’s renewable energy rollout, moving more than 220 containers of solar panels and over 300 containers of lithium storage cubes through its Teesport terminal. The company handled import, warehousing and inland...
African nations are rapidly pursuing nuclear power, with Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and others signing agreements and joining the IAEA pledge to triple capacity by 2050. Analysts warn that many of these ambitions are unrealistic, citing projects that would dwarf current...
The Trump administration announced a plan to provide U.S. insurance and military escorts for energy tankers navigating the volatile Middle East, especially the Strait of Hormuz. Simultaneously, reports suggest Trump is weighing support for anti‑regime militias in Iran, while CIA‑backed...
The war in the Middle East has tightened oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz, creating a temporary vacuum that Russia hopes to exploit. While the conflict restricts exports from Saudi Arabia, Iran and other regional producers, Russia’s...
The article reviews the limitations of series‑hybrid aircraft, highlighting the significant energy losses when a turbogenerator feeds an electric motor through multiple conversion stages. These inefficiencies make series hybrids uneconomical compared to conventional models like the Cessna Caravan or Saab 340....
Pacific Goal Investments (PGI) has acquired a 51% majority stake and operational control of the Muchesu coal project in north‑western Zimbabwe after obtaining registration from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. The ownership restructuring transfers the US$20 million funding commitment originally made...
U.S. ethanol producers posted a sixth consecutive year of profitability in 2025, with a representative Iowa dry‑mill plant earning an average of $0.21 per gallon. Net nominal profit reached $23.2 million, well above the long‑run average. The rise was driven by...
The latest Energy Information Administration data show U.S. crude inventories increasing by 3.2 million barrels in March, while exports rose to 5.1 million barrels, approaching record levels. Imports declined by 1.8 million barrels, indicating stronger domestic demand. Refinery utilization climbed...
Exeter Airport in the UK is conducting a second two‑week winter trial of hydrogen‑powered ground support equipment, focusing on a dual‑fuel (hydrogen/diesel) ground power unit operating in cold, inclement weather. The trial follows an April test that deployed a hydrogen...
The March 2026 edition of the North American Oil Data Deck, a subscription‑only, 47‑page visual report, shows petroleum liquids output falling 353 kbpd month‑over‑month to 31,075 kbpd, the lowest level since August. U.S. crude production slipped for a second straight month, while Canada...
On March 4, 2026 Israel’s air campaign struck Tehran, Qom and key Iranian military sites, including the first recorded air‑to‑air kill by an F‑35 against an Iranian jet. Iran retaliated with roughly 40 ballistic missiles aimed at U.S. bases in...
Barclays released a research paper flagging the risk of stranded transition assets, suggesting that wind and solar projects could lose value despite soaring oil and gas prices. The paper arrives amid heightened geopolitical tension in the Middle East, which has...
Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is undergoing a rapid expansion, driven by $500 million local acquisitions, a $750 million Afreximbank partnership, and the launch of the 650,000 bpd Dangote refinery. Production has already surpassed 1.5 million barrels per day, with a government goal to...
The February 2026 edition of Russian Oil & Gas Monthly highlights a sudden escalation in Middle‑East tensions, specifically the outbreak of hostilities involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The conflict, which unfolded at the end of February, disrupted global...
The blog explains how imbalance prices act as a 15‑minute settlement tool for Balance Responsible Parties (BRPs) in the European power market, bridging the gap between scheduled and real‑time generation. It contrasts three pricing scenarios—day‑ahead parity, punitive rates, and asymmetric...
Clean Planet has moved from research validation to commercial rollout, securing a ¥1 billion grant from Tokyo’s Zero Emission program in April 2025 and a ¥500 million strategic equity round in January 2026. The company now promotes its QHe IKAROS heat module,...
U.S. diesel prices jumped 10 cents to $3.809 per gallon for the week ending Feb. 23, with the Midwest posting the steepest regional rise of 13 cents. The West Coast continues to lead in absolute cost, averaging $4.465. By contrast, gasoline...
On March 3, 2026, coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes continued to degrade Iranian command, missile and naval infrastructure while collateral damage caused civilian casualties. Major marine reinsurers issued 72‑hour war‑risk cancellation notices for the Persian Gulf and adjacent waters, effective March 5,...
U.S. and Israeli strikes prompted Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to announce a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital oil chokepoints. The move threatens to halt commercial traffic, immediately spiking crude prices and prompting insurers to...
The United States and Israel have launched a military strike on Iran, prompting analysts to model two outcomes: a swift conflict that keeps oil prices near a baseline of $80 per barrel, and a drawn‑out war that could push prices...
Qatar, the world’s largest LNG exporter, faces a supply crunch as regional geopolitical tensions and export‑capacity constraints tighten the market. The disruption has injected a hefty risk premium into spot and forward LNG prices, pushing contracts up 15‑20% year‑over‑year. Buyers...
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A prototype web tool now lets users compare the energy use of everyday products and activities, turning raw watt‑hour data into intuitive visualizations. Recent updates, driven by extensive community feedback, add rough energy‑cost equivalents for several countries, making the information...
On 27 February 2026 the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) issued its final revenue determination for Basslink Pty Ltd’s transmission cable for the 2026‑30 control period. The regulator approved a nominal, smoothed revenue of $459.5 million, marginally below Basslink’s revised $461.2 million proposal. Cost allocation...
The piece introduces boundary thermodynamics as a framework for evaluating building performance, arguing that interior conditions must be measured against documented exterior loads. It explains that HVAC components, envelopes, and IAQ systems only prove their effectiveness when load‑relative data—temperature, humidity,...
The Canada‑China trade deal announced in January reduces the tariff on Chinese electric vehicles to 6.1 % for an initial 49,000‑unit quota, expanding to 70,000 over five years. The move stems from Trump‑era pressure on Canada, prompting a diversification toward Beijing....
The Strait of Hormuz, a 21‑mile narrow waterway, was shut after a severe incident dubbed “Epic Fury.” The closure halted the transit of roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day, about one‑fifth of global consumption. Heightened tensions between Iran and...
Tesla reclaimed its position as Norway’s top-selling car brand in February, as electric vehicles accounted for 98.01% of all new registrations. The market saw 7,127 EVs registered, a sharp rebound from January’s 75% year‑over‑year decline caused by a VAT rule...
Korean researchers at KAIST and Seoul National University used artificial intelligence to redesign hydrogen fuel‑cell catalysts, discovering that zinc directs platinum and cobalt atoms into a high‑performance intermetallic structure. The AI‑predicted Zn‑mediated catalyst outperforms commercial platinum catalysts in activity and...
LOGISTEED and REXEV have launched a joint demonstration to integrate electric trucks into LOGISTEED’s delivery fleet in Japan, applying REXEV’s energy‑management platform. The project targets three cost‑saving levers: peak‑demand charge reduction, schedule‑based charging aligned with market prices, and using idle...
Lloyd’s Register has issued an Approval in Principle for a hybrid nuclear‑ready power concept co‑developed with Australian ship designer Seatransport. The design merges micro‑modular nuclear reactors (1.2‑2.6 MW) with diesel‑electric propulsion on 73‑metre and 90‑metre amphibious stern landing vessels. Recent sea...
The outbreak of armed conflict in Iran has immediately curtailed the country’s oil and gas output, with crude production dropping roughly 15% and gas processing operating at about half capacity. Export pipelines and terminal facilities have been forced to suspend...
Tesla Sweden has appealed to regulators after Jämtkraft elnät refused to reconnect its Åre Supercharger, citing ongoing union sympathy actions. The charger was temporarily shut down in April 2025 for safety after a construction power cabinet fell, and the safety...
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been eliminated, sparking a regional power vacuum and heightened political uncertainty. The Strait of Hormuz is operating at reduced capacity, causing semi‑shutdown conditions that disrupt global oil shipments. Market participants are closely watching...
The article outlines an emerging "Energy Singularity" where AI, quantum computing, and decentralized grids converge to reshape global energy by 2035. AI-driven predictive management promises up to 40% consumption cuts and real‑time outage prevention. Quantum computers are expected to unlock...
Iran has evacuated all large oil tankers from the Persian Gulf, a maneuver that lifted its crude exports to the strongest levels seen since 2017. The clearance follows a recent attack on Iranian interests, which Tehran frames as a catalyst...
Oil prices stayed flat this week, with Brent hovering between $69‑73 and closing just above $72.5 per barrel. Prompt‑month spreads and Brent Dated‑Forward‑Line moved into contango, indicating freight‑rate pressure on the market structure. U.S. crude inventories rebounded while Europe and...
Brent crude has nudged into the low $70s as U.S.-Iran tensions rise, underscoring the market’s sensitivity to the Persian Gulf. About 20% of global oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint that could be disrupted by conflict....
Consilium, a global specialty re/insurance broker, announced the creation of an Energy Risk Solutions Division and the appointment of Johnny Hilliard as Managing Partner. Hilliard, who joins after a 16‑year career at Amwins Global Risks and other firms, will lead...
Venezuelan heavy crude is reentering the unsanctioned global market for the first time in seven years after the United States assumed control of PDVSA. The bulk of the renewed shipments are expected to flow to the U.S. Gulf Coast, with...
