Energy Blogs and Articles
Energy Blogs and Articles
Energy Pulse
EMAIL DIGESTS
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Every morning
Weekly
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EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) scientists have engineered a single‑atom iridium catalyst anchored on a manganese‑nickel‑phytate layered double hydroxide that catalyzes both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on a single electrode. The design uses atomic‑level precision to disperse iridium atoms, cutting precious‑metal consumption to just 1.5% of conventional systems while eliminating the need for binders. Laboratory tests showed stable operation for over 300 hours in an anion‑exchange‑membrane (AEM) electrolyzer, delivering performance comparable to commercial catalysts. The breakthrough promises a cheaper, more durable pathway to green hydrogen production.
The episode breaks down the sudden 9‑million‑barrel drop in U.S. crude inventories—the steepest decline in five months—driven by a powerful storm that disrupted refinery operations and boosted demand for heating fuel. Analysts explain how the draw reshapes the supply‑demand balance,...
Brian Solis, Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow, urged energy executives at the Baker Hughes Annual Meeting to view artificial intelligence as a tool for workforce augmentation rather than mere automation. He introduced the concept of “AI Darwinism,” arguing that...
The episode examines Texas’s 2021 Winter Storm Uri, which knocked out half of ERCOT’s capacity and caused massive blackouts. While the market design intended to let extreme events impose financial penalties on generators that failed to hedge, regulators intervened—forcing a...
The episode outlines Namibia’s rise to become the world’s third‑largest uranium producer, delivering 7,333 tonnes in 2024 and targeting 8,000‑9,000 tonnes in 2025. It highlights the country’s three flagship mines—Husab, Rössing, and the revived Langer Heinrich—along with their robust infrastructure,...
The episode revisits the author’s earlier research reports from October and December 2025 on a leading natural‑gas utility, reaffirming its investment thesis built on ultra‑low leverage, a management team focused on debt reduction, high‑quality assets, and accelerating free cash flow....
FCAS (Frequency Control Ancillary Services) prices in Australia’s NEM have plummeted since late 2023, falling to well below $2/MW h after a multi‑year decline. The collapse coincides with a rapid expansion of registered FCAS capacity, driven largely by utility‑scale batteries, demand‑response...
Plug‑in or balcony solar lets households connect small PV arrays directly to a wall socket, bypassing traditional wiring and electrician costs. The UK currently bans this approach, unlike 25 of 27 EU states that have deregulated it after safety certifications....
India's navy has begun seizing shadow‑fleet oil tankers within its exclusive economic zone, capturing three vessels since early February. The shadow fleet, a network of roughly 1,000 de‑commissioned tankers, moves 3‑4 million barrels of sanctioned crude daily from Russia, Iran...
Viridien announced a partnership with NVIDIA to accelerate its seismic imaging workflows using NVIDIA's high‑performance computing platforms. The collaboration will optimize Viridien’s algorithms for GPU accelerators, including tensor cores and mixed‑precision techniques, aiming to boost imaging speed, accuracy, and efficiency....
Egypt’s LNG export volumes are increasingly tied to domestic power demand and Israeli pipeline imports, according to Cedigaz analysis. Israel’s offshore gas surplus now flows to Egypt, stabilizing its electricity system but leaving LNG output dependent on residual gas. Fluctuations...
The episode examines the sharp decline in Russian oil and gas drilling in the second half of 2025, with total meters drilled falling 3.4% year‑over‑year and the share of horizontal wells dropping from 67.8% to 59.3%. It links the slowdown...
Stockland announced it has achieved net‑zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions across its entire portfolio by deploying rooftop solar on more than 50 buildings and retiring a modest amount of nature‑based carbon credits. The initiative installed 75,000 panels, delivering up to 45 MW...
Mutapa Energy’s Sandawana lithium mine will more than double its concentrate output to 162,000 tonnes in FY2026, a 122% increase over the prior year. The company has secured US$250 million to build a new concentrator plant, with construction slated to start...
Oxford researchers unveiled a patent‑pending staining method that tags lithium‑ion battery polymer binders with silver and bromine, making them visible under electron microscopy. The technique captures nanoscale binder layers and clusters in graphite, silicon and SiOx anodes, revealing distribution patterns...
The 2007 Supreme Court decision instructed the EPA to evaluate whether greenhouse gases endanger public health, prompting the agency’s 2009 Endangerment Finding that vehicle emissions pose a significant risk. The D.C. Circuit upheld that finding, yet the current Trump administration...
mySociety partnered with the Social Investment Business to build a mapping tool that matches community organisations with UK electricity network flexibility tender zones. The platform layers flex‑tender boundaries from six distribution network operators with data on community assets, energy poverty...
A decade after the Paris Agreement, corporate climate action has shifted from early supply‑chain pilots and nascent net‑zero talk to a reality where Scope 3 emissions dominate and reporting burdens intensify. Initial enthusiasm for broad coalitions has given way to more...
The episode explains that the oil industry needs oil prices around $90 per barrel to achieve a 10% return on capital, the threshold where oil stocks typically outperform the S&P 500. It highlights that current reinvestment rates are just above...
In this episode the host shares three updates: the launch and community feedback on an Energy Comparison Tool, the U.S. publication of their new book "Clearing the Air" with links to purchase, and the excitement of being shortlisted for the...
In this brief episode, the host highlights a recent surge in API2 (Northwest Europe) thermal coal futures for March delivery, which have risen roughly $5 per metric tonne over five trading sessions, briefly breaching $108/mt before settling near $107.50/mt. The...
Aircraft jet engines are increasingly being repurposed to generate power for AI data centers, creating a new demand stream beyond aviation. Simultaneously, the industry faces a shortage of new engines and spare parts due to reliability issues with Pratt &...
Researchers at EPFL have coated silicon‑nitride nanopores with lipid‑bilayer lubricants, creating a thin hydration layer that dramatically reduces ion friction. This "hydration lubrication" enables ions to slip through the nanofluidic channels at unprecedented speeds while preserving selectivity. In tests mimicking...
The episode examines a surge in sanctions enforcement, highlighted by the US boarding the sanctioned tanker Veronica III, and Iran’s surprising proposal for joint US investments in oil, mining and aircraft. It also covers Hungary’s request to use the Adriatic...
Transocean Ltd. announced an all‑stock acquisition of Valaris Limited for $6.51 billion, offering a 31.6% premium and an exchange ratio of 15.235 Transocean shares per Valaris share. The combined entity will operate 73 rigs across ultra‑deepwater, harsh‑environment, and jackup segments, creating...
In this episode, the host discusses the challenge of gauging the scale of household energy use and carbon emissions without solid data, and introduces an interactive web tool that lets users compare the energy consumption of everyday products and activities....
The episode dissects DNP Select Income Fund Inc., a closed‑end fund that targets utilities and promises a steady monthly payout via a managed distribution plan that can draw from income, gains, or return of capital. It explains how the fund’s...
Researchers at HKUST have unveiled a high‑performance quasi‑solid‑state calcium‑ion battery that uses redox‑active covalent organic framework electrolytes. The QSSEs achieve 0.46 mS cm⁻¹ ionic conductivity and enable Ca²⁺ transport rates above 0.53 at room temperature. A full cell delivers 155.9 mAh g⁻¹ specific capacity...
Scientists have introduced a microwave‑assisted synthesis that converts coal into nitrogen‑doped ultramicroporous carbon in about ten minutes. The rapid method preserves nitrogen and oxygen functional groups, creating pores of 0.6‑0.7 nm that tightly fit CO₂ molecules. The resulting adsorbent captures up...
The episode examines President Trump’s EPA rule revoking the Obama-era "endangerment finding," which could dismantle federal climate regulation and spark years of litigation. It then shifts focus to California, where Governor Gavin Newsom is scrambling to mitigate the fallout from...
The House has introduced the FREEDOM Act to tackle "permit certainty" by streamlining judicial review of unreasonable permitting delays or revocations and offering compensation to affected developers. The bill emerges amid Democratic resistance to any reform that doesn’t materially boost...
Romanian nuclear operator Nuclearelectrica’s shareholders have approved a Final Investment Decision for a 462 MWe NuScale small‑modular‑reactor plant at Doicesti, comprising six 77 MW modules. The project, estimated at up to $7 billion, targets commercial operation of the first unit by 2033, contingent...
The Interior Department’s August secretarial order introduced a “capacity density” test that compares the land footprint of energy projects to their output, effectively targeting renewable projects on federal lands. The order invokes the “unnecessary and undue degradation” (UUD) standard from...
Episode #88 of Solar Surge examines the rapid growth of utility‑scale solar in Texas, highlighting a Dallas Fed report that shows solar capacity added in 2025 matched 2024 levels despite tariffs and shifting federal policies. The show also discusses a...
The EPA announced a final rule to repeal its 2009 finding that greenhouse gases endanger human health and welfare. The agency argues the original finding exceeded its authority and should be a congressional decision, invoking the Major Questions Doctrine. Critics...
The episode reviews recent Reuters reports on coal outlooks for China and India, highlighting projections from the China Coal Transportation and Distribution Association and a NITI Aayog study. In China, output is expected to edge up modestly in 2026 while...
The episode examines the latest U.S. weekly oil inventory data, highlighting how the lingering effects of a recent storm continue to distort supply figures. Analysts discuss the discrepancy between reported crude builds and actual market conditions, noting that refinery outages...
London Mining Network is hosting an interactive workshop titled "Unjust Energy Transition? Challenging the Critical Mineral Rush" on Feb 22, 2026 in London. The event critiques the global surge in critical mineral extraction—lithium, copper, etc.—as a cornerstone of the green...
The episode focuses on Venezuela, with a deep dive into its energy sector and the geopolitical implications for U.S. policy in Latin America. It also touches on related developments in Cuba, Argentina, and the strategic role of El Paso as a...
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) deployment in the United States is heavily skewed toward California and Texas, where utility‑scale storage now exceeds 20 GW. Eastern RTOs such as PJM, MISO and SPP lag behind, not because of technology limits but due...
In this episode, the host reviews recent price movements in South African thermal and industrial coal, highlighting a notable price rally driven by strong demand from Indian sponge‑iron and cement producers. The discussion references insights from the McCloskey OPIS coal...
The February 2026 North American Oil Data Deck reveals that petroleum liquids output hit a record 31.4 million barrels per day, driven by a surge in Canadian production that more than compensated for flat U.S. and Mexican output. Meanwhile, continental...
The U.S. Department of Energy is reviving uranium recovery at the Savannah River Site’s H‑Canyon plant to down‑blend highly enriched uranium into roughly 19 metric tons of high‑assay low‑enriched uranium (HALEU) for advanced reactors. A parallel $19 million grant program funds...
In this free webinar, host Doug Garber brings together oil market veteran Paul Sankey and AlphaSense researcher Xavier Smith to dissect the current state of Venezuela’s oil sector. They explore the country’s production potential, the political and operational barriers that...
The episode examines a draft German law that would require wind and solar developers to cover the costs of connecting their projects to the electricity grid, a move prompted by a surge of connection requests, especially from large‑scale battery storage...
In this week’s Oil Context Weekly, the host reviews flat crude prices slipping below $68 a barrel after geopolitical chatter between the U.S. and Iran, while noting a modestly backwardated term structure with a "smiley‑faced" futures curve extending to 2027....
China remains the world’s largest electric‑vehicle market, with millions of EVs on its streets daily. The ecosystem features a dense mix of legacy manufacturers like BYD and tech entrants such as Xiaomi and Huawei, each launching high‑performance or software‑centric models....
U.S. forces escalated the standoff with Iran after an F‑35 shot down an Iranian drone that approached a carrier in the Arabian Sea. Both sides have scheduled high‑level talks in Istanbul, raising hopes for a diplomatic de‑escalation. The dispute centers...
OVO Energy, a UK supplier serving over four million homes, is facing a severe financial crisis that could lead to bankruptcy within a year. The company posted the lowest customer‑satisfaction score in the 2025 Which? survey and is one of...
The episode examines the paradox of hydrocarbon utilization in the Middle East, highlighting how oil is still burned for electricity at massive scales while natural gas remains underdeveloped and heavily flared. It contrasts the region’s wasteful practices with global trends...
