Made in the Shade: How Electric Vehicles Could Be the Perfect Partner to Rooftop Solar in Tropical Cities
Researchers from Columbia University and the Singapore‑ETH Centre published a Nature paper showing that electric‑vehicle batteries can act as distributed storage for rooftop solar in tropical cities. When thunderstorms temporarily dim solar output, parked EVs discharge to the local grid, then recharge once the sun returns, reducing reliance on new transmission infrastructure. The Singapore case study demonstrates that even low EV penetration can significantly curb grid stress and enable higher PV integration. This decentralized vehicle‑to‑grid strategy leverages existing charging networks without costly cable upgrades.
Miliband Slammed for Net Zero Sprint as High Costs Hamper Businesses
Labour energy minister Ed Miliband faces criticism for stalling two North Sea projects – the Shell‑run Jackdaw gas field and Equinor’s Rosebank oil‑gas development – as the UK grapples with soaring energy costs. Researchers at the Tony Blair Institute argue...
Greener and More British: How the UK Is Slowly Future-Proofing Itself From Further Energy Cost Spikes
New analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit shows the UK’s electricity mix is shifting away from imported fossil fuels toward domestically generated clean power. Over the past two decades the country has expanded solar farms, onshore wind and...
Shale Play Pushes Argentina Oil Output To All-Time High
Argentina’s oil output surged to 847,000 barrels per day, a 16% year‑over‑year rise driven by the Vaca Muerta shale play. Production in the Neuquén Basin jumped 30%, positioning the country as Latin America’s fourth‑largest oil producer. The government targets 1 million barrels...
Is the Keystone XL Pipeline Back?
The Bridger Pipeline Expansion proposes a 647‑mile, 36‑inch crude line from the Canadian border through Montana into Wyoming, echoing the route of the defunct Keystone XL. The project would initially move 550,000 barrels per day, with the potential to double capacity...
Oil Prices Rise as Gulf Tankers Remain at Standstill
Oil futures climbed Thursday after a sharp sell‑off on Wednesday when traders reacted to the fragile cease‑fire between the US and Iran in the Gulf. The cease‑fire, brokered by Washington, eased immediate geopolitical risk but left uncertainty over longer‑term supply...
Fuel Prices Are Skyrocketing, But Most Of The Money Isn't Going To Gas Stations
U.S. gasoline prices surged to an average of $4 per gallon in early April 2026, the highest level since 2022, driven largely by geopolitical tensions from the Iran war. Retail stations are seeing tighter margins because they cannot pass wholesale...
Van Oord Completes Low-Noise Monopile Installation
Van Oord successfully installed three monopile foundations at the Hollandse Kust West offshore wind farm using GBM Works' VibroJet® jetting solution together with CAPE Holland's vibro‑lifting tool. The low‑noise method, deployed from Van Oord's new installation vessel Boreas, fluidises dense...
Trump Says Iran Should Not Charge Fees to Tankers Going Through Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump warned Iran on April 9 that any fees imposed on tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz must stop immediately. Iran has hinted at collecting tolls in cryptocurrency despite a fragile two‑week ceasefire announced on April 7. Ship...
From Reactor Designs to Real Projects: SMRs Enter the Execution Era as AI Power Demand Accelerates
The small‑modular reactor (SMR) sector is shifting from design hype to concrete execution, with vendors securing licensing approvals, fuel contracts, supply‑chain partners and financing. In Q1 2026, companies such as X‑energy, GE Hitachi, NuScale, Oklo, Holtec and Rolls‑Royce moved beyond announcements...
Oil Holds Gain After Attacks Lower Saudi Production Capacity
Saudi Arabia announced that attacks on its energy infrastructure have reduced its oil production capacity by roughly 600,000 barrels per day. The cut pushed Brent crude above $96 a barrel, marking a 1.2% gain on Thursday, while West Texas Intermediate...
Unlocking the Hidden Metabolism of Algae to Advance the Promise of Renewable Fuels and Sustainable Biomass
Researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center used isotope‑assisted metabolic flux analysis to map how the green microalga *Chlamydomonas* rewires its central metabolism when supplied with both light and acetate. The mixotrophic cells activate carbon‑conserving pathways, suppress costly processes,...
Europe’s Gas Market Faces a Brutal Storage Refill Season
Europe’s gas market has cooled from March’s three‑year highs, but analysts warn the relief is fleeting. Storage levels sit at just 29% of capacity, well below the 35% benchmark from a year ago, leaving the continent exposed as it races...
Solar Firm to Tackle High Electricity Costs
South Africa’s rising electricity tariffs have spurred the launch of Ipeleng Power Solutions (IPS) in Johannesburg. IPS uses community‑based stokvel pools and broader crowdfunding to finance solar installations for households, small businesses and underserved communities. The models spread costs over...
More Intentional Effort and Coordination Needed to Avert Gas Crisis
South Africa faces a looming gas supply gap as its Mozambique pipeline ages and coal‑fired plants retire, prompting a push for liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and new gas‑to‑power capacity. The Integrated Energy Plan and Integrated Resource Plan call for...
E.P.A. Says It Will End Biden’s Coal Ash Disposal Rules
The Environmental Protection Agency announced it will repeal the 2024 rule that required coal‑ash site inspections and modify longstanding cleanup standards. The rollback eases compliance burdens for the coal sector, which has long opposed the Biden‑era regulation. EPA Administrator Lee...
Saudi Arabia Confirms Iranian Strikes on Key Assets
Saudi officials confirmed that Iranian strikes have damaged the kingdom's East‑West Pipeline, cutting roughly one‑tenth of its throughput. The pipeline is a vital overland route that allows crude to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil shipments....
Oxy Says US Gulf Oil Find Has Tie-Back Potential
Occidental Petroleum announced an oil discovery at its Bandit prospect in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The find is estimated to contain several million barrels of recoverable oil. Oxy says the reservoir can be developed as a subsea tie‑back to...
What the Petrobras Contract Means for Valaris Limited (VAL)’s Future
Valaris Limited announced a 1,064‑day contract extension with Brazil’s Petrobras for its drillship VALARIS DS‑4, adding about $447 million to its backlog and extending work through 2030. The deal reinforces Petrobras as the world’s largest deep‑water demand source and secures steady cash...
Market Watch: US Gas Futures Tumble to 17-Month Low
US natural‑gas futures slipped 5.4 cents on Thursday, settling at $2.67 per MMBtu, the lowest level in 17 months for the prompt‑month contract. The decline followed a larger‑than‑expected weekly build in storage, which analysts at Gelber & Associates said confirms...
Coal Mine Gets Two Year Extension to Keep Supplying State’s Oldest Coal Generator
The NSW Independent Planning Commission approved a two‑year extension for the underground Chain Valley and Mannering coal mines, keeping them operational until the end of 2029 to supply Vales Point Power Station, the state’s oldest coal generator. The extension avoids...
US Budget Proposal Would Advance Energy Policy Priority Shift
The White House released its FY 2027 budget, signaling a decisive pivot toward clean energy. The proposal earmarks roughly $15 billion for renewable‑technology research, expands tax credits for wind and solar through 2032, and trims federal subsidies for oil and gas by...
The IPO Dilemma for Hydrogen Firms
Zhejiang Lanen Hydrogen Technology, the dominant Chinese maker of hydrogen storage cylinders and trailers, voluntarily halted its A‑share IPO after eight counseling rounds. The decision reflects tighter CSRC profitability scrutiny and the firm’s desire to avoid short‑term R&D cuts. Backed...
Keir Starmer: 'I'm Fed Up' With Trump and Putin Affecting UK Energy Costs
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told ITV’s Talking Politics podcast he is "fed up" with UK energy bills swinging wildly because of actions by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He linked the volatility to recent oil‑price spikes...
Here’s How Much Money Iran Can Make Charging Tolls on One-Fifth of the Wo...
Iran could generate hundreds of millions of dollars each month by imposing a toll on oil tankers that traverse the Strait of Hormuz, provided traffic returns to pre‑conflict levels. The narrow waterway handles roughly one‑fifth of the world’s seaborne crude,...
BYD Teams up with One of the World’s Largest Fast Food Chains to Offer 9 Minute EV Charging
BYD has teamed up with KFC’s parent Yum China to install its Flash‑charging stations at drive‑thru locations, offering a 9‑minute charge that fills an EV from 10% to 97% while customers eat. The service launches with BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao...
Colorado PUC Decision Codifies Environmental Justice Advocates’ Settlement with Xcel Energy
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission approved Xcel Energy’s 2026‑27 Renewable Energy Compliance Plan, incorporating a settlement with the Environmental Justice Coalition. The deal redirects $1.5 million toward income‑qualified programs and boosts incentives for solar and battery installations. It also rolls over...
Oil Prices, Apr. 9, 2026
Oil prices surged on April 9 as a fragile US‑Iran ceasefire failed to quell market nerves, pushing Brent above $85 per barrel while spot prices held steadier. Iranian missile strikes on Saudi oil assets trimmed OPEC‑Plus output by roughly 200,000...
Iran Attacks on Crucial Saudi Pipeline and Production Facilities Slash Kingdom's Oil Output
Iran attacked Saudi Arabia's strategic East‑West pipeline, knocking out about 700,000 barrels per day of capacity, and simultaneously struck the Manifa and Khurais production complexes, trimming Saudi output by roughly 600,000 barrels per day. The pipeline, which routes crude to...
Natural Gas Spot Prices, Apr. 9, 2026
On April 9, 2026 a cluster of natural‑gas market developments were reported. The EU announced a softening of its methane‑emission regulations to avert a potential supply crunch, while Israel’s Energean signaled the restart of production at the Karish offshore field....
Crude Climbs as Hormuz Disruptions Persist
Oil prices rose sharply on Thursday as West Texas Intermediate settled at $97.87 and Brent at $95.92, driven by persistent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and a reported 600,000‑barrel‑per‑day cut to Saudi production capacity. Despite a tenuous cease‑fire between...
US Agency Proposes Rolling Back Rules for Safe Disposal of Toxic Coal Ash
The EPA announced a proposal to roll back rules that govern the safe disposal of coal‑ash waste, reversing standards tightened under the Biden administration. The draft would ease groundwater monitoring, limit requirements to line new storage sites, and broaden the...
Renewables Reenvisioned: How Linea Energy Built a 7-GW Renewable Pipeline in Under Two Years
Linea Energy, founded by veteran developer Cassidy DeLine, has assembled a renewable pipeline exceeding 7 GW in under two years. The company leverages proprietary data simulations to front‑load site analysis, acquires mid‑stage projects, and advances projects without early PPAs, reducing risk....
Russelectric, A Siemens Business, Highlights Advantages of Central Paralleling Systems
Russelectric, a Siemens business, promotes centralized paralleling systems as a superior alternative to onboard generator control. By moving synchronization, PLCs, and metering into a dedicated switchgear enclosure, the solution offers hot‑standby redundancy, manual backup and comprehensive event logging. The architecture...
Oil Pares Gains to Close up 1% as Israel Plans Peace Talks with Lebanon
Oil prices closed up about 1% on Thursday, with Brent at $95.92 and WTI at $97.87, but both remained below the $100 barrier for a second day. The market initially spiked over 5% on doubts about the durability of the...
Coherent Advances Silicon Carbide Thick Epitaxy Capabilities for High-Voltage AI Datacenter and Industrial Power Applications Up to 10kV
Coherent Corp announced new thick silicon‑carbide (SiC) epitaxy platforms on 150 mm and 200 mm wafers that support power devices up to 10 kV, with demonstrated capability beyond that threshold. The technology targets high‑efficiency, high‑power‑density converters for AI‑intensive datacenters and industrial electrification such...
Mortenson Acquires Energy Management Controls Firm
Mortenson, the Minneapolis‑based construction giant, has acquired California‑based Nor‑Cal Controls, a specialist in control systems for solar, battery storage and microgrid projects. The deal adds in‑house expertise for interfacing energy assets with the grid, complementing Mortenson’s portfolio of nearly 60...
Oncor, LCRA TSC File Application to Build 765kV Transmission Line From Schleicher to Bell Counties
Oncor and the Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Services Corporation have submitted a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity to the Public Utility Commission of Texas for a new 765 kV transmission line spanning Schleicher to Bell counties. The line is one...
Attacks Cut Saudi Oil Capacity by 600,000 Barrels per Day
First official confirmation of scale of damage done by Iran to kingdom’s energy sector
Xcel’s Multistate Rate Case Push May Signal New Regulatory Strategy
Xcel Energy is simultaneously filing rate‑case requests in Minnesota, the Dakotas, Colorado and New Mexico, seeking more than $1.3 billion in base‑rate increases. The filings aim to recover capital outlays tied to coal retirements, nuclear extensions, renewable projects, transmission upgrades and...
Egypt Agrees to Buy Full Output From Cyprus’ Aphrodite Gas Field
Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Co. signed a preliminary agreement to purchase the entire output of Cyprus' Aphrodite offshore gas field once it begins production around 2031. The deal includes a framework to build an offshore transmission system operated by a...
MaverickX Expands PetroX Production with New Eagle Ford Facility in Texas
MaverickX has launched a new 10,000‑sq‑ft production facility in Pleasanton, Texas, to manufacture its PetroX chemical solutions for oil‑field applications. The plant, operating near the Eagle Ford shale, can produce about 14 million liters per year, shortening delivery times and lowering...
ONE-Dyas Boosts North Sea Gas Output to 1 Bcm/Year with Second N05-A Well
ONE‑Dyas has brought a second well online at its N05‑A platform in the North Sea, raising total output to roughly 1 billion cubic metres (Bcm) per year. The development moves the field toward its 2 Bcm/year name‑plate capacity, with peak production expected...
Delta’s 2012 Gamble on an Oil Refinery Is Paying Off — $300 Million Boost
Delta Air Lines’ 2012 purchase of the Trainer oil refinery, once dismissed as risky, is now delivering a sizable financial upside. The refinery supplies a share of the airline’s jet‑fuel needs, allowing Delta to offset higher fuel costs during periods...
Scientists Are Turning Bread Into Fuel. It Could Revolutionize Manufacturing.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have shown that feeding ordinary bread crumbs to unmodified Escherichia coli, together with a biocompatible catalyst, produces hydrogen gas at yields higher than traditional fossil‑fuel hydrogenation. The hybrid chemo‑microbial process demonstrated carbon‑negative life‑cycle emissions,...
EG4 and Outback Power Advantage Programs Bring DIY-Friendly Pre-Paid Battery Leases to Homeowners
Texas‑based EG4 and Outback Power have launched “Advantage” programs that provide homeowners with pre‑paid battery leases. The offerings bundle a hybrid inverter with standardized battery packs and allow either DIY or installer‑led installation to keep costs low. Eligible participants receive...
Travelers See Fewer Flights and Higher Airfares as Jet Fuel Prices Swing
Jet fuel prices have surged to about $209 per barrel, roughly double the level at the start of the war in the Middle East, prompting airlines to raise fares and ancillary fees. U.S. carriers such as Delta and United report...
UMass Study Finds States Approve Most Solar Projects in Under 1 Year
A University of Massachusetts Amherst study of 460 wind and solar projects in 19 states finds most receive permits within roughly a year, with a 90% overall approval rate. Kentucky and Mississippi process applications about five months faster than the...
Oil Prices Edge Higher as Confidence in Cease-Fire Wavers
Oil prices nudged higher on Thursday after a brief dip following a tentative cease‑fire between Iran and the United States. Brent crude settled around $96 a barrel, up roughly 30% since the conflict began, while U.S. WTI hovered near $98,...
Ceasefire: Oil Prices Sink, Stocks Rise
Maria Aspan, NPR