CleanMax Commissions 185MW Hybrid Project in Gujarat, India
Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions has commissioned a 185 MW wind‑solar hybrid project in Kalavad, Gujarat, raising its state capacity to about 844 MW. The facility will serve 17 corporate customers under 25‑year fixed‑tariff PPAs and is projected to add roughly $17.75 million in annual revenue for FY2027. It will offset an estimated 361,000 t of CO₂ each year, supporting India’s decarbonisation targets. Gujarat already contributes about 30% of Clean Max’s renewable sales, underscoring the region’s strategic importance.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Breakthrough at UNSW Targets Transport and Aviation Use
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have unveiled a redesigned hydrogen fuel cell that incorporates microscopic lateral bypass channels to improve water management. The new architecture prevents water buildup, delivering up to 75% more power than conventional cells...
Universities Model Domestic Energy Use to Help UK Hit Net Zero Goals
University College London, Oxford and Exeter have launched the Energy Demand Observatory and Laboratory (EDOL) to model UK household energy use with unprecedented granularity. Building on the Smart Energy Research Lab’s 11,500‑home smart‑meter dataset, EDOL adds near‑real‑time temperature, humidity and...
RBI Ups Crude Oil, Exchange Rate Baseline Assumptions for FY27
The Reserve Bank of India raised its FY27 baseline crude‑oil price to $85 per barrel, up from $70 in the second half of FY26, and lifted its rupee projection to 94 per dollar, up from 88. The revision follows a...
Bangladesh Plans 442 MW Solar Facility Near Coal Power Plant
Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) will build a 442 MW solar farm adjacent to the 1.32 GW Rampal coal plant, marking the nation’s largest solar project. The $200 million development will be financed 15% by BPDB and 85% from the government’s Power Development...
Spark Secures Australian Approval for Massive Solar and Battery Project
Spark Renewables, owned by Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional, received final state planning approval for the Dinawan Solar Farm and battery project in New South Wales. The hybrid development will install 800 MW of photovoltaic capacity and a 356 MW/1,574 MWh battery storage system, representing...
This Program Pays Nonprofits to Take the Time to Consider Solar
The Solar Upgrading Nonprofits (SUN) program, backed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and Resonant Energy, offers nonprofits financial stipends and technical assistance to evaluate solar projects before the federal Investment Tax Credit expires. In its first 2025 round, SUN...
Xcel Minnesota Is Building a First-of-Its Kind Virtual Power Plant
Xcel Energy announced Capacity*Connect, a $430 million initiative to install up to 200 MW of customer‑site batteries across Minnesota. The utility will own and operate the virtual power plant, a first in the United States, deploying 1‑ to 3‑MW units over the...
Oil & Gas Duo Join Forces to Find Rig for Drilling Campaigns in Southeast Asia
SundaGas Banda Unipessoal, a subsidiary of UK‑listed Sunda Energy, has signed a letter of intent with Finder Energy’s Timor‑Leste arm to jointly secure a semi‑submersible drilling rig for offshore campaigns. The collaboration targets the Chuditch‑2 appraisal well and three development...
Solar Keeps Slimming Down While Power Rises
An international study shows commercial silicon solar modules have tripled their specific power, rising from about 8.5 W/kg in the early 2000s to 23.6 W/kg today. The gain stems from advances in module architecture, bifacial designs, and improved temperature management, while glass...
Oil Prices Plunge 15% to Below $100, Stocks Surge and Dollar Slumps After Trump Announces US-Iran Ceasefire – Business Live
Oil prices dropped more than 15% to under $100 a barrel after the United States and Iran announced a two‑week conditional cease‑fire and a temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The news sparked a broad equity rally, with Asian...
Inverter-Based Resource Performance History Leads to US Regulatory Change
North American Reliability Corp. (NERC) has issued three new standards—PRC-028-1, PRC-029-1 and PRC-030-1—to tighten inverter‑based resource (IBR) performance after a series of disturbances, notably the 2022 Odessa event that shed 2,555 MW of solar and synchronous generation. PRC-028-1 mandates high‑fidelity disturbance...
Wonder Cement Works with Sunsure Energy for Solar Power Expansion
Wonder Cement has signed three long‑term power purchase agreements with Sunsure Energy to source solar electricity for its Dhule and Aligarh plants. The deals cover 30 MWp of solar capacity, delivering 67% of Dhule’s and 52% of Aligarh’s power needs. The...
400kW EV Charger Supports Denser Charging Sites
SK Signet has launched a 400 kW all‑in‑one ultra‑fast DC charger that integrates silicon‑carbide power modules and dispenser hardware in a single unit. The design achieves 96.5% power conversion efficiency while shrinking the installation footprint by 54% compared with its previous...
Australian Petrol Prices to Fall Within the Month – if US-Iran Ceasefire Holds
A US‑Iran cease‑fire agreement sent Brent crude below $91 per barrel, sparking hopes that Australian fuel prices will soon ease. Regular unleaded, which has surged above A$2.50 (≈ $1.65 USD) a litre, could drop roughly 10 cents per litre (≈ $0.066 USD) for every $10‑a‑barrel...
BPCL, HPCL, IOC, IndiGo Shares Surge, ONGC & Oil India Slip as Brent Crude Prices Fall
Crude oil prices plunged 12.5% after a US‑Iran cease‑fire, sending Brent futures to about $121 per barrel (₹10,029). The drop lifted downstream oil‑marketing firms—BPCL (+8.6%), HPCL (+9%), IOC (+7%)—and aviation carrier IndiGo (+11%). Conversely, upstream producers ONGC and Oil India...
Fuel Crunch: Does Australia Have Enough Cards to Keep up Supply?
Australia is confronting a fuel crunch after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, cutting global oil supply by roughly 20%. Most of the nation’s recent imports traversed the strait, meaning a six‑week lag before alternative sources can arrive. The federal...
Gov’t Chose Budi95 Quota Adjustment Rather than Price Hike to Protect Majority of Malaysians – Amir Hamzah
Malaysia's government decided to lower the monthly Budi95 RON 95 fuel quota from 300 litres to 200 litres instead of increasing the subsidised price. Finance Minister Amir Hamzah said the change affects only about 10 % of users, as most Malaysians consume roughly 100 litres...
The Commodities Feed: Oil Slumps Below $100 After US, Iran Agree to Two-Week Ceasefire
Oil prices slipped below $100 per barrel after the United States and Iran announced a two‑week ceasefire, easing fears of prolonged supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent settled around $94/bbl and WTI near $96/bbl, marking the steepest decline...
Industrialise Small Modular Reactor Delivery to Help Unlock a Nuclear Golden Age
The UK is positioning itself as a nuclear pioneer by industrialising the delivery of small modular reactors (SMRs), with Wylfa on Anglesey slated as the first site for a fleet of repeatable reactors. Recent milestones include fresh funding for Sizewell C...
Canola Poised for Greater Role in Local Biofuel Future: Rabo
Rabobank’s new report highlights Australian canola as a strategic feedstock for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel as biofuel demand surges across the Asia‑Pacific. Converting the country’s 6 million tonnes of exported canola seed could produce more than two billion litres of...
Councils Flex Their Muscle on Renewables, Laying Down the Local Law on Roads, Farmland and Housing
Leeton Shire Council in New South Wales voted to block large‑scale solar farms on any irrigated or irrigable farmland, citing the need to protect high‑value agricultural land. The motion, led by Mayor George Weston, calls for the highest level of...
Jet Fuel Supply Could Take Months to Recover After Hormuz Reopening
IATA director general Willie Walsh warned that even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, jet‑fuel supply will take months to normalize because Middle East refining capacity remains disrupted. Crude prices fell below $100 per barrel after a U.S.–Iran cease‑fire pledge,...
UK Opening New Oil and Gas Fields Would Imperil Global Climate Goals, Experts Say
The UK government faces mounting pressure to licence new North Sea oil and gas fields, notably the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects, despite evidence they would replace only 1‑2% of the nation’s gas imports. Climate experts warn that approving these fields...
ZF Launches SolarBoost Solar Retrofit for Bus Fleets
German supplier ZF has introduced SolarBoost, a retrofittable solar panel kit for medium and large city and coach buses. The system feeds the 24‑volt auxiliary network, continuously recharging the battery and cutting fuel use by up to 3.5% depending on...
Higher Fuel Costs to Dampen India Travel Demand
Effective April 1, India’s civil aviation ministry approved a 25 % rise in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) for domestic carriers, while oil marketers lifted ATF in Delhi to $1,690.81 per kilolitre—a 107 % jump from March. IndiGo has responded by raising fuel surcharges...
Fortescue Adds Another Electric Excavator, Says It Is Saving a Million Litres of Diesel per Unit
Fortescue Metals Group has deployed its 15th electric excavator in the Pilbara, claiming each unit saves about one million litres of diesel per year. The company now reports moving 100 million tonnes of ore with electric equipment and plans to install...
The Question over Trump’s ‘Historic’ Refinery Deal: $300bn or $40mn?
Former President Donald Trump touted a "historic" refinery transaction as a $300 billion deal, but investigative reporting shows the actual sale was roughly $40 million. The deal involved the sale of a Texas refinery that was part of Trump's business empire to...
Crude Oil Futures Crashes 6% to Hit Lower Circuit as US-Iran Ceasefire Cools Tensions
Crude oil futures plunged 6% on Wednesday, hitting lower‑circuit limits after the United States and Iran announced a two‑week ceasefire. On India’s MCX, April crude fell to ₹10,029 per barrel (≈$121) and May to ₹8,860 (≈$107). In the United States,...
Chinese Battery Maker Announces 11B Yuan Capacity Expansion Plan
EVE Energy Co., a leading Chinese lithium‑ion battery maker, announced a $1.6 billion (11 billion yuan) expansion to build two new plants with a combined annual capacity of 110 GWh. The plan includes a 6 billion‑yuan joint venture with Fujian Longking Co., delivering 60 GWh...
Turkey to Race Ahead of EU on Battery Storage Amid Fossil Fuel Crisis
Turkey has approved more than 33 GW of battery storage since 2022, outpacing the combined 12‑13 GW capacity of leading EU nations such as Germany and Italy. The surge is driven by a 2022 mandate that grants preferential grid access to renewables...
How the Iran War Will Upend the Global Economy
In late March Israel and Iran struck gas fields in the Persian Gulf, creating a sharp supply shock that will push global energy prices higher. The disruption has already prompted U.S. markets to price in further Federal Reserve rate hikes...
Santos Facing Another 10 Days to Restart Production at Flagship Gas Project
Australian gas producer Santos announced it expects to restart production at its flagship Barossa gas project around 18 April 2026. The restart follows a temporary halt at the Darwin LNG plant while BW Offshore replaced dry‑gas seals on the BW Opal FPSO...
India's Fast Breeder Reactor Goes Critical- Why It Matters
India’s first Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam reached criticality on April 6, 2026, marking the activation of the second stage of its three‑stage nuclear programme. The 500 MW sodium‑cooled unit is designed to generate more fissile material than it...
PG&E Is Overcharging Californians to Keep Diablo Canyon Open, Report Alleges
A new UC Santa Barbara white paper alleges Pacific Gas & Electric overstates costs to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant open, creating a $658.6 million shortfall on the $1.4 billion state loan. The report finds that mandatory customer fees are unnecessary; removing...
Greening of Streaming Names Board of Directors
Greening of Streaming (GoS) has moved from an informal initiative to a formally governed organization, establishing a Board of Directors and a lab‑based research model. The new structure includes dedicated labs for measurement, policy, communication, technical standards, and more, each...
Oil Prices Plunge Below $100/Bbl After US, Iran Agree on 2-Week Ceasefire
Oil prices plunged about 14% on Wednesday as Brent fell to $95.17 and WTI to $96.41, both slipping below the $100 per barrel threshold. The drop follows a two‑week cease‑fire agreement between the United States, Israel and Iran and a...
Coal Demand at Power Plants Seen Rising 11.5%
India’s coal‑based power sector expects an 11.5% jump in coal consumption to 233 million tonnes in the April‑June quarter, driven by a 13.3% rise in electricity generation to 341 billion units. Full‑year demand is projected at 906 million tonnes, up from 826 million tonnes...
Here's What Smart People Are Saying About Trump's Ceasefire Deal with Iran
President Donald Trump announced a two‑week ceasefire with Iran, contingent on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil corridor. Reactions split along partisan lines, with business leaders and foreign‑policy experts debating its durability. Analysts suggest the move is aimed...
Stoves to Cars: India Expands Ethanol Use Amid West Asia War
India faces a roughly 20 billion‑litre ethanol surplus, prompting officials to seek new demand channels beyond the E20 petrol blend. Pilot projects are testing ethanol‑powered cooking stoves, diesel blends for generators, and flex‑fuel buses in Karnataka. Automakers such as Maruti Suzuki,...
Australian Utility-Scale Solar and Wind Generation Reaches 4.7TWh in March 2026
Australia’s utility‑scale solar PV and wind farms generated 4.7 TWh in March 2026, a modest 2 % year‑on‑year increase after February’s 11 % jump. Queensland and Western Australia dominated the top‑performer list, while southern states saw lower capacity factors as the country moved from...
DOE Chief: Damage to Oil Sites to Keep Prices High
Philippines Energy Secretary Sharon Garin warned that damage to oil infrastructure in the Middle East will keep fuel prices elevated even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens. The country imports 98% of its crude oil from the region, and diesel...
New Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee to Support Businesses, Workers & Households Amidst Disruptions and Rising Cost Pressures
Singapore has formed a Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee to mitigate the fallout from the Strait of Hormuz closure, which has doubled Brent crude to $141 per barrel and LNG to $22 per MMBtu. The committee will secure essential fuels, bolster...
Fuel Stocks Steady as More Diesel Arrives
New Zealand’s national fuel inventories remain robust, with at least three weeks of petrol, diesel and jet fuel on land and additional supplies en route. Total days of supply—including on‑water stocks—stand at 62.6 for petrol, 51.7 for diesel and 53.5 for...
Oil Prices Plunge Following U.S.-Iran Ceasefire
Crude oil prices plunged on Tuesday after President Trump announced a two‑week U.S.-Iran ceasefire, sending Brent futures down about 13% to roughly $95 a barrel and WTI about 14% to $96. The drop marks the steepest one‑day decline since the...
EV Fast Charging Queues Are Back. Could a Kerbside Charger Network Help?
Australian EV sales jumped 40‑50% in March, reigniting concerns over charging capacity, especially for the 60% of Sydney residents living in apartments or townhouses. Public fast‑charging queues have resurfaced, prompting calls for a robust kerbside charging network that offers slower,...
Oil Prices Plunge Below $100 After Iran Agrees to Safe Passage Through Strait of Hormuz During Ceasefire
U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude plunged 15% to $95.63 per barrel after President Donald Trump agreed to suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks in exchange for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The cease‑fire, brokered with Pakistan’s prime...
Iran Updates: Pakistan Seeks 2-Week Pause After Trump Warns 'Whole Civilization Will Die' If No Deal by Deadline
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran that a missed deadline would trigger massive strikes, claiming a "whole civilization" could die if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appealed on X for a two‑week...
The Global Energy Supply in a Decade ‘Is Not a World We’re Going to Recognize’
A panel of energy experts warned that the United States’ war on Iran could cripple the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil conduit, and reshape global energy consumption patterns. Their new report, Global Energy Outlook 2026, argues that the world has...
Australia: Smart Data Mapping Enhances Solar Infrastructure
University of New South Wales researchers have unveiled a global mapping tool that quantifies ultraviolet (UV) exposure on solar installations, exposing a hidden degradation risk especially for single‑ and double‑axis tracking systems. The model shows that in high‑irradiance regions like...