US Finalizes Higher Biofuels Quota to Boost Domestic Demand
On March 27, 2026, the EPA finalized a new biofuels blending rule that obliges refiners to incorporate 25.82 billion gallons of biofuels into diesel and gasoline this year. The mandate represents an 8 % increase over the target announced in June 2025, marking the most ambitious blending requirement to date. The rule is intended to bolster domestic biofuel production, support American farmers, and lower dependence on imported fuel. The Trump administration frames the policy as a key component of its energy‑security agenda.
As Diesel Prices Surpass 91 Petrol, Truckies Say Goods and Groceries Will Start Going up Too
Diesel prices in New Zealand have surged 80% since February, reaching $3.24‑$3.45 NZD per litre (about $1.94‑$2.07 USD), overtaking 91 petrol for the first time. Petrol has risen only 35% in the same period. Trucking firms are absorbing extra costs—up to $150 NZD (~$90 USD) daily...
30 Days of West Asia Conflict: India Ups LPG Output, Focuses on PNG as Imports Concerns Persist
India, the world’s second‑largest LPG importer, boosted domestic LPG production amid the West Asia conflict that disrupted supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Refinery output was increased by 40% to a record 50,000 tonnes per day, cutting daily import...
The Hydrogen Stream: Capacity Outlook Grows, Deals Shift
GlobalData projects global low‑carbon hydrogen capacity could reach 82.3 mtpa by 2030, up from 2.2 mtpa active in early 2026 across 460 projects. Only 2% of that future capacity is operational, with most projects still in feasibility or early stages. Meanwhile, Topsoe...
Slovakia Interested in Gas From Offshore Romanian Neptun Project
Slovakia announced its interest in importing gas from Romania’s Neptun Deep offshore project as its Russian gas deliveries are set to cease by 2027. Prime Minister Robert Fico said Slovakia would use existing infrastructure to purchase gas on a commercial...
Why the Reduction in SED
Since the West Asia conflict began, Brent crude has surged from roughly $73 to $109 per barrel, a 49% increase. In response, India’s Centre trimmed the special additional excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre (about $0.12),...
Hormuz Ship Traffic Stays Frozen Despite Move to Start Fees
Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains virtually halted four weeks into the Iran‑Israel conflict, with only six vessels recorded on March 26 versus the pre‑war average of nearly 60 daily transits in 2025. Iran announced a toll system demanding...
China PV Industry Brief: China Adds 32.48 GW Solar as Polysilicon Prices Fall
China’s National Energy Administration reported 32.48 GW of new solar capacity installed in January‑February 2026, a 17.7% year‑on‑year decline, while total generation capacity reached 3.95 TW, with solar climbing to 1.23 TW (+33.2%). Polysilicon prices fell sharply, with weekly drops of up to...
The Eastern Mediterranean Won’t Replace Russian or Gulf Gas—But It Can Be Europe’s Energy Shock Absorber
Europe has cut Russian gas imports by 90% since 2021 and aims to end them by November 2027. To replace the lost volume, the continent now relies on LNG, exposing it to global shipping chokepoints. The Eastern Mediterranean basin, with...
EnergyX Starts up 250tpa DLE Plant
EnergyX, a privately held lithium developer, has commissioned its 250‑tonne‑per‑year direct lithium extraction (DLE) demonstration plant, Project Lonestar, near Texarkana, Texas. The facility is the first U.S. plant to process lithium‑rich brine from the Smackover formation, using proprietary solvent‑based extraction...
Agrivoltaics with Trackers, Vertical Systems Offer Economic Upside
A new analysis by Jochen Hauff challenges a German Thünen‑Institut study by showing that agrivoltaic systems with trackers or vertical configurations can be financially viable and even outperform conventional ground‑mounted solar. Tracker‑based agrivoltaics add roughly 12‑13% to capital costs but...
Endeavour Launches Hydrogen Production System
Endeavour, the parent of data‑center firm Edged, unveiled Pact Systems – a continuous‑flow methane‑cracking platform that simultaneously produces hydrogen fuel and high‑purity graphite. The technology works with natural gas or biomethane, offering a low‑carbon, quickly deployable energy source for AI‑intensive...
Fleet Electrification Is Running Into the Grid. Planning and Operations Need to Catch Up.
U.S. fleets are accelerating electrification, but grid interconnection and capacity constraints are emerging as the primary bottleneck. Utilities such as SoCal Edison ($436 million for 30,000 ports) and DTE Electric (19,300 chargers) are offering incentive programs, yet distribution upgrades and interconnection...
Interview: WSP and Motts on Setting the ‘Blueprint’ for Consenting New Nuclear with Wylfa SMRs
WSP and Mott MacDonald have been hired by Great British Energy‑Nuclear to steer the planning consent for three Rolls‑Royce small modular reactors at Wales' historic Wylfa site. The project will be the first nuclear development to navigate the UK’s new Planning...
Venture Global and Edison Put LNG Arbitration Battle Behind Them
Venture Global and Italy’s Edison have signed a commercial agreement that ends their LNG arbitration over the Calcasieu Pass project, with the settlement expected to close by the end of Q2 2026. The deal adds extra cargoes for Europe, beginning with...
Bluetti Targets Home Backup with Fridge-Focused Battery System
Bluetti has launched FridgePower, a plug‑and‑play battery system aimed at keeping refrigerators and other essential home devices running during power outages. Unlike fixed residential storage like Tesla Powerwall, FridgePower requires no permanent installation and can be moved within the house....
The Missing Intelligence Layer of the Smart Grid
Utilities have poured billions into smart‑grid sensors, communications and analytics, yet the digital representation of the physical distribution assets remains rudimentary. Traditional asset databases rely on periodic inspections, causing records to drift from reality and limiting engineers’ ability to assess...
Energy Crisis and Conflict Drag Down Global Growth in 2026
Prometeia’s latest outlook warns that the Iran‑Hormuz conflict and resulting energy shock are eroding global growth in 2026. Euro‑area GDP is trimmed to 0.8%, a 0.4‑point downgrade, as gas reserves dwindle and inflation‑driven recovery stalls. The United States is projected...
WATCH: FLNG Mooring System Slides in Place Offshore Congo
France’s marine contractor Geocean, together with China’s Wison New Energies, has completed the installation of a floating LNG (FLNG) mooring system in the Marine XII block off Congo’s Pointe Noire. The operation placed driven anchor piles, a submerged swivel and yoke,...
‘Be Kind to Yourself and Patient with Your Journey’
Irene Mihai, Policy Director of the Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association, highlighted the critical role of mentorship, collaboration, and inclusive workplace practices in attracting and retaining talent in the solar sector. She noted that women now represent roughly 40% of the...
Transmission Is the Battleground: Eight Plays to Win the Grid Race
The article argues transmission infrastructure is now the primary competitive front in the power and utilities sector. It outlines eight strategic “plays” that firms can adopt, emphasizing speed in permitting, resource pooling, design standardization, information transparency, and innovative tariff and...
European Prosecutor Investigates Suspected Solar Tender Fraud in Slovenia
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has opened a fraud investigation into an unnamed Slovenian solar company that allegedly violated EU tender rules for Cohesion Fund co‑financing of small solar plants. Police searches in Celje seized documents and electronic data...
Surging Oil Prices Put Spotlight Back on Clean Energy
Oil prices have jumped to roughly $100 a barrel amid the Iran conflict, reviving the historic link between high fossil‑fuel costs and renewable‑energy equities. The ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES) rose 3.5% over the past month, extending its YTD gain...
New Joint Project Aims to Bring Subsea Chemical Storage Technology to Deployment
Oilfield services firm NOV has launched a joint industry project with Equinor and Petrobras to qualify a subsea chemical storage unit up to 200 m³ for field deployment. The initiative aims to cut topside footprint, reduce vessel usage, and support long...
Average UK Petrol Price Hits 150p for First Time Since 2024; Trump’s Latest Iran Extension Fails to Calm Oil Market...
UK average petrol price reached 150.11 pence per litre (≈£1.50/$1.88), with diesel at 177.68 pence (≈£1.78/$2.22), the highest levels since May 2024. The surge, tied to the Iran‑Israel conflict and rising crude, is inflating motorists’ travel costs and feeding broader inflation worries. At...
PRIO Brings Second Wahoo Well Online Off Brazil
Brazilian independent producer PRIO has placed a second well at its offshore Wahoo field into production, delivering a stable output of 12,000 barrels of oil per day. The company plans to bring the third and fourth wells online and adjust...
Brazil PV Module Imports Fall 24% to 17.9 GW in 2025
Brazil imported 17.9 GWp of photovoltaic modules in 2025, a 24% drop from 2024’s 22.3 GWp. Distributed‑generation projects absorbed 79% of the volume, even as new installations slowed to 8.8 GW, down from 10 GW a year earlier. The decline coincided with a sharp...
Third Train on the Cards for LNG Project, Unleashing More Australian Gas
Japan’s Inpex and U.S. firm Formentera have formed a joint venture to develop the Beetaloo Basin’s shale gas, acquiring 68,000 net acres for $208 million with an option for up to 75,000 more acres at $266‑$411 million. The partnership will feed a...
Cleanova Boosts Seawater Injection Capacity on Gulf of Mexico Platform
Cleanova upgraded an existing seawater filtration system on a Gulf of Mexico oil platform, boosting injection capacity by nearly 50% without halting production. The company replaced original filter elements with its CleanMax high‑flow cartridges, improving flow rates and biofouling resistance....
How Uranium Will Help Power the AI Revolution
Uranium is emerging as a strategic pillar of the global energy transition as AI data centers drive unprecedented electricity demand. Tech giants like Google, Microsoft and Amazon are directly funding nuclear projects and small modular reactors, creating a new demand...
SSI Awards First Supply Traceability Certificates to Astronergy Module Factories
Europe’s Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) awarded its first Supply Traceability Standard Bronze certifications to two Astronergy module factories in China, marking the inaugural implementation of the standard launched in December 2024. The inspections, conducted by German technical institute TÜV Rheinland, confirmed...
Europa Oil & Gas Secures License Extension Off Ireland
Europa Oil & Gas received Irish government approval to extend its FEL 4/19 license until January 2028, providing additional time for technical studies and partner outreach. The license covers the Inishkea West gas prospect, estimated at roughly 1.5 trillion cubic feet of low‑risk gas....
US ITC Opens Section 337 Probe Into Global TOPCon Supply Chain
The US International Trade Commission has opened a Section 337 investigation into TOPCon solar cells, modules and related products after First Solar filed a complaint naming 47 respondents across 11 countries. First Solar alleges infringement of patents 1, 2, 4 and 8 and seeks...
Dublin University Students Claim Top €12,000 Prize at EirGrid’s CleanerGrid Competition
Two University College Dublin students won EirGrid’s third‑annual CleanerGrid competition, taking home a €12,000 prize (about $13,080). Their data‑driven model proposes optimally sited battery and hydrogen storage to curb offshore wind curtailment. The contest, which drew 115 participants from nine...
SPAIN ROUND-UP: Axpo, McDonald’s Sign 10-Year PPA, EDP Brings 90MW PV Plants Online
Swiss renewable developer Axpo has secured a ten‑year power purchase agreement with McDonald’s to supply up to 83 GWh of solar electricity each year from its newly commissioned 200 MWp photovoltaic complex in León, Spain. The facility consists of four 50 MW plants...
ICE Registers Record Trading Activity Across Its Global Derivatives Markets
Intercontinental Exchange reported record trading activity across its global derivatives markets and NYSE equities in March 2026, driven by heightened Middle‑East geopolitical risk. Open interest hit all‑time highs, including 76.8 million commodity contracts and a total of 125.4 million futures and options...
Eni Exits Consortium for Oil and Gas Exploration Offshore Israel
Italian energy major Eni announced its withdrawal from a three‑partner consortium seeking offshore natural‑gas exploration licenses in Israel. The group, which also includes Dana Petroleum and Ratio Energies, had been awarded six prospective licenses in Cluster G during Israel’s fourth offshore...
Libya’s NOC and Chevron Agree Study Offshore Libya
Libya’s National Oil Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding with Chevron to conduct a technical study of offshore Block NC146, an unexplored area that recent geological data suggests is promising. The study will evaluate the block’s discovery potential, aiming to add...
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson on the Co-Op Energy Playbook
In a T&D World Live podcast, NRECA CEO Jim Matheson outlined how electric cooperatives are adapting to heightened weather threats, wildfire risks, and a surge in electricity demand driven by data centers and AI. He highlighted the critical role of...
Etu Energias to Acquire Azule Energy’s Stakes in Angola’s Offshore Blocks
Portuguese‑based Etu Energias has signed a sale‑and‑purchase agreement to acquire Azule Energy’s 20% stake in Block 14 and 10% stake in Block 14K, offshore Angola. The deal, valued at up to $310 million including $115 million in contingent payments, replaces a previously aborted consortium...
After Intense Lobbying, Carney Allows Gas-Powered Data Centres in Alberta
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government signed a Canada‑Alberta memorandum of understanding in November 2025 that suspended the province’s clean‑electricity regulations, clearing the way for gas‑fired power plants to serve large AI data centres. Capital Power, an Edmonton‑based electricity generator, lobbied...
Excise Duty Cut to Help Oil Companies Absorb Losses, Prevent Fuel Price Hike: Petrol Dealers Association's Ajay Bansal
India's central government reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel to help oil marketing companies absorb current losses and stave off price increases. Companies are losing roughly ₹45‑₹50 per litre (about $0.55‑$0.60) due to higher crude prices and a weakening...
Go-Ahead for North Sea Drilling Ops with Saipem’s Rig
Norwegian authorities have approved Aker BP to commence exploration drilling on the Norwegian Continental Shelf using Saipem’s Scarabeo 8 semi‑submersible rig. The consent covers well 36/4‑2 in block 36/4 under production licence 1153, which runs until 2030, and a pilot hole 35/10‑U‑1 in licence 1182S...
Inland Rail Deploys Solar-Powered Level Crossings in Australia
Australia’s 1,600‑km Inland Rail freight corridor has installed standalone solar power systems at two level crossings in northern New South Wales, eliminating the need for grid connections during construction. The solar‑powered installations include battery storage, LED warning lights, audible alarms...
Future-Proofing Europe’s Energy Grid: The ENTSO-E Upgrade
ENTSO‑E’s Transparency Platform has been completely rebuilt by Unicorn, shifting from a legacy monolith to a modern microservice architecture of more than 40 Java and Node.js services with a React single‑page UI. The overhaul delivers lower latency, faster feature rollout...
TotalEnergies to Uphold LNG Supply Contracts Amid Qatar Outages
TotalEnergies announced it will not invoke force majeure and will honor all LNG contracts despite Qatar’s forced shutdown after regional attacks. The French oil major sources about 5.2 million metric tons per annum from QatarEnergy and plans to redirect cargoes from...
FEMA Announces Additional Public Assistance for Michigan Utilities
President Trump amended FEMA’s Major Disaster Declaration 4880‑DR‑MI to include Public Assistance Category F for utilities across all declared Michigan counties and tribal jurisdictions. The change enables the agency to reimburse at least 75% of eligible repair costs for electric infrastructure,...
Trump’s Iran War Pushes India to Rekindle Old Friendship with Russia
India is moving to revive its energy partnership with Russia, negotiating a direct LNG supply deal despite the risk of violating Western sanctions. The talks follow a recent surge in Russian crude purchases, which could rise to 40% of India’s...
5 Ways To Make Your Home More Sustainable
The UK is pushing homeowners toward greener living with five practical upgrades, from heat‑pump installation—backed by a $9,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant—to solar panels, induction cooking, better insulation, and home batteries. Heat pumps can cut emissions by about 70% and...