Noble Lifts Rig Utilization with Over $550M in New Drilling Contracts
Offshore driller Noble Corporation announced $565 million in new contracts, raising its backlog to $7.5 billion and lifting overall rig utilization to 68% in Q1, up from 64% a quarter earlier. The awards include a 1,115‑day extension of the Noble Courage with Petrobras worth $339 million, a $121 million five‑well program for the Noble Deliverer with Woodside, and a $375,000‑per‑day ExxonMobil well in Guyana. Dayrates for Tier‑1 drillships have climbed into the low‑to‑mid $400,000 range, supporting the company’s full‑year revenue and EBITDA guidance. Noble also increased its capital‑expenditure outlook as the Deliverer is reactivated.
European Energy, Mars Sign PPA for Lithuanian Wind Project
European Energy and Mars have signed a long‑term power purchase agreement for the 161 MW Skuodas Wind Farm in Lithuania, slated for commercial operation in 2028. The wind farm is expected to generate about 490 GWh annually, supplying most of its output...
Fugro Wins Geotechnical Site Investigation Work on CIP’s New Offshore Wind Project in Taiwan
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has awarded Fugro a geotechnical site‑investigation contract for the 600 MW Fengmiao 2 offshore wind farm off Taiwan’s Taichung coast. Fugro will conduct seabed drilling and sampling with its Taiwan‑flagged vessel Pacific Hornbill, aiming to finish fieldwork by...
Capacity Cost Explosion: What PJM’s $80B Bill Means for the AI Buildout
The PJM Interconnection’s 2025 financial report shows capacity costs exploding from $2.69 billion to $10.39 billion—a 285% increase—while total market settlements rose 56% to $80.5 billion. Energy, congestion, and reserve expenses all surged, reflecting a grid strained by AI data‑center demand and broader...
UAE’s OPEC Exit Signals New Global Oil Order
The United Arab Emirates announced its exit from OPEC and OPEC+, citing a need for greater production flexibility that aligns with its broader diversification into logistics, finance, aviation, and technology. The move highlights growing strategic divergence among Gulf states, as...
‘Suicidal’ Model of Capitalism Leading to War and Fascism, Climate Summit Told
Colombian President Gustavo Petro opened the first global conference on phasing out fossil fuels in Santa Marta, warning that the current “suicidal” model of capitalism fuels war, fascism and climate catastrophe. The summit gathered ministers from 57 nations, with France unveiling a...
Cenovus Says Oilfield Extension Off Newfoundland Will Hike Emissions by 21 per Cent
Cenovus received provincial approval to add the West White Rose platform to its Newfoundland offshore oilfield, extending the field’s life by roughly 14 years and creating hundreds of construction jobs. The expansion will boost the field’s greenhouse‑gas output by about...
Have Electric Heat? Here’s How Much You Could Save with Heat Pumps
A new RMI analysis shows that swapping electric resistance heating for heat pumps can save a typical single‑family home about $1,530 a year, or roughly $23,000 over a pump’s life. If every eligible U.S. home made the change, annual savings...
EPC Contractor Hand-Picked for Southeast Asian LNG Cold Energy Utilization Project
CTCI Thailand, a subsidiary of the CTCI Group, has been awarded a THB 1.8 billion ($55 million) EPC contract to build the Olefins 3 Cold Energy Utilization Project (OCP) in Rayong, Thailand. The project will link PTT Global Chemical’s olefins plant with PE LNG’s regasification...
How Surfaces Steer Electrons Could Shape Better Batteries and Sensors
Researchers published a Nature paper showing that an electrode’s electronic density of states (DOS) directly controls the reorganization energy that governs interfacial electron transfer. By engineering graphene‑based van der Waals heterostructures with tunable hBN spacers, they demonstrated that higher DOS strengthens Thomas‑Fermi...
UK Energy Tsar Chris Stark: 'I Don't Worry Too Much About Data Centres'
UK clean‑power tsar Chris Stark told BusinessGreen he isn’t overly concerned that the surge in AI‑driven data‑centre demand will derail Britain’s climate agenda. He argues the nation’s expanding renewable capacity and grid‑flexibility measures can absorb the extra load without compromising...
UAE Withdraws From OPEC, OPEC+
The United Arab Emirates announced it will leave OPEC and OPEC+ on May 1, ending a membership that began in 1967. The move aligns with Abu Dhabi’s long‑term energy strategy, allowing it to boost output toward a 5 million‑barrel‑per‑day target by 2027. UAE...
Ocean Winds’ First French Offshore Wind Farm Moves to Full Operation
Ocean Winds, the 50‑50 joint venture between EDPR and ENGIE, has installed the final turbine at the Îles d’Yeu and Noirmoutier (EMYN) offshore wind farm, completing construction and moving the 488 MW project into full operation. The farm comprises 61 turbines...
Japanese VLCC Exits Mideast Gulf After Talks with Iran
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi announced that a Japanese VLCC, likely the Idemitsu Maru, has cleared the Strait of Hormuz after nearly two months of delay. The tanker is carrying roughly 2 million barrels of Arab Light crude—about $160 million at current prices—and is...
CNOOC’s First Quarter Profit Rises on Higher Oil Prices, Output
China's state‑owned offshore producer CNOOC reported a 7.1% rise in first‑quarter net profit to 39.14 billion yuan ($5.73 billion), helped by higher oil prices and higher output. Revenue climbed 8.6% to 116.08 billion yuan (≈$17 billion) as total production reached 205 million barrels of oil...
How Much More Power Can the U.S. Grid Provide for AI?
A RAND analysis projects the U.S. electricity grid will deliver roughly 82 GW of net available capacity by 2030, split between 33 GW of front‑of‑the‑meter (FTM) resources and 49 GW of behind‑the‑meter (BTM) assets that shave peak demand. Most of the FTM growth...
Woodside Plans Review as Quarterly Revenue Tops Forecasts
Woodside Energy reported first‑quarter operating revenue of $3.26 billion, surpassing the $3.05 billion consensus despite a 1.6% decline in output to 45.2 MMboe caused by a cyclone at its Karratha gas plant. Average realised prices rose to $63 per barrel of oil equivalent,...
The Danish Wind Group Upending Orthodoxy to Grow Its Business
Denmark’s KK Group is reshaping wind‑energy supply chains by introducing modular turbine retrofits and a performance‑based financing model, which the CEO says will slash installation time and cut costs. The strategy also includes vertical integration to reduce supply‑chain expenses and...
It’s Time to Make a Plan for Nuclear Waste
Nuclear power is enjoying bipartisan support and a surge of private investment as tech firms seek reliable, low‑carbon electricity for data centers. The United States now generates about 2,000 metric tons of high‑level nuclear waste each year, but lacks a...
UGI to Sell Electric Division to Argo Infrastructure Partners for $470m
UGI Utilities is selling its Pennsylvania Electric Division to Argo Infrastructure Partners for roughly $470 million, a deal that includes working‑capital adjustments and is slated to close in Q1 2027 pending regulatory sign‑off. The division operates about 2,700 miles of transmission and distribution...
Local Electronic Environment Regulation of Crystalline/Amorphous NiSe/NiFe(OH)x Heterostructure Enhancing Catalytic Activity of Alkaline Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Researchers have engineered a crystalline NiSe/amorphous NiFe(OH)x heterostructure that dramatically improves alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance. The catalyst achieves an ultralow overpotential of 233 mV at a current density of 100 mA cm⁻², and retains 93.7% of its activity after 250 hours at...
A New Bill Would Help VPPs Replace Peaker Plants in California
A California Senate bill, SB 913, would let virtual power plants (VPPs) compete with fossil‑fuel peaker plants by counting customer‑owned batteries, EVs and smart devices toward resource adequacy. The legislation passed the Senate Energy Committee and now heads toward a...
Local Policies to Get Buildings Off Gas Keep Winning in Court
Federal courts across the United States are consistently upholding local policies that require new buildings to be all‑electric, despite the 2023 Ninth Circuit decision that struck down Berkeley, California's gas‑ban ordinance. In six post‑Berkeley lawsuits, judges have rejected the Energy...
US Battery Startup Builds Factory in China After Nixing Kentucky Plant
EnerVenue, a Silicon Valley battery startup, abandoned a planned $264 million Kentucky factory and redirected $300 million of new funding to build a manufacturing line in Changzhou, China. The company claims its nickel‑hydrogen batteries can deliver 30,000 cycles, superior fire safety, and...
Interfacial Topology Engineering of Self‐Derived TiO2 Shells for Nucleation‐Controlled Fast Kinetics in MgH2
Researchers have developed a solvent‑free mechanochemical method that forms a high‑coverage TiO₂ nanolayer directly on magnesium hydride particles. The TiO₂ shell creates favorable band alignment, polarizing electrons and weakening Mg‑H bonds, which lowers the dehydrogenation activation barrier to 81 kJ mol⁻¹. This...
OYAK Cement Launches Turkiye’s Largest Industrial Solar Power Plant
OYAK Cement has commissioned Turkey’s largest industrial solar power plant in Beypazarı, Ankara, with a peak capacity of 115.5 MW and a grid connection of 97.8 MW. The 150‑hectare site houses 211,000 panels, expected to generate 182 GWh annually, raising the company’s renewable...
South Africa Film Sets Ditch Diesel in Green Energy Shift
South African film sets are swapping diesel generators for solar‑powered mobile energy, highlighted by Netflix's production of the second season of "One Piece" in Cape Town. Cinergy Mobile Power supplied a 150 kW solar array and a 400 kWh battery system, cutting...
Romania Signs First Hydrogen Train Contract
Romania’s Railway Reform Authority has signed a €229.3 million (≈$250 million) contract with Siemens Mobility to supply 12 Mireo Plus H hydrogen trainsets, including a 15‑year maintenance package. The first unit is slated for delivery in 2028, with passenger service expected to begin in...
State Stumps up $10.8 Million to Help Customers Electrify as City’s Gas Network Shuts Down
Western Australia will invest roughly $7 million USD to help Albany’s 8,000 LPG customers transition to electricity as the privately‑owned gas network is decommissioned. The $9 million AUD ($5.9 million USD) budget allocation targets social‑housing conversions, while $1.8 million AUD ($1.2 million USD) funds planning...
Ormat (ORA): The Best Geothermal Stock to Buy Now
Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA) remains a leading geothermal power developer, operating assets across the United States and abroad. On April 16, JPMorgan trimmed its price target to $106 from $108 while keeping a Neutral stance, citing a catalyst‑rich environment that includes...
BofA Maintains Buy Rating on Eversource Energy (ES)
Bank of America kept a Buy rating on Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) while lowering its price target to $72, down from $73. The firm forecasts first‑quarter adjusted earnings of $1.58 per share, slightly below consensus but higher year‑over‑year, driven by natural‑gas...
Here Is Why Weatherford (WFRD) Is Among the 7 Best Geothermal Stocks to Buy Now
Weatherford International (WFRD) was highlighted among the seven best geothermal stocks, and Piper Sandler raised its price target to $118 while keeping an Overweight rating. The company posted Q1 earnings of $1.49 per share and $1.15 billion in revenue, beating consensus...
Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight Rating on Constellation Energy (CEG)
Morgan Stanley maintained an Overweight rating on Constellation Energy (CEG) but lowered its price target to $360 from $385. Evercore ISI resumed coverage with an Outperform rating and a $380 target after Constellation completed a $26.6 billion acquisition of Calpine, creating...
Central European Giant Seeks Partner for Tender-Winning Baltic Sea Offshore Project
Poland's energy giant Orlen, the largest company in Central and Eastern Europe, announced it is looking for a joint‑venture partner to develop the Baltic East offshore wind project, which recently secured a competitive Baltic Sea tender. The project will enable Orlen...
Global Oil Dynamics Enter Volatile Phase After UAE Decision: Peter McGuire
The United Arab Emirates announced a surprise departure from the OPEC+ alliance, cutting roughly 12% of the bloc’s production capacity. The move caught markets off guard, prompting immediate price spikes as West Texas Intermediate hovered around $100 per barrel. Analysts,...
Kyodo News Digest: April 29, 2026
A Panama‑flagged Japanese‑owned tanker, Idemitsu Maru, loaded with 2 million barrels of crude, secured Iranian permission and transited the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending a May Day rally, vowed to sustain wage hikes as inflation pressures workers. Meanwhile, President...
Singapore's EMA to Study Geothermal Energy Systems
Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA) announced a feasibility study on geothermal energy systems, with consultant proposals due by 29 June and a selection expected by 2026. The study follows a 2024 assessment that identified potential subsurface heat zones, despite the...
Bloomberg Daybreak Europe: 'Lengthy' Hormuz Blockade (Podcast)
US equity‑index futures rose as investors positioned for a wave of big‑tech earnings and an upcoming Federal Reserve policy decision. Washington warned banks of secondary sanctions if they facilitate Chinese private refiners buying Iranian oil, heightening US‑China tension ahead of...
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks Drop as Oil Holds Firm over $110; UK Growth Slashed
The FTSE 100 opened lower, slipping 0.2% to 10,316 as oil prices stayed above $110 per barrel and the UK’s growth outlook was sharply cut, with the Treasury estimating a £35 bn (≈$44.5 bn) hit from the Iran war. Major corporates reported mixed...
Crude Shock: Ajay Bagga on How $90 Oil Could Dent India Inc's Earnings and Test Government's Fiscal Nerve
India’s crude import bill could jump from $150 bn to $200‑$225 bn as oil prices surged from $63 to $114‑$116 per barrel, pushing the annual price outlook to around $90 per barrel. Market veteran Ajay Bagga warns the extra $50‑$75 bn cost will strain...
“When Can I Get a Job?” Community Leaders Say Coal Country Ready – and Waiting – for Offshore Wind
Community leaders in Victoria’s Gippsland region unveiled the Gippsland Offshore Wind Sector Plan, signaling strong local backing for offshore wind as coal plants wind down. The plan supports nine feasibility‑licensed projects, including the 2.2 GW Star of the South, and aligns...
Janus Electric Builds Export Revenue and Fleet Footprint After Business Reset
Janus Electric Holdings (ASX:JNS) recorded its first US export revenue after delivering two truck conversion kits to Los Angeles in the March quarter. The company now operates 28 converted trucks—26 in Australia and two in the US—covering over 650,000 km...
Mars Accelerates Net Zero Ambitions with Landmark Energy Deal
Mars, Inc. has signed a long‑term power purchase agreement with European Energy for the upcoming Skuodas Wind Farm in Lithuania. The 158.4 MW project will generate about 490 GWh of electricity each year—enough to power roughly 250,000 homes—and will feed Mars' full...
SP Mobility, ComfortDelGro Engie Bag Contracts to Deploy EV Fast-Charging Hubs in HDB Towns
Singapore’s Land Transport Authority subsidiary EVe awarded contracts to SP Mobility and ComfortDelGro Engie to install eight electric‑vehicle fast‑charging hubs across HDB towns. Each site will host six to eight 50 kW fast chargers, with one location also offering three 7.4 kW...
Petro Victory Reports Stacked Gas Pay in SJ-12 Well, Offshore Brazil
Petro Victory Energy Corp announced that its SJ‑12 well in Brazil’s São João field intersected a stacked gas reservoir, delivering 72 m of net gas pay across five zones and an additional 45 m of oil shows. The 3,180 m‑deep well logged 280 m of...
Eni Signs Deal to Restart Venezuela Oil Operations at Junin-5
Eni S.p.A. signed a programmatic agreement with Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and state‑owned PDVSA to restart operations at the Junin‑5 heavy‑oil project in the Orinoco Belt. The joint venture gives PDVSA a 60% stake and Eni 40% in a field...
Odfjell Technology Signs P&A Technology Deal for Southeast Asia Wells
Odfjell Technology signed a memorandum of understanding with Applied New Technologies to deploy ANT’s abrasive suspension (WAS) erosion‑based tool for plug‑and‑abandon (P&A) operations across Southeast Asia. The system removes internal wellbore obstructions without mechanical force or heat, complementing Odfjell’s rigless...
Geolander Advances Angola Seismic Campaign for CO₂ Storage Assessment
Geolander has launched a high‑density nodal seismic survey in Angola to map subsurface structures for carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. The campaign uses autonomous STRYDE nodal equipment, enabling tightly spaced data acquisition that improves imaging of reservoirs, caprock integrity,...
Australia’s Sliding Doors Moment: From “Dig and Ship” To Trusted Renewables Transition Partner
WWF‑Australia’s new report declares that Australia’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels makes it one of the most energy‑insecure nations in the Indo‑Pacific, while its abundant renewable resources position it to lead a new, partnership‑based energy‑security model. The analysis shows clean‑energy...
Hong Kong Expands Charging Infrastructure Planning for Electric Public Transport
Hong Kong’s government announced expanded charging infrastructure guidelines for electric public transport, requiring new transport interchanges to reserve space and power for fast chargers. The first interchange with ten 100 kW+ chargers opened in March 2026, supporting up to 21 electric buses...