MPLX: Boasting Strong ROIC As Distribution Growth Could Accelerate
MPLX LP, Marathon Petroleum’s midstream subsidiary, delivers a 7.71% dividend yield and an impressive 18.2% internal cash ROIC, underscoring its capital efficiency. The firm’s 2025 capex plan of $2.4 billion is 90% focused on natural‑gas and NGL services, targeting mid‑teen returns after 2028. Despite trading at an 11.09× forward EV/EBITDA premium, stable distributions and sector tailwinds reinforce its strong buy case.
Siemens and Vulcan Partner on German Lithium Energy Project
Siemens and Vulcan Energy have signed a framework agreement for the Lionheart lithium‑hydroxide project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley. The deal makes Siemens the preferred supplier of automation, digital‑twin and data‑analytics technologies through 2035 and includes a 10‑year technology supply...
Growing AI Power Slurpage Prompts MPs to Examine Low-Energy Computing
British MPs have launched a short‑term inquiry into low‑energy computing to curb the soaring electricity demand of AI‑driven datacentres. The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is examining emerging chip designs such as neuromorphic computing and silicon photonics, which promise far...
Oil Prices Jump On Renewed US-Iran Tensions
Oil prices surged over 5% on Monday as U.S.-Iran diplomatic talks stalled, pushing Brent crude above $96 a barrel and WTI futures to $87.80. The dollar strengthened to a one‑week high while the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, tightening global...
'Wind Farm' Built on Donald Trump's Favourite Golf Course
Greenpeace activists installed six 10‑foot mock wind turbines on a green at the Trump Turnberry Golf Club in Scotland, staging a visual protest against President Donald Trump’s anti‑renewables stance. The stunt references Trump’s previous legal fight against a Vattenfall wind...
Why Gas Prices Go Up Fast and Take So Long to Fall
Gasoline wholesale prices surged 39.6% in a week, pushing the rack price to $3.35 per gallon and prompting station owners to raise retail pump prices by roughly 34% to $3.88. The cost of a full truckload for a typical New...
How Do You Know Your Power Market and Grid Data Is Reliable? 9 Questions to Ask
Yes Energy’s sponsored guide stresses that utilities and traders need reliable power‑market and grid data to make short‑term and long‑term decisions. It outlines nine critical questions across three data quality dimensions—completeness, freshness, and lineage—to evaluate data providers. The guide highlights...
The Grid Is Under Pressure From Two Directions. Your Customers Own the Answer.
U.S. utilities face a dual grid squeeze: AI‑driven data centers are pushing peak load forecasts up sevenfold since 2022, while rapid EV adoption threatens local transformer capacity. Traditional "build more" responses are hampered by long interconnection queues, regulatory pressure, and...
The Single-Platform Utility: A Competitive Advantage in the Age of AI
Utilities are confronting rising cost pressures, regulatory demands and workforce shortages just as AI moves from pilot to production. The article argues that a single, integrated platform linking operational technology, front‑office and back‑office systems is essential to unlock AI’s potential...
The Impact of Renewable Energy Consumption on Environmental Degradation: Evidence From OIC Countries
A new econometric study of 35 OIC nations finds that renewable energy consumption consistently lowers the ecological footprint, while trade openness raises it. Using a two‑step system GMM approach, the research shows a persistent U‑shaped relationship between GDP and environmental...
‘No More Mr Nice Guy’: Oil Prices Spike as Trump Renews Iran Power Plant Threats
Oil prices surged over six percent on Monday, pushing Brent crude above $96 per barrel as tensions in the Middle East intensified. President Donald Trump threatened to target Iran’s power plants if Tehran rejects a U.S. deal, while Iran’s closure...
After LNG Vessel Deal, Dubai-Based Firm Orders Four New VLGCs to Enrich LPG Fleet
Dubai‑based energy trader BGN has placed an order for four new dual‑fuel very large gas carriers (VLGCs) with Hyundai Heavy Industries, with delivery expected by 2029. Each vessel will hold 90,000 cubic metres of cargo and can operate on traditional...
Oil Flows to Lag Even if Hormuz Strait Reopens
The Strait of Hormuz, which moves roughly one‑fifth of global oil and gas, remains largely shut after Iran tightened control following a U.S. blockade. Even a temporary reopening will not instantly restore flows; analysts estimate an eight‑to‑twelve‑week lag for tanker...
How Smarter Video Security Protects Offshore Energy Assets
Offshore energy operators are increasingly deploying AI‑enabled video security to protect wind farms, oil rigs and related platforms. These smart cameras can identify fires, chemical leaks, equipment malfunctions and unauthorized vessels before traditional alarms trigger. Integrated with radar, thermal sensors...
Eni Makes Major Gas Discovery Offshore Indonesia
Italy’s Eni announced a major offshore gas find in Indonesia’s Kutei Basin, estimating about 5 trillion cubic feet of gas and 300 million barrels of condensate from the Geliga‑1 well. The discovery sits in the Ganal block, where Eni operates with an...
OKEA Sheds Its Stake in Norwegian Gas/Condensate Discovery
OKEA has entered a sale‑and‑purchase agreement with Japex Norge to divest its 20% working interest in the PL1119 licence, which hosts the Mistral gas‑condensate discovery, for a fixed $30 million plus contingent upside. The transaction, effective 1 January 2026, is slated to close...
The State of Solar: Despite Partisan Rhetoric, the Industry Is Still Booming
Solar and battery storage accounted for 79% of new U.S. generation in 2025 and are projected to grow 49% before the Inflation Reduction Act tax credits expire in 2027. Despite Republican attempts to curtail clean‑energy incentives, the industry is expanding,...
Acwa and SPPC Sign Agreement for Rabigh 2 Expansion Project
Acwa and the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) have signed a power purchase agreement to expand the Rabigh 2 independent power plant in Saudi Arabia. The deal, worth SR 11.5 bn (approximately $3 bn), covers a 2.31 GW gas‑fired combined‑cycle plant and a 380 kV substation...
United States Once More Playing for Russia
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on April 19 that the sanctions waiver for Russian oil already on board vessels will be extended until May 16, following the brief reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The move reverses a March statement...
BloombergNEF Announces 12 Climate Innovators as Winners of Its 2026 Pioneers Award
BloombergNEF announced the 2026 Pioneers award winners, naming 12 startups that address data‑centre sustainability, duck‑curve flattening, and shipping decarbonisation. The program received over 600 applications from 66 markets and has, since 2010, backed 176 winners that have raised more than...
Indian Refiner Knocks Back Iranian Cargoes on Two VLCCs as US Waiver Ends
Reliance Industries rejected two Iranian oil cargoes on VLCCs Derya and Lenore as the U.S. 30‑day waiver on Iranian crude expired on Sunday. The waiver, introduced to ease price spikes after Gulf shipping bans, will not be renewed, prompting stricter...
Probe Underway as Rig Ops Come to a Standstill After Blowout Preventer Drop
Odfjell Drilling reported that its 17‑year‑old Deepsea Atlantic semi‑submersible lost its blowout preventer (BOP) to the seabed at about 1,100 metres on April 18, halting all drilling activity. The rig, operating for Equinor on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, remained secure and no...
Three-Party Union in Singapore Targets Low-Carbon Ammonia as Marine Fuel
A three‑party partnership between NYK Bulkship (Asia), Singapore bunker supplier Golden Island, and Yara Clean Ammonia has signed a non‑binding term sheet to explore low‑carbon ammonia as a marine fuel. The alliance leverages NYK’s fleet of over 900 vessels and...
Oil Prices Rebound on Escalating US-Iran Tensions as Ceasefire Deadline Approaches
Oil prices rebounded over the weekend as the United States maintained a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, despite earlier signals of a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran. The cease‑fire deadline looms tomorrow, and Iran’s decision to close the strait again...
Ganfeng Lithium Sees Profits Soar Amid Energy Disruption
China’s Ganfeng Lithium, the world’s largest lithium‑metal producer, expects a profit of 1.6 billion yuan (≈ $221 million) for the quarter ended March, a sharp reversal from a 360 million‑yuan loss a year earlier. The surge is driven by soaring oil prices that have...
Are Long-Promised Solar Perovskites Finally Hitting Mass Production?
Startup Tandem PV has opened a 65,000‑sq‑ft automated factory in Fremont, California, to mass‑produce perovskite‑coated glass panels that raise solar‑cell efficiency from roughly 22% to about 30%. The line already outputs panels 60 times larger than its laboratory cells and has...
As Utility Costs Rise, Can ‘Background’ Smart Thermostats Offer Relief?
Smart thermostats are increasingly used by utilities for demand‑response, but a growing number also shift household temperatures autonomously to avoid peak‑price rates. In Arizona, Salt River Project partnered with Renew Home’s Energy Shift program, finding that 28,500 homes reduced peak...
Tiny North Carolina Town Takes a Big Step Toward Geothermal Energy
Enfield, North Carolina secured a $300,000 seed grant to launch a shallow‑geothermal thermal energy network that will heat, cool and provide hot water to a new 34‑unit affordable‑housing development. The pilot is part of a larger $5 million plan to eventually...
HDRE, Tokyo Gas Sign 150MW BESS Deal in Japan as Trading, Curtailment and Disaster Relief Drive Use Cases in Growing...
HD Renewable Energy (HDRE) and Tokyo Gas have signed two new battery energy storage system (BESS) projects—a 99 MW plant and a 50 MW asset in Aomori—bringing their joint contracted capacity to 340 MW. The projects are covered by 20‑year Long‑Term Decarbonization Auction...
Batteries Charge To The Edge
Breakthrough claims from Finland’s Donut Lab and China’s BYD signal a new era for battery chemistry, promising double‑the‑energy solid‑state cells and ultra‑fast charging that could reach 1,000 km on a single charge. While capacity gains have historically lagged at 4‑8% per...
Record Wind Generation Boosts Renewables but Highlights Grid Constraints
Great Britain recorded a historic 29.2 TWh of wind generation this year, pushing total renewable output to 40.3 TWh—up 20% year‑on‑year and covering 52% of electricity demand. Strong winter storms drove the surge, lowering wholesale prices and displacing fossil‑fuel generation, while gas...
Looks Like Adopting Electric Cars and Green Energy Would Be Wise
Petrol prices in Tanzania have jumped roughly 30% as the Iran‑U.S. conflict chokes the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that moves about one‑fifth of the world’s oil. The disruption raises transport costs, especially for landlocked African nations, and fuels broader...
Oil Prices Jumped and Stock Futures Fell on Renewed Iran Conflict
Oil prices surged on Sunday after a U.S. Navy destroyer seized an Iranian‑flagged cargo ship and Iran re‑imposed strict control over the Strait of Hormuz, attacking two Indian‑flagged vessels. The renewed tension in the strategic waterway revived fears of supply...
Adani Power, NTPC, PFC, Tata Power Hit 52-Week Highs: Why Are Power Stocks Charged Up?
Power stocks such as Adani Power, NTPC, and Tata Power surged to 52‑week highs on April 20, despite broader market volatility driven by the US‑Iran conflict and rising oil prices. Analysts attribute the rally to a seasonal spike in electricity...
Pemex Undersea Pipeline Found to Cause Gulf Oil Spill
Pemex confirmed that a leaky undersea pipeline near its Abkatun offshore platform caused a Gulf of Mexico oil spill that reached from Tabasco to Tamaulipas. Environmental groups estimate up to 800 tons of hydrocarbons were released, prompting public outrage and...
Hybrid Electrolysis Replaces Waste Oxygen with Valuable Chemicals
Recent research highlights three distinct scientific advances. Marine biologists show that pinniped spines have been reshaped for powerful, mobile lower backs, trading neck flexibility for efficient swimming. In Mozambique, engineers are piloting systems that turn agricultural waste into clean water...
Topside Decommissioning Projects Streamlined With Combined Planning
Oil‑and‑gas specialist Mammoet teamed with Allseas to decommission two massive North Sea topsides, Heather Alpha (16,865 t) and Eider Alpha (12,831 t), in a single summer campaign. By pre‑installing equipment on Allseas’ cargo barge Iron Lady, the firm enabled simultaneous load‑in operations,...
War and Outcome of Talks Dictate the Energy Markets – Petcoke Back in Expensive Zone Towards Coal
A cease‑fire between the United States and Iran has eased immediate oil market pressure, yet transport disruptions and damaged Middle‑East infrastructure keep the energy complex volatile. Brent crude sits at $92 per barrel, while coal prices have fallen sharply after...
Wild Attack on Batteries and Renewables by 7’s Spotlight Program Falls over at the First Fact Check
Australia’s leading current‑affairs program Spotlight aired a segment claiming that every battery, electric vehicle and clean‑energy technology relies on cobalt. A rapid fact‑check showed that the majority of grid‑scale batteries and most Tesla EVs in Australia use lithium‑iron‑phosphate chemistry, which...
Vietnam Plans to Extend Fuel Tariff Suspension, Extend Tax Incentives for EVs
Vietnam's Finance Ministry will extend the suspension of import tariffs on fuels until June 30, a measure aimed at stabilising domestic production amid an uncertain Middle East conflict. The extension will cost the state roughly 2.02 trillion dong (about $77 million) in...
IOC, BPCL to HPCL: PSU Oil Stocks Show Resilience Against Rising Crude Oil Prices
India's state‑run oil marketers—IOCL, BPCL and HPCL—showed modest declines as Brent crude jumped about 7% to $96.85 per barrel, staying under the $100 threshold. BPCL fell the most at 1.55%, while IOCL and HPCL each slipped less than 1%. Analysts...
Australian Battery Storage Manufacturer Secures $2.3 Million Grant From ARENA to Scale up Capacity
PowerPlus Energy, Australia’s largest domestic battery‑module maker, received a $2.3 million Australian‑dollar grant (≈$1.5 million USD) from the Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to expand its production capacity. The funding backs a $6.7 million AUD (≈$4.4 million USD) plan to semi‑automate manufacturing and lift annual...
“The Scores Are Going Off the Charts”: Iran Conflict Boosts Support for Renewables and Energy Independence
The Iran‑Hormuz conflict has amplified Australian consumer enthusiasm for energy independence, pushing renewable‑focused messaging to record levels, according to Populares CEO Ed Coper. While overall support for the renewable transition holds steady at 52%, negative sentiment rose to a historic...
Ed Miliband to Double Down on Net Zero with Measures to Combat Iran Energy Shock
UK Labour energy secretary Ed Miliband will unveil a new net‑zero package aimed at insulating the UK from the Iran‑related energy shock. The plan accelerates the Warm Homes scheme, expands solar on public land and proposes delinking electricity prices from...
Southeast Asia Must Pursue Energy Sovereignty, Not Just Security, Says Civil Society
Civil society leaders are urging Southeast Asian nations to move beyond mere energy security and pursue energy sovereignty by relying on domestically generated renewables. The call comes ahead of the First Conference on Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels in Colombia,...
Adani Power Steps Into Nuclear Energy with New Subsidiary CMAEL
Adani Power has created a wholly‑owned step‑down subsidiary, Coastal‑Maha Atomic Energy Ltd (CMAEL), to develop nuclear generation, transmission and distribution. CMAEL was incorporated on April 13, received its certificate on April 18, and carries an authorized capital of ₹5 lakh (≈ $6,000) fully funded...
SRJ Technologies Lands US$4.4m Three-Year UAE Robotic Inspection Contract
SRJ Technologies Group Plc announced that its UAE subsidiary, Air Control Entech (ACE), has won a three‑year, US$4.4 million (≈A$6.1 million) contract to provide robotic leak‑detection and emissions‑inspection services for a government‑owned upstream oil and gas operator in the United Arab Emirates....
More than 20 Vessels Pass Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, Kpler Data Shows
More than 20 vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, the highest number since March 1, according to Kpler shipping analytics. The fleet included five ships that last loaded cargoes in Iran, three LPG carriers bound for China and India,...
Pacific Energy to Deliver 81MWh Battery Storage Systems to Australia’s Northern Territory
Pacific Energy has secured a contract from Territory Generation to deliver 33.5 MW/81 MWh of utility‑scale battery energy storage systems for the Alice Springs and Darwin‑Katherine power networks in Australia’s Northern Territory. The project, part of the Territory Generation Battery Energy Storage...
No Customers: Plans for Townsville Hydrogen Project Scrapped After Failing to Find Buyers for the Product
Edify Energy has abandoned its Townsville green‑hydrogen project after failing to secure any off‑take agreements, despite receiving roughly $33 million USD in federal grant funding and a $0.8 million USD ARENA grant for design work. The planned 17.6 MW electrolyser and 21 MW solar‑storage...