Graphene-Based Interlayer Boosts Li-S Battery Performance
Researchers at Cochin University of Science and Technology have introduced a bifunctional polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide (PRGO) interlayer integrated into a lithium‑sulfur battery separator. The composite simultaneously anchors polysulfides and provides a conductive network, mitigating the shuttle effect that limits Li‑S performance. Cells equipped with the PRGO interlayer and a matching cathode achieve an initial discharge capacity of 994 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 C and retain about 42 % capacity after 100 cycles. The approach offers a scalable, low‑weight solution that could accelerate Li‑S commercialization.
Pipeline Protection Firm Says After $226bn Loss in Ogoni, Time to Resume Oil Production Is Now
Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd (PINL) urged the federal government to restart oil production in Ogoni’s OML 11, citing an estimated $226.7 billion loss from 96 idle wells over 32 years. The region could yield over 500,000 barrels per day, boosting national revenue...
Could Australia Make Enough Biofuel to Keep Us Flying?
Rising jet‑fuel prices—up 150% since the Middle East conflict—have forced Qantas and Virgin to slash domestic routes, spotlighting Australia’s reliance on imported fuel. The government’s $1.1 bn Cleaner Fuels Program aims to jump‑start sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production from canola, sugar‑cane...
Bangladesh Raises Fuel Prices as Iran War Drives up Costs
Bangladesh announced a 10‑15% increase in retail fuel prices, raising petrol to 135 taka (about $1.10) per litre and diesel to 115 taka. The hike reflects soaring global crude costs and supply disruptions linked to the seven‑week‑old Iran‑Israel conflict. The...
Why the Future of Energy Storage Is Spinning To Make a Comeback
Amber Kinetics is scaling long‑duration flywheel energy storage (FESS) with four‑hour discharge units, deploying them in the Philippines and other regions. The system uses solid‑steel rotors housed in a near‑perfect vacuum and levitated magnetically, promising a 30‑year lifespan and resilience...
If We Net Export Oil, Why Are Gas Prices Going Up?
Although the United States now exports more oil than it imports, gasoline prices have surged because a sizable share of the crude fed to U.S. refineries still comes from abroad. Roughly 40% of the feedstock is imported, and many refineries...
Suzuki Producing Biogas Auto Fuel From Cow Dung in India
Suzuki Motor Corp. has launched biogas production from cow dung at two plants in Gujarat, India, converting up to 100 tons of dung daily into roughly 1.5 tons of renewable fuel. The biogas powers about 850 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles each...
Parts of Metro Manila, 4 Provinces to Have Power Interruptions Due to Maintenance Works
Meralco announced scheduled power interruptions across Metro Manila and the provinces of Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal this week. The outages, ranging from a few minutes to several hours, are tied to line reconductoring, pole replacement, and substation construction projects....
Rice Study Resolves Decades-Old Mystery in Organic Light-Emitting Crystals: Findings Reveal How Molecular Defects Can Enhance Light Conversion Efficiency:
Rice University researchers have solved a long‑standing mystery in the organic semiconductor 9,10‑bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene (BPEA) by showing that tiny structural defects enhance light conversion. Using spectroscopy and advanced simulations, they discovered that X‑shaped molecular defect pairs create distinct low‑energy emission pathways...
A War in the Persian Gulf Is Plunging Pakistan Into Darkness
A seven‑week war in the Persian Gulf has halted Qatar's LNG shipments, plunging Pakistan into severe electricity shortages. Daily blackouts now stretch up to eight hours for factories and even longer for households, as load‑shedding expands across Lahore, Karachi and...
China Begins Building US$1 Billion Hydropower Station in Cambodia Amid Energy Crisis
China’s state‑owned China National Heavy Machinery Corporation has broken ground on the Upper Tatay pumped‑storage hydropower project in Cambodia’s Koh Kong province. The $1 billion, 1‑gigawatt facility will act as a “green power bank,” storing excess solar and wind energy and releasing...
?Hormuz Shock? Opportunity to Accelerate Energy Transition- #Wealth #AssetManagement #AssetFinance
The unexpected closure of the Strait of Hormuz in April 2026 halted roughly 25% of global oil, 20% of LNG, and a third of fertilizer shipments, prompting the IMF to label the event a “global, yet asymmetric” rupture. Countries that...
India to Benefit From US Extension of Russian Oil Waiver
The United States has extended a limited waiver for Russian oil transactions until May 16, 2026, covering cargoes already in transit or contracted before the cut‑off date. The extension, granted despite political opposition, does not signal a broader easing of sanctions...
Former Huawei Executive Xu Yingtong Becomes Billionaire Amid Energy Storage Boom
Former Huawei executive Xu Yingtong has become a billionaire after his energy‑storage firm Sigenergy Technology saw its shares double on debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, pushing the company’s market value to about $11.5 billion. The IPO raised roughly $560 million, attracting...
Trading Desks Boom While Big Oil Output Stalls
European supermajors are set to post strong first‑quarter earnings, driven by record‑high oil and gas trading profits as market volatility spikes following Middle‑East disruptions. Shell, BP, TotalEnergies and Equinor each highlighted exceptional trading results, while their upstream output fell 5‑15%...
Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Is Closed Again as Vessels Attempting to Cross Come Under Fire
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced the Strait of Hormuz is closed again after gunfire struck a tanker, reversing a brief reopening. Tehran warned any vessel attempting passage will be treated as cooperating with the United States and could be targeted. The...
Europe’s Energy Problem Isn’t the Transition—It’s That Europe Never Finished It
Europe’s energy transition is stalled halfway – renewable generation rose while grid, storage and flexibility investments lagged. Recent crises, from the 2022 Ukraine war to the 2026 Hormuz Strait closure, exposed the fragility of Europe’s fossil‑fuel dependence. The article argues...
Iraq Moves to Restart Oil Exports as It Seeks Stability and Revenue
Iraq announced it will restart oil exports from all fields within days, aiming to boost state revenue and stabilize domestic fuel supplies. The Ministry of Oil is also opening a new black‑oil outlet through Syria’s Baniyas port to diversify export...
This ‘Hidden’ Price of Oil Is Going to Hit Your Electric Bill Next
The article highlights a widening $38 gap between the headline Brent crude price of about $95 and the physical “dated Brent” price of $133 that refineries actually pay. The disparity stems from a sharp supply shock in the Strait of...
Hydropower Is Making a Global Comeback
Hydropower remains the world’s third‑largest electricity source, supplying about 4,500 TWh—or 14 percent—of global power each year. Rising fossil‑fuel volatility and the need for grid flexibility are prompting governments to re‑evaluate water‑driven generation as a diversification tool. Pumped‑storage hydro, the largest form...
Kazakh Gas Sector Comes of Age, Spurns Western Partners for CITIC
Kazakhstan’s state‑owned KazMunayGas is set to partner with China’s CITIC to construct a gas‑treatment plant at the Karachaganak field, after a dispute led to the exclusion of Western partners Eni and Shell. The move underscores a strategic pivot toward Chinese...
Naphtha Crunch Bites Japanese Companies Despite PM's Assurances
Japanese manufacturers are confronting a sharp naphtha shortage that is driving up prices for a broad array of plastic‑based products, from bathtubs to detergents. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has assured the public that Japan holds a four‑month supply, but industry...
$250 Million Olkaria VII Geothermal Power Project Stalls Amid Donor Funding Dispute
The $250 million (≈ $291 million KES) Olkaria VII geothermal project in Naivasha, Kenya, has been stalled after the European Investment Bank refused to issue a “no objection” for a key consultancy tender. The 80.3 MW plant, slated for completion by 2027, saw its...
Inside the Race to Control the World’s Lithium Supply
Lithium production has exploded from 31,500 tonnes in 2015 to an estimated 290,000 tonnes in 2025, fueling a $150 billion battery market that grew 20% year‑over‑year. China now dominates both mining and refining, projected to control roughly half of the global lithium market...
Why Oil Prices Spike Before Supply Breaks (Strait of Hormuz Explained)
Oil prices often surge before any physical disruption in the Strait of Hormuz because market participants price the perceived risk of delayed or rerouted shipments. Recent Iranian military tightening and vessel warnings have heightened uncertainty, prompting insurers to raise premiums...
Iran’s Hormuz Whiplash Highlights Divide Within Regime as U.S. Blockade Tightens. ‘The Fight Between Different Factions Has Started’
Iran’s military announced the Strait of Hormuz closed again after a day of contradictory statements from the foreign ministry and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC publicly rebuked Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s claim that the waterway was fully...
Decoupling Kinetic and Shuttle Limitations in Li─S Batteries Enabled by Temperature Responsive Functional Interlayer
Researchers have introduced a temperature‑responsive Ti3C2Tx MXene interlayer for lithium‑sulfur batteries that adapts its function across −10 °C to 55 °C. At low temperatures it catalyzes Li2S nucleation, boosting redox kinetics, while at high temperatures it strongly binds polysulfides to suppress shuttle....
Interfacial Nano‐Pitting and In Situ Sulfate‐Directed Growth of Na2.85V2(PO4)2.85(SO4)0.15 Nanodots on MWCNT for Ultrafast Sodium‐Ion Storage
Researchers introduced an ultracentrifugation‑assisted phosphate‑sulfate pretreatment that nano‑pits multi‑walled carbon nanotubes, creating confined sites for in‑situ growth of Na2.85V2(PO4)2.85(SO4)0.15 nanodots. The resulting nanodot‑carbon interface delivers strong electronic coupling and short sodium‑ion pathways, enabling capacitor‑like storage at ultrafast rates up to...
Two Indian-Flagged Ships Attacked While Crossing Strait of Hormuz, Government Confirms
India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that two Indian‑flagged crude‑oil tankers were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on April 18. The incidents prompted India to summon Iran’s ambassador in New Delhi for a high‑level meeting. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri...
Thousands Protest in Germany Urging Faster Green Shift, Amid Iran War
Thousands took to the streets in Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and Munich on April 18, demanding a faster transition to renewable energy. Organisers claim about 80,000 participants nationwide, while police estimates are lower. Protesters blamed Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s centre‑right coalition and Economy...
Product Tankers Exit Hormuz Amid Iran U‑turn
Three clean oil product tankers successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz on April 18 despite Iran abruptly reversing its earlier pledge to keep the waterway open for managed passage. All three vessels are flagged as high sanctions‑risk by Windward, yet...
Iran-Krieg: Straße Von Hormus: Welche Fragen Sich Jetzt Stellen
Iran announced it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz just before the cease‑fire was set to expire, then reversed the decision hours later, blaming the U.S. naval blockade. President Trump downplayed the move, saying negotiations were proceeding well, while the...
Strait of Hormuz Shut, US Blockade Intensifies, and Gunfire Reported
The Strait of Hormuz was abruptly closed after Iranian Revolutionary Guard gunships attacked a tanker and a cargo vessel, prompting the UK military to confirm the incidents. The United States responded with an intensified naval blockade while President Biden signaled...
Closed? Open? Closed? Why Is Iran Changing Course on the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran abruptly re‑imposed shipping restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz just hours after announcing it was fully open to commercial vessels. Chinese analysts interpret the move as a leverage tactic ahead of a looming cease‑fire deadline and potential talks with...
Low-Cost Community Solar Keeps Growing Despite Tide Of Negative Federal Policy
Community solar in the United States surpassed the 10‑gigawatt milestone in 2025 and now boasts an 8‑gigawatt development pipeline, despite a hostile federal policy shift. Dimension Energy, a fast‑growing player, closed a $650 million financing round to build 132 megawatts of projects...
Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Refineries Hours After US Waives Sanctions on Moscow’s Oil
Ukraine’s drone forces struck two major oil refineries in the Samara region, a terminal in Krasnodar, the Baltic port of Vysotsk and a depot in Sevastopol overnight. The attacks came hours after the U.S. Treasury issued a second waiver allowing...
Reopening Strait of Hormuz Would Ease Oil Crisis but Only So Much
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy, remains under "strict" Iranian control despite talk of reopening. Even a full opening would require weeks before Persian Gulf oil and gas reach international markets, leaving supply tight. Prices for...
Texas Upstream Employment Declines, Hiring Demand Remains Strong, TIPRO Says
Texas upstream employment slipped by 900 jobs between January and February 2026, with losses in both oil and natural‑gas extraction and support activities. Despite the dip, the state posted 8,554 unique oil and gas job openings in February, keeping it...
Energy NL Names New Board, Chair to Guide Newfoundland Offshore Energy Industry
Energy NL announced a refreshed board of directors after its annual meeting in St. John’s. Brad Forsey, director of business development at The Cahill Group, was named chair for a one‑year term, with Stephanie Maloney as vice‑chair. Six new directors...
Oil Majors Face Setback in $5 Billion Kashagan Environmental Fine Appeal
Kazakhstan’s Astana court upheld a 2.356 trillion‑tenge ($5 bn) environmental fine against the North Caspian Operating Co., the consortium that runs the Kashagan oil field. The penalty is tied to a broader $166 bn international arbitration involving revenue losses, alleged corruption, and additional...
Scalable Aluminum‐Doped Zinc Oxide Transparent Electrodes via Spatial ALD for High‐Efficiency Perovskite Modules
Researchers used spatial atomic layer deposition (ALD) to create aluminum‑doped zinc oxide (AZO) transparent electrodes with atomic‑level dopant control. By tuning the Al:Zn cycle ratio to 2.4‑4.2% Al, the films achieved a sheet resistance of 3.3 Ω/sq, 90% optical transmittance and...
Ukraine Strikes Two Russian Refineries, Baltic Sea Port
Ukrainian drone forces struck two oil refineries in Russia’s Samara region and set fire to the Vysotsk port terminal in the Leningrad region, according to local governors and Ukrainian officials. The attacks are part of a broader campaign that has...
Magyar Says Druzhba Oil Flows Could Resume Next Week
Hungarian Prime Minister‑designate Peter Magyar announced that oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline could resume next week, ending a months‑long shutdown caused by a Russian drone strike in January. The restart hinges on discussions between MOL chief Zsolt Hernadi and...
EQT Warns of Exit Risks for Alternative Energy Assets Held by PE
EQT AB warns that private‑equity firms are hitting a wall when trying to exit clean‑energy developers and operators, which have ballooned from 1‑2 GW to as much as 8 GW of assets. Traditional buyers can no longer absorb such scale, and IPOs...
Comesa Okays Green Hydrogen Energy Plan
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) approved a 2026 Action Plan and Green Hydrogen Roadmap to diversify its power mix and address chronic supply gaps. The plan establishes a regional Centre of Excellence on Green Hydrogen to...
3 ETFs to Benefit From Oil Price Surge Without Direct Investment
Oil prices have surged, prompting investors to seek indirect exposure through specialized ETFs. The Invesco Dynamic Oil & Gas Services ETF (PXJ) delivered roughly 40% YTD return with a 2.26% dividend yield, while the iShares U.S. Oil Equipment & Services...
Iran Says that Strait of Hormuz Is Closed Once Again, Situation Returns to Previous State
Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz will revert to strict control, effectively re‑closing the waterway after a brief, limited reopening. Tehran blames the United States for not guaranteeing full freedom of navigation, demanding vessel approvals for any transit. Shipping...
CPC to Leave Domestic Gasoline, Diesel Prices Unchanged for Next Week
Taiwan’s state‑run oil supplier CPC Corp. will keep its recommended retail gasoline prices at NT$32.4, NT$33.9 and NT$35.9 per litre and premium diesel at NT$31.0 per litre for the week of April 22‑26. This marks the third straight week of...
Tankers Transit Hormuz Despite Iran Blockade Warning
Two tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz eastbound on April 18, marking the first crude shipments since Iran announced a temporary reopening of the waterway. The VLCC FPMC C Lord, partially loaded in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, headed toward Fujairah...
Oil Plunges, Stocks Jump as Iran Declares Hormuz Open
Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is fully open, ending a blockade that had disrupted one‑fifth of global oil flows. The news sent Brent and WTI crude prices below $90 a barrel, a 9 percent drop from their recent highs near...