Energy Insiders Podcast: Batteries Take Centre Stage as World Wrestles with Fuel Crisis
In the latest Energy Insiders episode, Iola Hughes of BMI highlights the rapid expansion of battery storage for electric vehicles and grid applications, emphasizing its pivotal role in bolstering energy security amid a global fuel crisis. The discussion covers the surge in diverse battery chemistries, Fortescue Metals Group’s accelerated roadmap to net‑zero emissions, and the emergence of sizable wind projects in Australia. Hosts also debate whether Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will capitalize on this momentum to reshape the nation’s renewable agenda. The podcast is sponsored by Pylon and Evergen.
More than 60% of Home Battery Installations Inspected in Australia Are ‘Substandard’
Australia’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program has installed over 250,000 residential battery systems, delivering roughly 7.7 GWh of storage. A Clean Energy Regulator audit of 1,278 installations found 60.8% substandard and 1.2% unsafe, mainly due to poor wiring and labeling. The sample...
Chevron CEO: People Should Drive Less Amid High Gas Prices
Chevron CEO Andy Walz warned that gas prices are climbing sharply as the conflict with Iran tightens global oil supplies. He urged Americans to curb discretionary driving and adopt energy‑saving habits to offset higher pump costs. Walz’s comments reflect Chevron’s...
What Can Bangladesh Learn From Pakistan’s Solar Shift?
Bangladesh’s reliance on spot LNG after the Iran‑Hormuz crisis cost it roughly $880 million—about 15% of its monthly import bill—while Pakistan avoided spot purchases by shifting to solar, cutting its fossil‑fuel import share to 25%. The divergent strategies highlight the financial...
Qld Reports Progress on Energy Roadmap Six Months After Launch
Six months after its launch, Queensland’s Energy Roadmap is delivering on price, reliability and sustainability goals. The government projects a 10% drop in electricity prices next fiscal year, contrasting a 19.9% rise under the previous administration. More than a gigawatt...
State Threatens to Step in if Regulator and Networks Fail to Remove EV Charging “Handbrakes” And Sort Out Tariffs
Victoria’s Labor government issued a Charging Regulatory Statement outlining four priority actions—network tariff reforms, demand‑charge adjustments, data transparency, and a review of the Victorian Service and Installation Rules—to eliminate “handbrakes” on electric‑vehicle charging. The state warns it will step in...
Orpheus Gears up for Uranium Drilling Push in South Australia
Orpheus Uranium (ASX:ORP) has secured all regulatory approvals to commence drilling at its Frome uranium project in South Australia, adding to existing permits for the Radium Hill South Project. The Frome site sits beside Boss Energy’s Goulds Dam, which hosts...
What Coal Did Today
The RealClearEnergy piece recounts coal’s pivotal role in shaping modern industry, from powering the British Industrial Revolution to fueling the Tennessee Valley Authority’s early electricity generation. It highlights coal’s contribution to the Transcontinental Railroad and global steamship fleets, underscoring its...
Macron, Starmer Rally Allies to Mull over Hormuz Mission
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are chairing a virtual summit of roughly 30 allied nations to discuss a defensive multinational force that would secure the Strait of Hormuz once the US‑Israel‑Iran war ends. The Iranian...
Plugging Into Reality: The ASEAN Power Grid
Southeast Asia’s long‑standing ASEAN Power Grid (APG) vision remains hampered by limited interconnection capacity, fragmented institutions, and regulatory gaps. Indonesia has pledged roughly $38 billion to expand its transmission network, while the World Bank and ADB’s ASEAN Power Grid Financing Initiative...
Major Refinery Fire Won't Lead to Fuel Rationing, Australian PM Says
A fire at Viva's Corio refinery near Geelong burned for 13 hours, slashing output at one of Australia’s two major refineries. The blaze cut diesel production to about 80% and petrol to 60% of normal capacity, but Prime Minister Anthony...
Global Steelmaker POSCO Steps up Involvement in HILT CRC
POSCO Holdings has upgraded its relationship with Australia’s Heavy Industry Low‑carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC) from International Trading Partner to Key Partner. The new status grants POSCO seats on research advisory committees, the ability to propose research priorities,...
Fast-Tracked Waitaha Hydro Project Aims to Strengthen West Coast Energy Resilience
The Waitaha Hydro scheme, a 23 MW run‑of‑river project on New Zealand’s West Coast, has secured fast‑track approval after two decades of planning. Developed by Westpower Limited with Poutini Ngāi Tahu, the plant will generate enough renewable electricity to power roughly 12,000...
Video of the Week: Fleet First, Fuel Later - Asia's Diverging Green Growth
Aviation sustainability in the Asia‑Pacific is moving from advocacy to early execution, as Singapore, Japan and South Korea roll out structured SAF policies. Investment in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel value chain is expanding, yet supply remains limited and costly for...
Permian Holds 55,000 Sub-$50/Bbl Drilling Locations, Analysis Finds
The latest Enverus Intelligence Research analysis estimates the Permian basin holds about 55,000 drilling locations that can break even at under $50 per barrel, a 10% year‑over‑year increase. Including all geologically viable spots, the undeveloped inventory approaches 100,000 locations, with...
Trump Officials Urge U.S. Oil Industry to Increase Production Amid Supply Shock
U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright urged major oil producers to raise output as the Iran‑linked closure of the Strait of Hormuz removed an estimated 16 million barrels per day from global supply. The administration framed the...
ABL, PetroSafe Strengthen Egypt Energy Assets with Safety, Engineering Services MoU
ABL Group has entered a memorandum of understanding with Egypt’s PetroSafe to provide technical safety and engineering services for the nation’s energy assets. The MoU spans offshore and onshore facilities, focusing on through‑life performance, subsea infrastructure, and operational safety. ABL...
Assala Achieves First Oil at Grand N’Gongui Field Onshore Gabon
Assala Gabon announced first oil from the Grand N’Gongui (GNG) onshore field in Gabon on April 16, 2026, transitioning the asset from appraisal to production. The field sits in the Gamba Formation with an estimated 350 million barrels of stock‑tank oil in place...
Mexico’s Oil and Gas Sector Needs Certainty to Drive Investment, AMEXHI Says
The Mexican Association of Hydrocarbons Companies (AMEXHI) endorsed the federal government’s gas strategy aimed at bolstering energy sovereignty, while warning that investment will stall without clearer regulatory and security conditions. The group stressed that competitiveness, regulatory certainty, and physical security...
Petrobras Board Vote Comes Amid Oil Price Surge, Fuel Policy Pressure in Brazil
Petrobras investors will elect a new 11‑member board on Thursday, with the Brazilian government – a 37% shareholder – nominating eight candidates. Two leading shareholder‑advisory firms have put forward an opposition slate that could limit President Lula’s sway over the...
Namibia Fast-Tracks Oil Law Reform Ahead of First Oil as Offshore Activity Accelerates
Namibia is accelerating a petroleum amendment bill to tighten its regulatory framework as offshore activity in the Orange Basin intensifies. President Netumbo Nandi‑Ndaitwah announced the reform at the Namibia International Energy Conference, emphasizing faster decision‑making and clearer investor rules. The...
India to Continue Buying Russian Crude, LPG Despite End of US Sanctions Waiver
India’s major refiners have secured roughly 800,000 tonnes of LPG from Russia, Australia and the United States and are now negotiating additional imports. The United States’ one‑month waiver on sanctions for Russian crude and LPG has expired, but officials say India...
Agrovoltaic Systems Can Save Water, Generating Energy and Making Tomato Cultivation More Sustainable at the Same Time
Researchers from the University of Seville and the Polytechnic University of Madrid demonstrated that tomatoes can be cultivated under photovoltaic panels while generating solar power, creating a dual‑use agrovoltaic system. By pairing regulated deficit irrigation with the shade of solar...
How Much of California’s High Gas Prices Related to War in Iran?
California’s gasoline prices have surged to some of the nation’s highest levels, driven in part by the war in Iran that has tightened global crude supplies. Analysts estimate the conflict adds roughly 10‑15 cents per gallon to the baseline price....
LHM Guidance Revision – Increase FY2026 Production Range
Paladin Energy reported that its Langer Heinrich Mine produced 3.6 million pounds of U₃O₈ in the first nine months of FY2026 and has revised full‑year production guidance to 4.0‑4.4 million pounds, down from 4.5‑4.8 million. The company kept the cost‑of‑production guidance at $3 per...
What Do China’s Provincial Plans Signal for Carbon Emissions?
China’s 2026 provincial work reports reaffirm a green‑development agenda that is tightly coupled with economic growth. The plans spotlight expanding battery storage, scaling hydrogen and nuclear projects, and integrating solar‑wind power with AI‑driven industrial zones. Zero‑carbon parks are slated for...
New Rules to Boost Data Centre Power
Thailand's Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) finalized draft rules that require investors in data centres to post bank guarantees or collateral of 4.5 million baht (about $122,000) per megawatt of power purchased. The measure, aimed at preventing projects from shifting to rival...
Will the Next Great Alaska Pipeline Happen?
Alaska is evaluating an 800‑mile natural‑gas pipeline that could move up to 200 trillion cubic feet of North Slope gas for LNG export. The proposal aims to tap rising global demand, lower energy costs for Alaskans, and generate billions in state...
Welcome RFS Rule Will Boost Iowa's Economy
President Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin unveiled the 2026‑2027 Final Renewable Fuel Standard rule during the White House Great American Agriculture Celebration. The rule raises the biodiesel mandate to 2.5 billion gallons, a significant increase from the previous year. Iowa’s...
US Crude Net Imports Hit Record Low on Export Surge
U.S. crude oil net imports plunged to a historic 66,000 barrels per day in the week ending April 10, the lowest level recorded since weekly data began in 2001. At the same time, exports surged to 5.23 million barrels per day,...
Ministry Mulls Shelving Fuel Loan
Thailand's Energy Ministry is reconsidering a planned 150 billion baht (~$4.2 bn) loan to shore up its Oil Fuel Fund after successful talks with six refineries cut the ex‑refinery diesel price by 2 baht per litre. The fund, which recorded a 60 billion...
Renewable Generation Records Fall Across the UK, as Imported Gas Consumption Tumbles
The UK’s electricity mix is now dominated by renewables, with renewable generation reaching a record 52.5 percent of total output in 2025. Imported primary energy fell to 46 percent, the lowest share since 2004, as North Sea gas production continues to decline....
Making Solar Truly Sustainable: The Case for Recycling End of Life Panels
Corporate sustainability drives rapid solar adoption, but a looming wave of end‑of‑life panels threatens waste management. The EPA estimates 0.17‑1 million metric tons of PV waste by 2030, rising to 10 million tons by 2050, with about 1.7 million tons of recoverable aluminum....
FERC Sets June Deadline to Rewrite Large-Load Grid Rules for AI-Era Power Demand
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) set a June 2026 deadline to rewrite rules governing the interconnection of large loads—defined as 20 MW or more—to the U.S. interstate transmission system. The move follows a Department of Energy advance notice that highlights the...
Rural Co-Ops Navigate a New Era of Load Growth, Rising Costs, and Policy Pressure
Rural electric cooperatives, which power 42 million customers across more than half of the United States, are confronting an unprecedented surge in electricity demand driven by heat‑pump adoption, electric‑vehicle charging, and AI‑powered data centers. At the same time, supply‑chain bottlenecks and...
Energy Officials Pressured to Expand Grid as AI Demand Surges
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told the House Energy and Commerce Committee that exploding AI and data‑center workloads are driving a "huge demand for electricity" and forcing a rapid expansion of generation and transmission capacity. He said the Department of...
Brazil Soy Demand for Biodiesel May Rise by 72pc
Brazil's soybean demand for biodiesel could surge 72% to 74 million tonnes by 2035, driven by a planned increase in the biodiesel blending mandate from 15% to 24%. The soybean oil share of biodiesel feedstock, about 70%, would push oil demand...
Trump List of Saved Projects Spares $5B Hydrogen Hubs
The U.S. Energy Department released a 39‑page list preserving roughly $5 billion in funding for five hydrogen hub projects across Texas, Appalachia, the mid‑Atlantic and the Midwest. The list also reinstates $1.2 billion for two direct‑air capture initiatives and retains $1 billion in...
BBC Inside Science
Marking the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, scientists like Professor Jim Smith of the University of Portsmouth continue to study the exclusion zone’s environmental recovery. Recent observations show pockets of lingering radiation but also robust wildlife populations thriving in...
Top 10 Utility Stocks to Buy Now
The S&P 500 Utilities index has surged 7% year‑to‑date and 33% over the past 12 months, outpacing the broader market as demand from data centers, electric vehicles and manufacturing fuels growth. Morningstar analysts note that earnings are expected to keep...
Brent Oil Price Near $100 Again with U.S.-Iran Talks Uncertain and Hormuz Still Blocked
Brent crude for June delivery rose nearly 5% to close at $99.39 a barrel, nudging the benchmark back toward the $100 mark. Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily restricted as the U.S. Navy maintains a blockade and...
India and Asian Markets Adapt to Middle East LNG Disruption: S&P Global Energy
S&P Global Energy reports that Middle East LNG supply disruptions are prompting Asian markets to adjust. India’s gas allocation prioritises fertilizers, city gas and transport, leaving power, refining and petrochemicals vulnerable. South Asian countries face demand destruction through rationing and...
Mazda Hits the Road to Carbon-Neutral Motoring
Mazda is advancing algae‑derived biofuels that can run existing internal‑combustion engines with net‑zero or even carbon‑negative emissions. The company has demonstrated small‑batch production, using roughly 1,000 litres of water to yield one litre of fuel over two weeks, proving technical feasibility....
ARA Jet Fuel Stocks at Six-Year Low: Insights Global
Jet fuel inventories at the Amsterdam‑Rotterdam‑Antwerp (ARA) hub fell 7.6% to roughly 600,000 t in the week to 15 April, marking the lowest level since April 2020. The decline follows a second consecutive week of draws, driven by disrupted Middle‑East supplies after the...
Rotterdam 1Q Bunker Sales Fall Sharply
Rotterdam’s conventional marine fuel sales slumped 28% year‑over‑year in Q1 2026 after the Netherlands enforced the EU’s RED III mandate, prompting many shipowners to bypass the port. VLSFO volumes plunged 44% to roughly 440,000 t, while HSFO, ULSFO, MGO and MDO also saw...
Maine Moves to Pause Data Centers Before Demand Arrives
Maine lawmakers approved the nation’s first statewide moratorium on large data centers, banning permits for facilities of 20 MW or more until November 1 2027. The pause is enforced while a newly formed Maine Data Center Coordination Council evaluates the projects’ impact on...
Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia Engine Gets a Power Rating Increase
Wärtsilä has boosted the output of its four‑stroke Wärtsilä 25 ammonia engine, delivering 315 kW per cylinder at 900 rpm and 345 kW at 1,000 rpm. The upgrade raises total power to 1.9‑3.1 MW, aligning the ammonia version with the LNG‑fuel Wärtsilä 25DF. Fewer cylinders are needed...
UK Jet Fuel Supply OK for Now, Outlook Uncertain
UK jet fuel supplies are presently stable, but industry leaders warn that visibility beyond the next six weeks is limited. The disruption of Middle East exports caused by the US‑Israel conflict with Iran has heightened concerns across Europe. Refineries such...
Hydropower Expected to Bounce Back From the West’s Snow Drought
The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects hydropower generation to rise 5% in 2026, reaching 259 billion kilowatt‑hours (BkWh) and accounting for roughly 6% of total electricity. While output will still sit 1.8% below the ten‑year average because of lingering snow‑drought...
India’s Oil and Gas Crisis Is a Wake-Up Call for Transport Electrification
India’s oil and gas supply shock from the West Asia conflict highlighted the nation’s heavy reliance on imports and accelerated its push for transport electrification. The government responded by diversifying crude sources to 40 countries, boosting LPG output and rationing...