Kolhapur Industrialists Threaten Protest Against Grid Support Charges Imposed on Solar Power Installations
Kolhapur’s commerce and industrial groups are threatening street protests and a possible relocation of solar projects to Karnataka unless the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) withdraws its new grid‑support charges on rooftop solar systems above 10 kW. MERC has fixed the fee at ₹1.96 per kW (about $0.024) for 2026‑27, with a planned increase to ₹2.32 per kW (≈$0.028) in later years. Industry leaders argue the charge, combined with restrictions on energy banking and higher peak‑hour tariffs, makes large‑scale rooftop solar financially untenable. They warn the policy could erode investor confidence, raise electricity costs for all consumers, and trigger job losses in the state’s growing clean‑energy sector.
Fabricating Perovskite Solar Cells with Robotic Boxes
An international team unveiled an AI‑driven robotic platform that autonomously designs, fabricates, and optimizes perovskite solar cells. The closed‑loop system produced and tested 50,764 devices, achieving a peak power conversion efficiency of 27% (certified 26.5%). The workflow combines a recipe...
War in Iran Is Causing Biggest Energy Crisis in History, IEA Says
The International Energy Agency’s chief, Fatih Birol, warned that the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel has triggered the worst energy crisis in history. The conflict has choked the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for about 20% of...
Dutch Activists Launch New Case Against Shell Over Emissions
Dutch climate group Friends of the Earth Netherlands filed a fresh lawsuit in The Hague demanding Shell immediately cease investing in new oil and gas projects. The case builds on a 2024 appeals ruling that held Shell responsible for cutting...
Norway's March Oil, Gas Output Tops Forecast
Norway’s offshore sector delivered 0.691 million standard cubic metres per day in March, equating to 4.35 million barrels of oil equivalent, surpassing the regulator’s forecast by 2.8%. Crude‑oil output jumped 8.1% year‑on‑year to 1.94 million barrels per day, outpacing the 1.80 million‑bpd estimate. Natural‑gas...
Reading the 2026 Fuel Adjustment: A Middle-Class Story
Indonesia’s April 2026 fuel-price adjustment raised only select nonsubsidized grades—Pertamax Turbo, Dexlite and Pertamina Dex—while keeping Pertamax, the most common fuel, and the subsidized Pertalite unchanged. The move shields the poorest but shifts the burden to the middle class, whose...
The World Is Embracing Offshore Wind — Even as the US Retreats
Global offshore wind capacity grew 16% in 2025, adding over 9 GW to bring the total to about 92 GW worldwide, while the United States has stalled under the Trump administration’s leasing freeze. Europe and Asia are accelerating projects, with the United...
Haryana Turns the Heat on Power Thieves, to Recover ₹8.2k Cr
The Haryana government has launched a crackdown to recover roughly ₹8,200 crore (about $1 billion) in unpaid electricity bills, using the Land Recovery Act to attach properties of defaulters. Consumers have a 15‑day window to settle dues before civil recovery and possible...
Asia’s Largest Oil Buyers Running Low on Hormuz Alternatives
Asia’s biggest oil importers—including China, India, Japan and South Korea—have relied on a patchwork of alternative routes and supplies for more than seven weeks of war in the Persian Gulf, which has threatened the strategic Strait of Hormuz. These workarounds,...
Insurance Premiums Trending Down Despite Severe Weather Threat for Solar
Australian renewable energy underwriter Tokio Marine GX says insurance premiums for large‑scale solar, wind and battery projects are set to fall in 2026, though the decline is uneven. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are seeing faster premium reductions thanks to...
Malaysia Consumes 700,000 Barrels of Oil a Day, Twice Its Daily Production, so Importing Still Needed – MoF
Malaysia consumes about 700,000 barrels of oil each day, roughly twice its domestic production of 350,000 barrels. To meet the shortfall, the country imports roughly 48% of its crude, with about 40% of those imports transiting the conflict‑affected Strait of...
The Forces of Scarcity Hitting Asia May Soon Spread Across the World
The United States and Israel’s war on Iran has triggered a rapid, region‑wide scarcity shock across the Asia‑Pacific. Jet fuel prices have doubled and air traffic has fallen by roughly a third, while manufacturers face fuel‑driven cuts to output, from...
WindEurope's 10-Point Plan to Boost Wind Power in Face of Iran Energy Crisis
WindEurope unveiled a 10‑point plan aimed at accelerating wind‑power deployment across Europe. The roadmap targets faster permitting, grid reinforcement, and new financing tools to help the continent reduce its dependence on oil and gas. It comes as the ongoing conflict...
Cellcentric Launches 375 kW Truck Fuel Cell System
cellcentric introduced the BZA375, a 375 kW heavy‑duty fuel‑cell system weighing under 500 kg, at Hannover Messe 2026. The single‑module design replaces the twin‑stack BZA150, delivering 20% lower hydrogen consumption and 40% higher power density. It fits 13‑litre diesel engine bays, targets...
'Price of Red Diesel Is Putting Us in the Red'
UK farmers are grappling with a steep rise in red diesel, the off‑road fuel used for tractors, which jumped from about £0.78 per litre ($1.00) before the Middle‑East conflict to £1.38 ($1.75) on Monday – a 56% increase. The price...
Enercon Profitable Again but CEO Rules Out Discounts Amid Falling Onshore Tender Prices
German wind turbine manufacturer Enercon reported an operational profit for 2025, marking a turnaround after years of losses. Despite the rebound, CEO Udo Bauer said the company will not offer temporary discounts to developers, even as onshore wind tender prices...
Labour’s Great Green Energy Plan Could Be a Legacy as Vital as the NHS | Polly Toynbee
Labour is positioning its green energy programme, led by Ed Miliband, as a transformative legacy comparable to the NHS. The plan promises to boost domestic renewable generation to 95 % of electricity by 2030, backed by new offshore wind, the largest‑ever...
Sadhbh O'Neill: The Simple Text Message that Helped France Reduce Its Electricity Usage by 10%
France’s grid operator launched the Ecowatt app, sending colour‑coded text alerts that prompted households to shift usage away from peak periods. The campaign, part of a 15‑point “energy sobriety” plan, trimmed electricity consumption by 10% in December 2022. Across the EU,...
Uganda’s Power Paradox: Cheap for Industry, Costly for Households
Uganda offers the continent’s second‑lowest industrial electricity tariff at $0.055/kWh, yet its residential price sits at $0.206/kWh, the second‑highest among COMESA members. The disparity stems from a deliberate policy to subsidize manufacturing and spur industrialisation, even as the country enjoys...
“It Should Not Be Rushed:” Bowen Says Road User Charge Will only Happen “when It Is Ready”
Australian climate minister Chris Bowen cautioned that a road‑user charge for electric vehicles will only be introduced when the policy framework is ready, rejecting calls for an immediate tax. Motoring groups have floated a 3 c per kilometre levy, roughly $400...
Kudlow - Monday, April 20
Fox Business aired a 41‑minute episode of "Kudlow" on Monday, April 20, where host Larry Kudlow examined three high‑profile issues: the Iranian regime’s aggressive posture, U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith’s ongoing investigations, and the risk of a Hormuz Strait blockade....
The Commodities Feed: Peace Talk Optimism Clouds Reality
Oil markets rallied on optimism that renewed US‑Iran peace talks could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but analysts warn the price gains under‑price the ongoing supply disruption. European gas prices remain low, with the Dutch TTF below €40/MWh despite a...
Luis Yanza, Campaigner Who Battled Big Oil in the Amazon Rainforest
Luis Yanza, the grassroots organizer who linked more than 80 Amazon villages to the multibillion‑dollar Chevron lawsuit, died on March 27, 2026. He helped build the legal strategy that led to a 2012 Ecuadorian court ordering Chevron to pay billions...
Oil Falls as Investors Assess Mixed Messaging on Iran Peace Talks Ahead of Ceasefire Deadline
Oil prices slipped on Tuesday as investors weighed mixed signals from the United States and Iran ahead of a looming cease‑fire deadline. Vice President JD Vance is expected to head a U.S. delegation to Pakistan, while Iran’s parliamentary speaker warned...
Ed Miliband Declares the End of the Fossil Fuel Era
Britain’s Energy Secretary Ed Miliband announced that the era of fossil fuels is over, unveiling a suite of clean‑energy measures aimed at reducing household bills ahead of upcoming elections. The most significant step is Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s plan to de‑link...
WindEurope 2026: Stillstrom Launches Offshore Charging Systems
Stillstrom unveiled two standalone offshore charging systems—the Power Hub and Power Tower—at WindEurope 2026. Both solutions can be installed without tying into existing turbine infrastructure, allowing flexible deployment across current and future offshore wind farms. The Power Hub is a...
Range Resources Corp (RRC) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Range Resources reported Q1 2026 guidance of 2.35‑2.4 Bcfe per day, backed by a $650‑$700 million capital plan focused on maintenance and modest growth. The company generated over $650 million of free cash flow in 2025, benefitting from a $0.17 per Mcfe...
Forty Years After Chornobyl, More Nuclear Disasters Are Inevitable — Plan for Them
Forty years after Chernobyl, Alexandra Bell warns that additional nuclear catastrophes are inevitable as the world embarks on a new nuclear renaissance. She cites the Chernobyl and Fukushima meltdowns as stark reminders of low‑probability, high‑impact risks. Rising energy demand, climate‑change...
Halliburton Co (HAL) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Halliburton posted full‑year 2025 revenue of $22.2 billion with an adjusted operating margin of 14%, generating $2.9 billion of cash flow from operations and returning 85% of free cash flow to shareholders. International revenue fell only 2% year‑over‑year, outpacing a 7% rig‑count...
EQT Corp (EQT) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
EQT Corporation reported a record $2.5 billion free cash flow for 2025, driven by strong base production, 13% lower well‑cost per lateral foot, and a $200 million uplift from marketing optimization. Compression projects delivered a 15% production boost, while lease operating expenses...
US LNG Growth with First Export at Golden Pass and Tug Order for Woodside
Golden Pass LNG, a QatarEnergy‑ExxonMobil joint venture in Texas, docked its first LNG tanker, the Al Qaiyyah, signaling the start of commercial shipments. The facility is currently producing about 400 million cubic feet per day, roughly half of its intended capacity,...
Russia Threatens Europe as Ukraine Escalates Strikes on Putin’s Oil Industry
Ukraine has dramatically escalated its drone campaign against Russia’s oil terminals, pipelines and refineries, slashing export capacity by roughly 40 percent. The surge reflects a maturing domestic drone industry that in March 2026 launched more cross‑border attacks than Russia for...
Hong Kong: AI-Driven Systems to Power a Sustainable Energy Future
The 2026 Belt and Road Advanced Programme in Power and Energy concluded in Hong Kong, showcasing AI‑driven solutions for modern power grids. Participants demonstrated machine‑learning cable diagnostics, 3‑D GIS digital twins, and intelligent dispatch systems that improve reliability and integrate...
The 'Dumb Machine' Promising a Clean Energy Breakthrough
Proxima Fusion, a German‑based startup, is racing to build a tokamak‑style fusion reactor dubbed Alpha, relying on ultra‑complex magnetic coils that it hopes to mass‑produce far faster and cheaper than traditional designs. The company leverages Germany’s deep CNC machining talent...
'Double Down Not Back Down': Government to Announce Wave of Measures to Accelerate Clean Tech Deployment
Ed Miliband announced a new government package aimed at speeding up clean‑technology deployment across the United Kingdom. The plan includes installing renewable energy systems on public‑sector buildings, simplifying planning approvals for green projects, and separating gas and electricity prices from...
UK Shifts Older Wind and Solar Farms to Fixed-Price Deals to Reduce Price Shocks
The UK Treasury will raise the windfall tax on electricity generators from 45% to 55% unless they sign long‑term fixed‑price contracts, known as contracts for difference (CfDs). The move targets legacy wind and solar farms that currently earn subsidies on...
Turning Point? Clean Energy Met 100% of World’s New Power Needs in 2025: Report
Ember’s 2025 Global Electricity Review shows clean‑power generation rose by 887 TWh, outpacing the 849 TWh increase in total electricity demand. Renewables supplied 34 percent of global electricity, overtaking coal’s 33 percent share for the first time, and coal generation fell below one‑third of...
UK to Streamline Planning Rules to Unlock Grid Infrastructure
The UK government announced on 21 April that new planning rules will let larger electricity substations be built without full applications, speeding grid connections for homes, businesses, EV chargers and data centres. The package also creates streamlined routes for routine grid...
Golden Pass Texas Facility Ready for Inaugural LNG Export
Golden Pass LNG in Texas received its first export cargo as the Al Qaiyyah tanker, owned by QatarEnergy, docked on Monday. The plant, which began production earlier this year after years of delays and cost overruns, processed 400 million cubic feet of...
Everllence Ammonia Engine Passes Factory Acceptance Test
Everllence announced the successful factory acceptance test of its first dual‑fuel ammonia‑burning engine, the B&W 6G60ME‑LGIA, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries' licensee in South Korea. The engine will power a vessel for Singapore‑based Eastern Pacific Shipping, slated for delivery in October 2026,...
EVs Are Driving Cleaner Automotive Supply Chains — Here’s How
The new Lead the Charge Auto Supply Chain Leaderboard shows that EV manufacturers are outpacing gasoline‑car makers in battery recycling, low‑carbon steel and aluminium use, and responsible mineral sourcing. Tesla disclosed detailed emissions hotspots in its battery chain, while Mercedes,...
Permitting Reform Needed As Energy, Data Center Demand Surges
Federal permitting rules are under pressure as U.S. energy and data‑center demand surge, with industry leaders warning that review processes can stretch four to five years. Speakers at an American Enterprise Institute panel highlighted the fragmented involvement of the Interior,...
Spot Prices Wrap: Cash Climbs as Natural Gas Demand, Supply Indicators Trend Bullish
Natural gas futures posted a fourth consecutive session of modest gains as cooler weather and robust LNG exports lifted demand, while U.S. storage reports show a growing surplus. Traders remain cautious amid lingering geopolitical tension from the Iran‑U.S. conflict, which...
Why Coal Is Surging
Coal is experiencing a notable resurgence, driven by renewed demand across multiple regions. The article highlights coal’s historic role in powering industrialization and electrification, then points to a contemporary uptick in production and consumption. Recent data show global output climbing...
Surge in Global Wind Energy Capacity Growth to Propel MPV Volumes
Analysts project a surge in global wind energy capacity, adding roughly 320 GW between 2026 and 2030—about 200 GW onshore and 123 GW offshore, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. This rapid expansion will keep multipurpose and specialist installation vessels (MPVs) busy,...
Electric Cooperative Leaders Advocate for Federal Policies Essential to Maintaining Affordable, Reliable Power
Around 1,500 electric cooperative leaders will convene in Washington, D.C., to press federal lawmakers for policies that safeguard affordable, reliable power. Representing utilities that serve 42 million customers across more than half of the nation’s land, they warn that grid reliability...
Oil Prices Rise After Trump Says Iranian Ship Seized
Global oil markets surged after President Donald Trump announced the U.S. Navy seized an Iran‑flagged cargo vessel, pushing Brent crude over 4% to $94.20 a barrel. The move follows Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that...
Fronius Releases Microgrid Interconnect Device EBLU
Fronius introduced the Essential Backup Load Unit (EBLU), a micro‑grid interconnect device that works with its GEN24 Plus hybrid inverter. The unit automatically disconnects the home from the utility grid during outages, allowing solar and battery storage to supply essential loads...
Crude Surges On Renewed Hormuz Fears
Oil and gas markets surged on April 20 as renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz threatened to choke a quarter of global energy flows. Brent crude jumped 5.6% to about $95.50 a barrel and WTI rose 6.9% to $89.61,...
Futures Settle: Natural Gas Extends Quiet Winning Streak as LNG, Cool Temps Boost Demand
Natural‑gas futures posted a fourth straight session of modest gains as the market balanced comfortable supply with supportive demand cues. Midwest storage inventories remain below seasonal norms, heightening sensitivity to weather‑driven price moves ahead of the refill period. LNG feed‑gas...