Making the Case for Brownfield Battery Builds
Brownfield battery development—building storage on underused legacy power sites—is gaining traction as a faster, lower‑opposition alternative to greenfield projects. Elevate Renewables announced a 50 MW/600 MWh battery at the Bergen Generating Station in New Jersey, leveraging existing grid ties and transmission access. The co‑location strategy promises rapid deployment, especially in capacity‑constrained markets like PJM, by placing storage within high‑value load pockets. While site‑specific constraints remain, developers see brownfields as a scalable path to meet growing reliability needs.
Volta Space Technologies Leverages Government Partnerships and Funding to Develop Laser-Enabled Lunar PV Power Network
Volta Space Technologies is developing LEPTON, a laser‑enabled power‑transmission network that will beam electricity from low‑lunar‑orbit satellites to surface assets. The company secured a slot on Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 2, targeting a 2028 demonstration that will power a lander‑mounted...
Dueling Hormuz Blockades Push World to the Brink
US President Donald Trump announced a US Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz effective April 13, targeting vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports. Iran has responded with a de‑facto toll‑booth regime, charging up to $2 million per ship and laying mines...
ANDRITZ Hydropower Surge Drives Record €3.6bn Order Intake in Q1 2026
ANDRITZ posted a record first‑quarter 2026 order intake of €3.6 billion (about $3.9 billion), a 54% increase year‑over‑year, driven mainly by a wave of mid‑size hydropower contracts. The wins cover upgrades in North America, Europe and South America, as well as new...
Africa: Ecocide in Venezuela - Oil, Mining and the Risks of Foreign Investment
Western oil and mining firms are re‑entering Venezuela after U.S. sanctions licences, but satellite data shows a surge in oil spills, toxic flaring and deforestation. In Lake Maracaibo alone, 504 slicks covering 10,428 km² have been identified, while the Orinoco Belt’s flare...
Energy Prices Have Probably Peaked. What that Means for Stocks, According to Morgan Stanley’s Mike Wilson.
Morgan Stanley’s chief U.S. equity strategist Mike Wilson says the Brent‑WTI spread has likely peaked, signaling the end of the recent oil price spike driven by the Iran‑Hormuz tension. The spread fell from a March high of $13.96 to a...
Guidance: Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Market Orders and Calculator
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has refreshed its domestic bulk LPG market orders and the accompanying tank‑transfer price calculator, the latest update issued on 13 April 2026. The orders limit exclusivity periods to two years, require a 42‑day notice to...
The Future of Uranium Enrichment Is Being Developed Today
Uranium enrichment, a longstanding U.S. vulnerability, is seeing a shift from traditional gas‑centrifuge plants to next‑generation laser technologies. Centrus Energy secured a $900 million DOE contract to expand HALEU and LEU capacity at its Ohio facility, while laser firms Silex/Global Laser...
Vodacom Calls for Collective Action to Decarbonize Africa’s Digital Economy
Vodacom Group released a white paper titled “Decarbonizing Africa’s ICT Sector,” highlighting the continent’s heavy reliance on diesel generators for mobile network power due to weak grid infrastructure. The report argues that telecoms, as major energy consumers, must lead a...
St. Kitts and Nevis Tenders Major Solar-Storage Project
St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) has opened a tender for the island’s first utility‑scale solar‑plus‑storage project, the Basseterre Valley development. The plan calls for 50 MW of solar generation paired with a 30.5 MW/30.5 MWh battery system, marking a major expansion beyond the...
Asian LNG Imports Plummet to Six-Year Low on Middle East Crisis
Asian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports have slumped to the lowest level since June 2020, with the 30‑day moving average falling below 600,000 tons. The decline follows the escalation of the Middle East conflict, which has cut roughly 20% of global LNG...
Oil Tankers Steer Clear of Hormuz Ahead of US Blockade
Two Iranian‑linked tankers left the Gulf on Monday, each carrying roughly 330,000 barrels of oil, as the United States announced a blockade of Iranian ports. President Trump said the Navy would enforce the blockade on vessels entering or exiting Iranian...
Iran-Linked Tankers Sail Through Hormuz Before US Blockade
Two tankers tied to Iran slipped through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, exiting the Gulf just before the United States initiates a blockade of Iranian ports and coastal facilities. The vessel Auroura was loaded with Iranian oil products, while...
Legarda Urges Gov’t: Impose Immediate Suspension of Fuel Excise Tax, VAT on Diesel and Gas as Relief Remains Unfelt
Senator Loren Legarda urged the Philippine government to immediately suspend the excise tax and 12% VAT on diesel and gasoline, saying current relief measures have not reached most citizens. She estimates that removing the ₱6 diesel excise and 12% VAT...
Floatel Seals Equinor Vessel Deal in Brazil
Floatel International has turned a letter of intent into a three‑month contract for its semisubmersible accommodation vessel Floatel Victory at Equinor’s Bacalhau field in Brazil. The work, scheduled to start mid‑2026 after completing the current Karoon campaign, includes options to...
Here’s How Investors Can Position Themselves in the Face of Head-Spinning Swings in Oil Prices
Oil markets have swung wildly since the Middle East conflict escalated, with prices spiking after the Strait of Hormuz shutdown and falling sharply on cease‑fire rumors. Investors who chased the rally as a one‑way trade suffered rapid drawdowns, while those...
Malaysia Faces Energy Emergency Amid Trump’s Hormuz Blockade
Malaysia is confronting an energy emergency after six oil tankers carrying up to 6 million barrels became stranded in the Strait of Hormuz following President Donald Trump's announced blockade. Only one tanker has so far cleared the waterway, and the government...
South Africa's Eskom Selects Thyspunt as Preferred Site for Nuclear Plant Amid Heritage Risk
Eskom has selected Thyspunt on the Eastern Cape as the preferred location for a 5,200 MW nuclear power station, citing better grid access and existing infrastructure. The draft environmental scoping report, prepared by WSP Group Africa, notes no unmitigable environmental constraints...
China Urges Restraint over US Blockade of Strait of Hormuz, Backs Talks
China urged calm and restraint after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to block maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz following failed peace talks in Islamabad. The U.S. Central Command announced a blockade of Iranian ports would begin Monday, raising...
First Solar Project Backed by EU’s Cross-Border Tender Starts Operating
The EU’s first cross‑border renewable tender has funded the 20 MW Loukkaanaro solar park in northern Finland, granting €2.35 million (about $2.7 million) toward a €10 million (≈$11.5 million) project. Managed by regional cooperative Oulun Seudun Sähkö, the park—featuring roughly 30,000 panels—will supply about 4%...
Dynagas LNG: Mispricing Risk, Undervaluing Cash Flow
Dynagas LNG Partners (DLNG) is trading at distressed levels because of its exposure to Russian sanctions and an aging LNG carrier fleet, yet its cash flow remains strong. The company has been actively deleveraging, redeeming $55 million of preferred stock and...
Brazil’s Electricity Regulator ANEEL Delays Energy Storage Rulemaking, Approves Hybrid Solar-BESS
Brazil’s electricity regulator ANEEL approved the country’s first co‑located solar‑battery project—a 1 MW/5 MWh lithium‑ion system attached to the Sol de Brotas 7 solar farm in Bahia—on 2 April. The hybrid plant shares a single grid connection, uses a 2.3 MW power conversion system and...
FPSO Goes Back Into Operation Mode in Eastern Mediterranean
London‑based Energean has brought its FPSO Energean Power back online off Israel’s coast after a 48‑hour restart authorized by the Ministry of Energy. The vessel’s return follows the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which was closed during the U.S.–Israel attack...
Oil Prices Rise as Failed Deal Between U.S. and Iran Raises Risk of Prolonged War
Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel on Monday after the United States and Iran failed to reach a deal in 21 hours of negotiations. West Texas Intermediate May futures jumped 8% to $104.39, while Brent June contracts rose to...
Oil Tycoon Funds Far-Right Candidate Challenging Texas Oilfield Regulator
Incumbent Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright, who led the first major overhaul of Texas oilfield waste rules in four decades, faced a strong primary challenge from Bo French, a far‑right candidate backed by billionaire oil tycoon Tim Dunn and fellow magnate...
Borr Drilling Anticipates Step-Up in Rig Contracting Game
Borr Drilling, the Bermuda‑based offshore driller, announced that its four rigs operating in the Middle East – Arabia III, Groa, Arabia II and Forseti – are set to resume work in April 2026 after recent geopolitical disruptions. The company’s Odin jack‑up, delayed by...
First LNG Shore-to-Ship Bunkering Operation at South Florida Port
Sawgrass LNG & Power completed its first shore‑to‑ship LNG bunkering at Port Everglades on March 26, 2026, fueling the Ritz‑Carlton Yacht Collection vessel Ilma. The operation demonstrates the viability of LNG as a low‑carbon marine fuel for both cruise and cargo traffic in South Florida....
Cooling Solar Modules with Nanofluids Based on Graphene Oxide, Mxene
An international research team combined a three‑dimensional oscillating heat pipe (3D‑OHP) with a surfactant‑free hybrid graphene‑oxide (GO) and MXene nanofluid to passively cool photovoltaic (PV) modules. Field tests on a 50 W panel in Mashhad, Iran, achieved temperature reductions exceeding 24 °C,...
Why Singapore’s Property Slowdown Is the Envy of the Rest of Asia
Singapore faces an energy shock, prompting a S$1 billion ($784 million) aid package to offset fuel costs and support households. Despite the macro backdrop, the city‑state’s housing market remains resilient, with private and HDB resale prices still rising year‑on‑year. The HDB resale...
System Integrator Guoxia’s Revenue and Profits Surge over 100% Amidst Shift to Utility-Scale
Guoxia Technology (02655.HK) posted FY 2025 operating revenue of RMB 2.057 billion (≈$301 million), a 100.6% jump from the prior year, and net profit of RMB 103 million (≈$15 million), up 109.5%. The company’s revenue mix shifted dramatically toward utility‑scale storage, which now accounts for 76.6%...
AESC and NEXTES Sign 1.5 GWh Strategic Supply Agreement, Marking Japan's Largest Energy Storage Cell Order of 2026
AESC and NEXTES have signed a three‑year agreement to supply 1.5 GWh of battery cells for grid‑scale energy storage, the largest single ESS cell order in Japan for 2026. The deal leverages AESC’s 14 gigafactories and its JIS, IEC and UL...
30-Meter Steel Suction Wing System for Oceangoing Vessels Comes to Market
Dutch firm Econowind has launched the 5-series VentoFoil, a 30‑meter steel suction wing designed for deep‑sea vessels. The first commercial unit will be fitted on Boomsma Shipping’s new ship Frisian Future this May, with eight additional wind‑ready vessels slated for...
MyNu Energy Launches Mobile Solar and Battery Energy Storage System
MyNu Energy has introduced the PowerQub‑M, a trailer‑mounted solar and battery energy storage system that pairs a 3 kW demountable solar array with configurable battery packs ranging from 60 kWh to 240 kWh. The unit can supply between 25 kVA and 160 kVA of power...
Hormuz Crisis Signals New Era of Risk for Gulf Energy
The six‑week Iran‑Israel‑U.S. war culminated in Iran’s unprecedented closure of the Strait of Hormuz, halting roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil supply. The shutdown and missile strikes knocked out about 11 million barrels per day of regional production, including Saudi Arabia’s...
“Birds Avoid Turbines:” Two New Studies Suggest Wind Farms Are Not “Killing Machines” After All
Two recent European studies found that wind turbines pose a far lower risk to birds than previously thought. The German offshore study tracked over four million bird movements and recorded avoidance rates of 99.87% at night and 99.86% by day,...
Stryten Launches E-Series AGM Batteries for Telecom and Utility Reliability
Stryten Energy has launched the E‑Series AGM160 and AGM190 multi‑terminal batteries, targeting telecom and electric‑utility backup power. The sealed, maintenance‑free VRLA units can operate at up to 80% depth of discharge and charge rapidly, offering long discharge cycles for harsh...
Oman Offers 5 Oil and Gas Leases
Oman's Energy and Minerals Ministry announced the opening of bidding for five new oil and gas concession areas, covering more than 53,000 square kilometres across the Greater Barik, Sharqiyah Sands Basin, and Eastern Flank provinces. The blocks—12, 16, 42, 45,...
TotalEnergies Finds More Hydrocarbons Offshore Congo
TotalEnergies EP Congo announced a new hydrocarbon discovery on the Moho license offshore Congo, where the MHNM‑6 NFW well intersected a 160‑metre column of high‑quality Albian oil and gas. The find sits near the existing Moho production infrastructure, allowing a...
IESO Signs 20-Year Contracts for 14 Renewable Energy Projects
Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has awarded 20‑year contracts to 14 renewable projects—12 solar and two wind—under its Long‑Term 2 Energy Stream 1 RFP. The projects will deliver more than three terawatt‑hours of electricity each year, a capacity aimed at meeting...
TechnipFMC: Get Out While The Getting Out Is Good
TechnipFMC plc provides offshore and subsea services to the oil‑and‑gas sector, an industry known for sharp cycles and rapid technology shifts. Despite a long‑term trend of demand contraction, the stock trades at a premium with a price‑to‑earnings multiple above 20....
Jupiter, AMPIN Open 1.3 GW Solar Factory in India
Jupiter International and AMPIN Energy Transition have opened a 1.3 GW solar cell and module manufacturing plant in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, under their joint venture AMPIN Solar One. The facility, inaugurated by Odisha’s chief minister, was developed under India’s Production‑Linked Incentive (PLI)...
This Ohio County Put a Ban on Wind and Solar. Will Voters Reverse It?
Richland County, Ohio, used Senate Bill 52 to ban large‑scale wind and solar projects in 11 of its 18 townships last July. A grassroots coalition gathered thousands of signatures to place a referendum on the May 5, 2026 primary ballot, letting voters...
Critical Fires up Hunt for Hidden Lithium in Canada
Critical Resources is launching a focused lithium exploration program across a five‑kilometre corridor at its Corona pegmatite field in Ontario. The campaign aims to uncover concealed spodumene systems that could expand the flagship Mavis Lake deposit, which already hosts 8 million...
Webinar: Energy Security Under Strain - Why Cutting Europe’s Gas Dependency Won’t Be Easy
A webinar on 17 April will examine Europe’s heavy reliance on imported gas—about 70 % of its consumption—against the backdrop of renewed Middle‑East tensions. Speakers from ING will assess short‑term tools to mitigate supply risk and explain why a swift shift to...
Ather Energy Shares Rally 8% While Eicher Motors, Hero MotoCorp Shares Drop up to 4%. Here's Why
Delhi’s draft EV Policy 2026‑2030 proposes up to $360 (₹30,000) subsidies for electric two‑wheelers and $600 (₹50,000) for electric auto‑rickshaws, plus tiered per‑kWh incentives and tax exemptions. The incentives have already reshaped market sentiment, sending Ather Energy’s shares up more than...
Petrobras Gives Out $56 Million Contract Extension to Solstad CSV
Brazilian state oil giant Petrobras has extended its bareboat contract with Solstad Maritime’s construction support vessel Normand Fortress for two more years, worth about $56 million. The vessel will continue providing accommodation services for offshore production on the continental shelf starting...
Asia Markets Trade Lower as Oil Surges After U.S. Moves to Blockade Iran Ports
Asian equity markets slipped on Monday as the United States moved toward a naval blockade of Iranian ports, reigniting fears of a protracted U.S.–Iran conflict. Crude prices surged, with West Texas Intermediate up 8.5% to $104.82 a barrel and Brent...
Rolls Royce Signs Small Nuclear Plants Contract
Rolls‑Royce SMR has secured the UK government’s preferred technology contract for small modular reactors, backed by £2.6 billion (≈ $3.3 billion) allocated in the 2025 Spending Review. The first project will be built at Wylfa on Anglesey, targeting peak construction employment of around...
Trump’s Strait of Hormuz Blockade Risks New Costs for the Global Economy
President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that the U.S. Navy will begin a blockade of all vessels entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that carries roughly one‑fifth of global oil and gas. Iran has effectively shut...
We Lost £3,000 After Collapse of Ikea’s Solar Panel Installer
Ikea’s partnership with European solar installer Soly collapsed, leaving customers like the author out of pocket for a £3,000 (~$3,800) deposit. Although Ikea continued to advertise the partnership, Soly’s UK arm entered liquidation in January 2026 and the retailer offered...