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Round bales of straw drying on the field are seen in front of the power station operated by RWE AG near Rommerskirchen, Germany on August 10, 2021. The cost of natural gas and electricity has surged across Europe.
Ying Tang | NurPhoto | Getty Images

LONDON — European power prices have spiraled to multi-year highs on a confluence of factors in recent weeks, ranging from extremely strong commodity and carbon prices to low wind output.

What’s more, the record run in energy prices is not expected to end any time soon, with energy analysts warning market nervousness is likely to persist throughout winter.

The October gas price at the Dutch TTF hub, a European benchmark, was seen to climb to a record high of 79 euros ($93.31) a megawatt-hour on Wednesday. The contract has risen more than 250% since January, according to Reuters, while benchmark power contracts in France and Germany have both doubled.

In the U.K., where electricity bills are now the most expensive in Europe, power prices have soared amid the country’s high dependence on gas and renewables to generate electricity.

British day-ahead electricity prices rose nearly 19% to reach 475 pounds ($656.5) on Wednesday, Reuters reported. The contract was already trading near record highs shortly after a fire at a U.K.-France power link cut electricity imports to Britain.

“By far the biggest factor is gas prices,” Glenn Rickson, head of European power analysis at S&P Global Platts Analytics, told CNBC via email.

Higher gas prices have also been a “big driver” in lifting carbon and coal prices to record highs too, Rickson said, although he noted there are other supporting factors at play, such as low wind generation and nuclear plant unavailability across the continent.

Carbon prices in Europe have nearly trebled this year as the European Union reduces the supply of emissions credits. The EU’s benchmark carbon price climbed above 60 euros per metric ton for the first time ever in recent weeks, trading slightly below this threshold on Thursday.

The EU’s Emissions Trading System is the world’s largest carbon trading program, covering around 40% of the bloc’s greenhouse gas emissions and charging emitters for every metric ton of carbon dioxide they emit. Record carbon prices have made highly polluting sources of energy generation even less attractive because coal, for example, emits more carbon dioxide when burnt.

Rickson said the outlook for European power prices this winter will be “highly dependent” on gas prices, adding that he expects gas prices to rise even further in the coming months. “Aside from the ‘average’ picture, we expect prices to be highly volatile, with swings from low or even negative hourly prices when wind generation is high, to very high prices as already seen when wind is low, and demand is high.”

How did we get here?

European gas prices have accelerated since the start of April, when unseasonably cold weather conditions meant Europe’s gas in storage dipped below the pre-pandemic five-year average, indicating a potential supply crunch.

Europe has since struggled to bring gas supplies that are necessary for the winter period back to where they should be. An economic rebound as countries eased Covid-19 restrictions also coincided with higher-than-expected demand that led to a shortage of gas.

An output filtration facility of a gas treatment unit at the Slavyanskaya compressor station (operated by Gazprom), the starting point of the Nord Stream 2 offshore natural gas pipeline. According to Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, the construction of Nord Stream 2 will be completed by the end of this year.
Peter Kovalev | TASS | Getty Images

Further to this, Russia has been seen to slow its delivery of piped natural gas to the region, raising questions about whether this may be a deliberate move to bolster its case for starting flows via Nord Stream 2. The controversial pipeline, bringing natural gas to Europe from Russia, bypassing Ukraine and Poland, is soon expected to be fully operational and could resolve some of the region’s supply problems.

This deficit is “making the market nervous as we approach winter,” Stefan Konstantinov, senior analyst at ICIS Energy, a commodity intelligence service, told CNBC. “That is coupled with the very significant competition for LNG supplies from Asia and South America, which is driving gas prices up.”

Climate crisis concerns

Earlier this month, soaring gas prices and low wind output prompted the U.K. to fire up an old coal power plant to meet its electricity needs.

The move raises serious questions about the government’s environmental commitments amid the climate crisis. To be sure, coal is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel in terms of emissions and therefore the most important target for replacement in the proposed pivot to renewable alternatives.

When asked how the U.K.’s decision to turn to coal could possibly be squared with the urgent need to dramatically scale down fossil fuel use, Konstantinov replied: “It’s a bit ironic isn’t it?”

Activists march with flags and placards, during the march at Extinction Rebellion’s Nature Protest held in Central London about how nature is in crisis.
Loredana Sangiuliano | SOPA Images | LightRocket | Getty Images

“If there was enough wind, it could maybe meet more than half or two-thirds of U.K. power demand on a relatively low power demand day. But instead what we are seeing is that actually we’ve got no wind and we are forced to fire up polluting coal-fired generation.”

“At first glance, that doesn’t tally up with the government’s ambition to decarbonize. But this is very much driven by the intermittent nature of renewables: both wind and solar,” he added.

The U.K. has committed to phasing out coal power completely by Oct. 2024 to cut carbon emissions.

“The fundamental drivers, i.e. high gas prices and high carbon prices, we at ICIS believe they are here to stay for the coming months,” Konstantinov said.

Analysts at Wood Mackenzie, a global natural resources consultancy, also expect U.K. and European gas prices “to remain elevated at current levels throughout winter.”

“A recovery in UK gas production is critical for this winter,” they added. “And going forward, investment into domestic gas supply remains crucial to ensure a smooth energy transition to renewables and new technologies.”

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The Cadillac Escalade IQ will be GM’s first vehicle with eyes-off driving

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October 22, 2025

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The Cadillac Escalade IQ will be GM's first vehicle with eyes-off driving

GM-eyes-off-driving

GM vehicles will soon offer eyes-off driving, starting with the Cadillac Escalade IQ. The company introduced two new AI advancements that GM says won’t just move you, but adapt and improve over time.

GM introduces eyes-off driving and conversational AI

Starting in 2028, GM will introduce eyes-off driving on highways. The feature will debut on the Cadillac Escalade IQ before rolling out to other GM vehicles.

GM announced two new AI advancements that will serve as the foundation for its next-gen intelligent vehicles: eyes-off driving and conversational AI.

Both will run on a new centralized computing platform that controls the vehicle’s propulsion, steering, braking, infotainment, and safety features through a “high-speed Ethernet backbone.” According to GM, the platform delivers 35 times more AI performance and 1,000 times more bandwidth than its previous systems.

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Since its launch in 2017, GM said that Super Cruise has proven that advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) can scale safely.

Super Cruise, which is now offered on 23 GM vehicles, has already enabled over 700 million hands-free miles without a single crash.

GM-eyes-off-driving-Cadillac-Escalade
Cadillac Escalade IQL interior (Source: GM)

The eyes-off system will combine Super Cruise with GM’s Cruise Technology Stack. Unlike vision-only systems, GM will use LiDAR, radars, and cameras that will be integrated directly into the vehicle’s design.

GM’s setup is based on sensor fusion, which combines information from the various sensors to create a detailed view of the vehicle’s surroundings and what’s on the road ahead.

The result, according to GM, is “a vehicle designed to handle the drive when you want it to, with the safety and precision you expect from its vehicles.”

GM-eyes-off-driving-platform
GM’s next-gen software-defined vehicle (SDV) platform (Source: GM)

That’s not all. Starting next year, GM vehicles will feature conversational AI, powered by Google Gemini. The service delivers a more human-like experience. Drivers will be able to create and send messages, plan trips, and more.

Looking ahead, GM plans to introduce its own custom-built AI, which the company said will be more personalized with new capabilities.

GM is among several automakers planning to launch eyes-off over the next few years, including Rivian, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Stellantis, and others.


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Jackery Halloween Sale takes up to 56% off power stations from $79, Autel EV charger rare discount, Anker solar security cam low, more

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October 22, 2025

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Jackery Halloween Sale takes up to 56% off power stations from , Autel EV charger rare discount, Anker solar security cam low, more


Leading today’s Green Deals is Jackery’s newly launched Halloween Sale that is taking up to 56% off power stations and accessories, complete with bonus 5% and 7% savings. Among the lineup, we spotted a returning Prime Day low on the HomePower 3000 Portable Power Station bundled with two 200W solar panels at $1,499. From there, we also have a rare discount hitting Autel’s MaxiCharger Home AC Elite 40A smart AI level 2 EV charging station at $392, as well as Anker’s eufy SoloCam S220 Solar Security Camera back at its $60 Prime Day low. There’s also an EGO leaf blower, some low prices on BougeRV equipment, and much more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about the hangover deals that are collected together at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s launch discounts on the new Jackery Explorer 600 v2 power station, the returning Prime Day low on Anker’s SOLIX F3000 station, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Save up to 56% on power stations during Jackery’s Halloween Sale with bonus 5% and 7% savings starting from $79

Hot on the heels of Jackery’s new Explorer 600 v2 station launch, the brand has now got its Halloween Sale going with up to 56% discounts on power stations, along with extra 5% and 7% savings on orders over $1,300 and $2,500 using the given codes. Among the lineup, we spotted Jackery’s new HomePower 3000 Portable Power Station bundled with two 200W solar panels for $1,499 shipped, which is sadly the one series that is excluded from the extra savings codes, though it is beating out Amazon’s pricing by $100. Normally $2,999 at full price, we’ve been seeing it regularly taken down to $1,599 since hitting the market in May, with the recent Prime Day Sale event seeing the first appearance of this same rate. Now it’s coming back for a second chance opportunity, giving you a $1,500 markdown back to the all-time lowest price. Head below for more on this and all the other units seeing discounts.

You’ll be getting far more extensive backup support with this HomePower 3000 bundle, which starts things off at a 3,072Wh LiFePO4 capacity that is supported by an upgraded battery management system alongside the ChargeShield 2.0 tech we’ve seen in all the brand’s second-generation variants. This station puts out a steady power stream of up to 3,600W, with the capability to surge as high as 7,200W, making it quite capable of home backup support, as well as short-term off-grid support during trips. There are 12 output port options here, with RV rovers able to benefit from the TT-30R port too.

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There are five main ways to recharge the battery here, with the bundle providing you 400W of its max 1,000W solar input for charging in the sun, while you could also top it off with a standard AC outlet, a gas generator, your car’s auxiliary cigarette lighter port, or by using both AC and DC together for the shortest charge time of 1.7 hours.

***Note: The prices below have not had the bonus savings factored in, so be sure to use the code OFFER5 on orders over $1,300 and OFFER7 on orders over $2,500 for the best deals – but keep in mind these codes do not work on the HomePower 3000 units.

Jackery’s Halloween Sale deals for individual appliance power:

Jackery’s Halloween Sale deals for home backup power:

Jackery’s Halloween Sale deals for short-term off-grid adventures:

Jackery’s Halloween Sale solar panel/battery deals:

Jackery’s transfer switch and other deals:

As I previously mentioned, Jackery also just launched its newest Explorer 600 v2 power station with a solar bundle option at up to $120 off, starting from $380. 

car charging from Autel MaxiCharger Home AC Elite EV charger

Autel’s MaxiCharger Home AC Elite 40A smart AI level 2 EV charging station gets rare discount to $392

By way of the official Autel Amazon storefront, you can pick up the rarely discounted MaxiCharger Home AC Elite 40A Smart AI Level 2 EV Charger at $392.30 shipped, with two plug options to choose from: either a NEMA 14-50 plug or a NEMA 6-50 plug. Both models are coming down from their full $559 tags here, with the brand’s website offering them still at full price. This model only saw one previous discount over the year, which dropped the price $1 lower way back in January, and otherwise keeping at its full price. Now, we’re getting the second price cut of the year, with the 30% markdown cutting $167 off the going rate for the third-lowest overall price that we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this EV charging station, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Anker eufy Solocam S220 solar security camera mounted to wall in rain

Prime Day pricing returns to Anker’s solar-charging eufy SoloCam S220 for a $60 low

Coming to us through the official eufy Amazon storefront, Anker is bringing back Prime Day pricing on the SoloCam S220 Solar Security Camera for $59.99 shipped, after clipping the on-page coupon. While this single-camera unit carries a $100 MSRP, we’ve been seeing it keep down at $70 here at Amazon, with the cost taken down to this low rate for the first time during the recent Prime Day event two weeks ago. Now, it’s coming back around to give folks another chance at upgrading their home security with $40 off the MSRP at the best price we have tracked. While this price beats out the two and three-pack values, you can pick up four of these cameras at $229.99 shipped right now, saving you $10 over buying four separate cameras.

If you want to learn more about this solar security device, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

EGO Power+ 56V 615 CFM cordless leaf blower

Get up to 615 CFM of clearing power with this EGO 56V cordless electric leaf blower at $150

Amazon is offering the EGO Power+ 56V 615 CFM Cordless Leaf Blower with 2.5Ah battery at $149.91 shipped. While you can find it listed at various retailers as high as $220, we’ve seen it keeping down at $199 since the end of August, with the only discount from 2025 that beats this rate being a fall to the $140 low back from March. Aside from that, you’re otherwise looking at the next-best price of the year, with $49 cut from the tag here.

If you want to learn more about this leaf blower, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Best Fall EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.


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Take Back Tesla urges pension funds to vote ‘no’ on Musk’s $1 trillion pay day

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October 22, 2025

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Take Back Tesla urges pension funds to vote 'no' on Musk's trillion pay day


A new campaign is adding to the growing chorus of pushback against Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s absurdly large proposed $1 trillion pay package, this time led by unions and public interest groups. The campaign encourages individuals to get in contact with their pension or retirement funds and ask them to vote against Musk’s payday.

In September, Tesla’s board proposed a stock award worth up to $1 trillion for CEO Elon Musk. It includes several milestones regarding Tesla stock and product performance, each of which unlocks tens of billions of dollars for Musk.

It’s the largest award proposed for any CEO of any company by multiple orders of magnitude – with previous proposed Musk awards holding the second and third place positions as well. 

In addition to that much-reported proposal, another proposal is up for a vote which would create a special share reserve of 208 million shares (current value $92 billion) which the Tesla board can give to Elon Musk with no strings attached.

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Both proposals will be voted on by TSLA shareholders at Tesla’s shareholder meeting on November 6.

Many groups have chimed in to raise the alarm about these proposals and how they’re bad for Tesla shareholders. Most recently, the two largest advisory groups, ISS and Glass Lewis, recommended that shareholders vote against. Earlier, a group of public pension funds including the comptrollers of several US states, the American Federation of Teachers, and a Swedish insurance group.

We at Electrek also did a deep dive into the proposals, with background and details on the proposals and how they’re bad for employees and shareholders, which you can read here: Elon Musk’s $1 trillion stock award gets more ridiculous the more you look into it

Now a new group has joined the chorus, calling itself “Take Back Tesla.” It’s led by unions, encouraging individuals with pension or retirement funds to get in touch with the controllers of those funds and ask them to vote no on Musk’s pay package.

Take Back Tesla consists of the American Federation of Teachers (who signed the previous pension fund letter) and the Communication Workers of America, who represent around 2.5 million workers combined.

Several public interest groups have joined on, including Public Citizen, Stop the Money Pipeline, Americans for Financial Reform, Ekō, and People’s Action Institute. These groups are generally focused on reducing the power of corporations in politics, reducing wealth concentration, and opposing the corrupting and polluting power of the fossil fuel industry.

The groups bring up some of the same points that have been brought up before, but are more focused on public advocacy and Musk’s recent political actions, in addition to protecting value for the common shareholder.

Rather than talking about dilution (which the proposals will increase, removing rights and value from shareholders), Take Back Tesla focuses more on the inequity involved in the plan. It points out that the proposed pay package for Musk tops out at a Tesla market cap of $8.5 trillion, about 2x the current market cap of the most valuable company on Earth, NVIDIA. However, Musk would be paid 2,000x as much as NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang, who made $50 million last year.

It also asserts that a Tesla employee making the median Tesla salary would need to work 1.7 million years to match a single year of Musk’s yearly compensation under the plan (we checked the salary numbers, and it seems Take Back Tesla might be using a low estimate or not counting stock-based compensation – but that doesn’t change the point too much, especially since Tesla just drained its employee stock reserve to give it all to Elon Musk).

The groups are also particularly interested in the effects that Musk himself has had on employees around the country. AFT president Randi Weingarten said:

The Tesla board, instead of upholding basic governance standards, wants to green light an outrageous $1 trillion pay package for a CEO who has spent most of the year engaged in childish political brawls, rather than working to create shareholder value. To reward this destructive behavior with an obscene salary is a slap in the face—not only to the federal workers he’s fired, but to the retirees whose pensions are invested in Tesla stock. We urge shareholders to join with us and demand their state pension officials reject Musk’s money grab and confiscate the Tesla board’s rubber stamp.

The reason Take Back Tesla is interested in pension funds is because, beyond individual Tesla shareholders, many people in the US are invested in TSLA via their 401(k) or IRA. Since TSLA is one of the largest companies on the market, almost every fund will hold some exposure to it. Which means that this issue isn’t just of interest to those who directly hold TSLA shares, but to almost everyone with any exposure to the stock market – all of whom would be better off with more stable leadership at the top of one of the largest companies in America.

It could seem strange that groups looking to stop the fossil fuel industry would target Elon Musk, CEO of the largest American electric car company. But Musk has recently proven himself to be one of the fossil fuel industry’s greatest political allies.

Musk gave $288M, more money than any individual, to a political effort which strives to harm EVs, and the group he donated that money to has put significant effort into increasing oil use, subsidizing gas cars and destroying the climate, not just in the US but abroad. This has caused great harm to the US EV industry, but Musk has continued to offer rhetorical and monetary support regardless.

In addition, during his time cosplaying as an unofficial government advisor, Musk recommended the firing of hundreds of thousands of government employees, working to balloon the government deficit by making it less able to do its job. This is particularly of interest to the unions involved in this effort, who protect the interests of the very same public employees Musk targeted.

Take Back Tesla urges institutional shareholders to “oppose excessive CEO compensation and demand that any proposed pay package for Musk be reasonable and rationally benchmarked to the compensation of CEOs at other similarly sized companies.” The groups also oppose “the election of any Tesla Board of Directors members who do not demonstrate appropriate independence from the CEO and adherence to corporate governance best practices.”

For more information and to sign a petition which will be delivered to fund managers, visit takebacktesla.com.

The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.


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