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The CEO of energy technology firm Baker Hughes has outlined what he feels are key points related to the energy transition amid deepening concern about rising gas prices and the knock-on effects this could have in the months ahead.

In an interview with CNBC’s Dan Murphy at the Gastech conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates earlier this week, Lorenzo Simonelli was asked whether soaring gas prices were likely to be transitory or if he expected wider implications for consumers, markets and the broader economy.

“I think a lot of people are seeing what’s happening in Europe and it’s bringing to light the important discussion around the energy transition, and the importance that we have around gas as well,” he said.

It was still early to see if prices would remain high or if this rise was transitory, he said.

Benchmark European gas prices have jumped over 250% since the start of the year, Reuters reported this week.

The reasons for the spike are varied. The influential, yet typically conservative, International Energy Agency said on Tuesday that surging European gas prices had “been driven by a combination of a strong recovery in demand and tighter-than-expected supply, as well as several weather-related factors.” 

“These include a particularly cold and long heating season in Europe last winter, and lower-than-usual availability of wind energy in recent weeks,” it said.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said given that the reasons behind the price rise were multifaceted, it would be “inaccurate and misleading to lay the responsibility at the door of the clean energy transition.”

Birol’s statement would appear to contrast views expressed by figures such as OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo. Barkindo told CNBC on Tuesday that soaring gas prices were the cost of the attempted shift to renewable energy sources.

“I have talked about a new premium that is emerging in the energy markets that I term the transition premium,” Barkindo said.

The effect of the gas price rise is already being felt on the ground. In the U.K., for example, it has caused a number of small energy suppliers to go bust. 

“We need energy security,” Baker Hughes’ Simonelli said. “And look, there’s plenty of gas around the world, there’s plenty of energy available,” he added. “It’s a question of bringing it to the market.”

On the energy transition — a term referring to a move from fossil-fuel based sources to ones such as solar and wind — Simonelli sought to highlight a number of issues he felt were important.

“We think there’s three hard truths,” he said. “Firstly, we’ve got to work together, accelerate the move towards decarbonization and also eliminating emissions.”

“Secondly, hydrocarbons are here to stay … and natural gas, in fact, is a key element. And thirdly, we’ve got to do it together, collaborate and actually adopt the new technologies that are available.”

Burning fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, is the chief driver of the climate emergency. And despite policymakers and business leaders repeatedly touting their commitment to net zero strategies, the world’s fossil fuel dependency is expected to get even worse in the coming decades.

None of the world’s major economies are currently on track to contain global heating to the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to a study published by Carbon Action Tracker earlier this month, while separate research shows the vast majority of the world’s known fossil fuel reserves must be kept in the ground to have some hope of preventing the worst effects of climate change.

The role of natural gas

The current crisis surrounding the price of gas has reinforced its continuing significance, even as major economies such as the U.K., European Union and U.S. outline plans to move away from fossil fuels in the years ahead.

Indeed, in its statement issued Tuesday, the IEA said gas remained “an important tool for balancing electricity markets in many regions today.”

“As clean energy transitions advance on a path towards net zero emissions, global gas demand will start to decline, but it will remain an important component of electricity security,” the Paris-based organization added.

In his interview with CNBC, Simonelli was asked about the role gas would play in the race to net zero. “You just have to look at Europe and look at the United States with regards to the way they’ve been successful in the last decades to actually reduce their CO2 emissions,” he said.

“You’ve seen a shift from coal to natural gas and that’s going to continue as you look at it from an emissions profile,” he said. “So, you can reduce the footprint of natural gas from an emissions standpoint. It is already one of the most efficient fuels and we think it’s here to stay.”

— CNBC’s Natasha Turak contributed to this report

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EcoFlow Early Prime Day Sale increases power station discounts up to 65% with free gifts, bonus + bulk savings all from $169, and much more

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EcoFlow Early Prime Day Sale increases power station discounts up to 65% with free gifts, bonus + bulk savings all from 9, and much more

This week’s Green Deals are kicking off with EcoFlow’s Early Prime Day Sale that is running right up to the official event with increased 65% discounts on power stations, as well as bonus sitewide savings, bulk savings, free gifts, and more starting from $169. Among the large lineup, we did spot the brand’s DELTA 2 Portable Power Station bundled with an extra battery and two 110W solar panels at a new $892 low. Behind that event, we also have BougeRV’s two different 2-Bike Mountable Carriers (which are e-bike compatible) for SUVs and trucks starting from a new $180 low, as well as a one-day-only sale on Anker’s SOLIX C300X DC 90,000mAh Power Station with a 60W foldable panel at $236 – plus, so much more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about all the hangover deals from last week collected at the bottom of the page, rounded together within our most recent edition of Electrified Weekly.

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.

EcoFlow’s Early Prime Day Sale increases power station discounts up to 65% with bonus savings, free gifts, and more from $169

EcoFlow has launched its Early Prime Day Sale through October 6, which is increasing discounts on power stations up to 65% off, complete with bonus sitewide savings, free gifts at certain pricing thresholds, and even additional bulk savings when buying five or more items. Among the lineup, there is a direct-sale-only offer on the DELTA 2 Portable Power Station bundled with a smart extra battery and two 110W solar panels for $892.05 shippedafter using the sitewide code 25PDFAFF at checkout for an additional 5% savings. This bundle would normally run you $2,646 at full price, and would currently cost you $1,379 buying the power station/battery bundle with two 110W panels separately at Amazon. We’ve seen this kit dropped down to $999 in direct sales before this event, with the $1,754 markdown here dropping things to a new all-time low price. Head below to get the rundown on all the extra ways to save and the full lineup of deals.

As expected, EcoFlow’s Early Prime Day Sale is bringing along plenty of bonus savings promotions while it lasts, including the 5% sitewide bonus discount you can score on any order using the code 25PDFAFF at checkout. There are also three gift with purchase options, with orders reaching $500 getting a free 45W portable solar panel, while orders reaching $1,500 get a free 220W panel and orders of $3,000 or more get a free 400W panel. There’s also the bulk savings with an extra 7% savings being given to orders of five to 10 pieces, an extra 9% savings on orders with 11 to 20 pieces, and an extra 10% savings on bulk orders of 20 or more pieces.

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EcoFlow’s DELTA 2 portable power station is a great well-rounded option for your off-grid living needs, as well as your at-home emergency backup, and with the extra battery included in the bundle, you’ll be starting with a doubled 2,048Wh LiFePO4 capacity that can bump up further to 3,072Wh with one additional battery. You’ll be getting a steady 1,800W of power through the 15 ports present here, surging up to 2,200W when needed. It’s been constructed with an IP68 waterproof rating to handle your outdoor adventures and the weather you may come across, and offers the usual array of in-app smart controls.

Seeing as you’re getting the 220W of solar panels with the bundle, you’re nearly halfway to its max 500W solar input that can put the battery back to full in three to six hours. There’s also the option to recharge from a standard AC outlet to 80% capacity in 50 minutes, or wait for 80 minutes for it to get back to full, with a car port available to plug into your car’s auxiliary cigarette lighter port for on-the-go charging too.

***Note: None of the prices below have had the extra savings factored in and currently represent the starting price listed on the brand’s direct site. Be sure to use the sitewide promo code 25PDFAFF at checkout for the best deals, with the other discounts/gifts automatically applied upon hitting their thresholds.

EcoFlow’s Early Prime Day Sale member-only deals:

EcoFlow’s Early Prime Day Sale outdoor power solutions:

EcoFlow’s Early Prime Day Sale home backup solutions:

EcoFlow’s Early Prime Day Sale solar panel deals:

EcoFlow’s other Early Prime Day Sale accessory deals:

You can also shop the entire EcoFlow Early Prime Day Sale in our original coverage here.

BougeRV bike rack attached to SUV

These BougeRV 2-bike mountable carriers for SUVs/trucks carry up to 200 pounds starting from a new $180 low

Amazon is now offering the BougeRV Lockable Hitch Mount 2-Bike Carrier for SUVs & Trucks, which comes e-bike compatible at $179.99 shipped. It’s coming down from its usual $260 listing price here, which we’ve only seen drop as low as $200 with previous deals. You’re looking at a 31% markdown that cuts $80 from the tag to land at a new all-time low price. You’ll also find the more heavy-duty variant with a higher payload at $379.99 shipped, after clipping the on-page coupon.

If you want to learn more about these two e-bike compatible racks, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

woman charging tablet with Anker SOLIX C300X DC power station bundle in wilderness

Equip your travels with Anker’s SOLIX C300X DC 90,000mAh power station and a 60W solar panel at $236 (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Anker SOLIX C300X DC 90,000mAh Portable Power Station with a 60W solar panel at $235.99 shipped. We’ve been seeing this combo bundle pop up every two to four weeks over the last few months, dropping from its usual $330 price tag, with it coming in $1 lower than the previous one-day sales. You’ll only find its grey variant sitting at higher rates at Amazon (currently $250) and Anker’s direct website (currently $270), with discounts on those alternate colorways having mostly dropped costs to $250 and had fallen as low as $220 in February. For the rest of the day only, you can pick up this solar generator bundle at the third-best price of 2025 and the fourth-lowest overall, which sits $46 above the all-time low that last appeared during Black Friday.

If you want to learn more about this compact solar generator bundle, be sure to check out our original coverage of this one-day-only sale here.

man sitting on Rad Power's RadRunner Cargo Utility e-bike
man using Autel's Home 3000 power station to power phone, laptop, lamp

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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The Lucid Gravity SUV looks sold out just a day after inventory was listed online

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The Lucid Gravity SUV looks sold out just a day after inventory was listed online

Did Lucid sell out of Gravity inventory online? Just a day after the inventory was listed online, the Lucid Gravity appears to be sold out.

Lucid Gravity inventory appears sold out online

Lucid said it expected higher output of the Gravity electric SUV in the second half of the year. After listing Gravity inventory on its website on September 19, a few users on X suggested it was due to a lack of demand.

Nick Twork, Lucid’s global communications chief, clarified that the new listing “is not a demand related development.”

Twork explained that “While we have been building Lucid Gravity vehicles to order to satisfy existing customer orders, we’ve produced a small number of configurations based on component availability, ensuring we didn’t lose production slots when parts were constrained.”

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In other words, “you can now skip the wait and drive away in one of our most sought-after models today,” Twork added. In less than 24 hours, Gravity inventory appeared to be sold out online already.

Lucid-Gravity-inventory-sold-out
Lucid Gravity inventory online (Source: Lucidmotors.com)

In a quick turn of events, by Sunday night, there were zero Lucid Gravity models listed available through inventory. Through mid-Monday, Lucid’s website still shows “There are no vehicles available at the moment” when searching for Gravity models.

On the company’s Q2 earnings call, interim CEO Marc Winterhoff told investors and analysts that Lucid expected a significant ramp-up in Gravity production after overcoming supply chain issues.

Lucid-Gravity-inventory-sold-out
Lucid Gravity Grand Touring (Source: Lucid)

Winterhoff said the company expected the Gravity SUV to account for the majority of production and deliveries in the second half of the year.

“Our daily order rate has nearly doubled,” since introducing Gravity models to its studios while offering test drivers, Winterhoff said.

Lucid-Gravity-SUV
The Lucid Gravity debuts in Europe (Source: Lucid)

Lucid currently offers the Gravity Grand Touring model, starting at $94,900. Soon, it will add the lower-priced Touring trim, starting from $81,550.

Orders for the Gravity Grand Touring also opened in Europe earlier this month, with deliveries set to begin in early 2026. The Lucid Gravity Touring starts at 116,900 euros ($137,000) in Germany, including VAT. Lucid will introduce the Gravity Touring in Germany, priced from 99,900 euros ($117,000).

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Judge allows Orsted to resume construction on wind farm blocked by Trump administration

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Judge allows Orsted to resume construction on wind farm blocked by Trump administration

Attendees during a media tour of the Revolution Wind construction hub at the Port of Providence in Providence, Rhode Island, US, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

Adam Glanzman | Bloomberg | Getty Images

A federal judge on Monday allowed Danish renewable energy company Orsted to resume construction on an offshore wind farm that the Trump administration had blocked.

The judge’s decision is a setback for President Donald Trump’s effort to shut down the nascent offshore wind industry in the U.S.

The Interior Department had ordered Orsted on Aug. 22 to halt construction on Revolution Wind off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut. The project is fully permited and 80% complete. It would provide power for more than 350,000 homes.

Orsted and its partner Skyborn had asked the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to halt Interior’s stop-work order, arguing that it was aribtrary, capricious, unlawful and “issued in bad faith.”

While the judge granted the injuction request, a full opinion has yet to be filed.

Trump has targeted the wind power industry since his first day in office, when he banned new leases for offshore wind farms. But the industry had hoped that fully permitted wind projects, particularly those that are already under construciton, would be allowed to proceed.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said earlier this month that he is “taking a deep look” at five offshore wind projects in the U.S. that are under construction. Burgum made clear that Trump wants to shut down the offshore wind industry.

“Under this administration, there is not a future for offshore wind because it is too expensive and not reliable enough,” Burgum told an audience at the Gastech conference in Milan, Italy on Sept. 11.

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