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  Bloomberg The US was the world’s biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas last month for the first time ever, as projects ramped up production and deliveries surged to energy-starved Europe. Output from American facilities edged above Qatar in December due largely to a jump in exports from the Sabine Pass and Freeport facilities, according to ship-tracking data compiled by …

  Bloomberg Germany and Austria came out strongly against the European Union proposal to classify some natural-gas and nuclear projects as sustainable investments, with both countries accusing the bloc of “greenwashing.” In Berlin, the Greens — who joined Germany’s new ruling coalition following September’s election — criticised the regulatory plan as damaging the credibility of the EU green rulebook, known …

  Bloomberg The European Union (EU) is planning to allow some natural-gas and nuclear energy projects to be classified as sustainable investments in a proposal that sparked immediate criticism from the Greens. The European Commission wants to give a temporary green label to gas projects that replace coal and emit no more than 270 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour, …

  Bloomberg A surge in renewable energy in India is set to massively increase spot power trading, according to the country’s largest electricity bourse. Buyers will increasingly turn away from traditional long-term contracts in favour of cheaper renewable energy, said Rohit Bajaj, head of business development at Indian Energy Exchange Ltd. More than a quarter of the nation’s electricity could …

  Bloomberg Exxon Mobil Corp says an overnight fire at its Baytown, Texas, refinery that injured four people has been extinguished. The blaze occurred at 1 am local time at the plant, which is the fourth-largest in the US, capable of processing more than half a million barrels of oil a day. Gasoline trading in New York jumped as much …

  Bloomberg Electricity prices surged to a fresh record as France scrambled to keep its lights on, sucking up supplies from the rest of Europe. France, usually an exporter of power, is boosting electricity imports and even burning fuel oil. The crunch comes after Electricite de France SA said it would halt four reactors accounting for 10% of the nation’s …

  Bloomberg Europe is bracing for energy shortages as freezing weather sets in, boosting demand and sending prices surging at a time when supply just can’t keep up. Temperatures are forecast to fall below zero degrees Celsius in several European capitals, straining electricity grids already coping with low wind speeds and severe nuclear outages in France. To make matters worse, …

  Bloomberg Swedish battery startup Northvolt AB and energy firm Galp Energia SGPS SA plan to develop a lithium-conversion plant in Portugal to supply the region’s growing electric-vehicle industry. The companies said they’ll set up a joint venture with the goal to build a facility with an annual production capacity of 35,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide — enough to …

  Bloomberg British homeowners have enjoyed a $4 trillion untaxed wealth windfall from rising property values over the last 20 years that is unlikely to be repeated, with the bulk of riches going to the well-off, the over 60s and those living in London. In a report calling for gains to be taxed, the Resolution Foundation said the surge in …

  Bloomberg Chinese companies spent 10 years aggressively maneuvering to become the dominant players in solar power. Now they’re seeking to lead the way in developing the next big thing in clean energy: hydrogen. Top solar manufacturers including Longi Green Energy Technology Co are ramping up the production of electrolyzers, the equipment needed to make green hydrogen, the cleanest form …