illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on the Financial Times or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Norway's Equinor has signed a significant long-term gas contract with Germany's SEFE, valued at approximately €50 billion
• This deal, the largest for Equinor in nearly 40 years, will supply Germany with 129 billion cubic meters of gas until 2039

🔭 The context: The EU is actively seeking to secure stable energy sources in the wake of decreased Russian gas supply
• This effort includes memorandums of understanding with gas-producing nations like Qatar and the US

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: While the EU has ambitious decarbonization targets, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050, the reliance on gas highlights the challenges of transitioning to renewable energy sources
• Gas is considered less polluting than coal or oil, but the deal also underscores the current limitations of renewable energy in meeting immediate energy needs

⏭️ What's next: The agreement includes a non-binding intent for SEFE to purchase hydrogen produced by Equinor using carbon capture technologies starting in 2029, aligning with a growing focus on developing clean hydrogen supplies and carbon capture technology

💬 One quote: “It takes time to develop a new energy system and we will need gas.” (Anders Opedal, CEO of Equinor)

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