Cities and municipal utilities are planning multi-billion-euro projects for new district heating networks, investing long-term in pipelines, transfer stations, and generation capacity. At the same time, operators are increasingly concerned that they will lose customers. Many property owners might opt for their own heat pumps even before the pipelines are completed, because the subsidies are […]
Stellantis is restructuring its powertrain strategy, and the €22 billion write-down marks the price of this change. CEO Antonio Filosa wants to offer fewer pure electric vehicles and more hybrids because, according to the company, it needs to reconnect with its customers. Filosa says that under his predecessor, the “pace of the energy transition was
Stellantis abandons its electric car strategy – €22 billion write-down Read More »
The town of Groß-Gerau has rejected Vantage Data Centers’ €2.5 billion data center, primarily because it cites the threat of terrorism, cyberattacks, and hybrid threats as risks, while also fearing increased local heat stress from building blocks up to 30 meters high. Furthermore, the municipality questioned the reliability of the business tax revenue and criticized
Groß-Gerau rejects 2.5 billion euro data center due to terror threat and heat stress Read More »
Germany is reporting record wind and solar power output, but at the same time a new problem is growing. Operators are increasingly taking plants offline voluntarily, even though production would be clean and cheap. This is because on many days the market tips into oversupply, and wholesale prices plummet. This surplus alters the incentives for
The new poverty statistics paint a stark picture, as poverty continues to spread. In Germany, around 13.3 million people were considered at risk of poverty in 2025. This corresponds to 16.1 percent of the population. In 2024, the figure was 15.5 percent. The figures come from data on income and living conditions provided by the
Poverty statistics 2025 – 13.3 million people in Germany at risk of poverty Read More »
The North Sea Summit in Hamburg touted offshore wind as a recipe for affordable electricity. But the narrative crumbled shortly afterward. Costs are rising, the necessary grids are lacking, and the industry is demanding further government subsidies. As always, the political rhetoric sounds grander than what the system can deliver. North Sea Summit: Big Promises
Fatih Birol considers Germany’s dual strategy risky, as the country is phasing out coal and nuclear power while simultaneously aiming to remain an industrial powerhouse. The head of the International Energy Agency calls it a “historic mistake.” At the same time, he is hoping for a change of course under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, because Merz
IEA chief Birol calls Germany’s nuclear phase-out a “historic mistake” Read More »
The fixed feed-in tariff has made solar expansion on German rooftops predictable. This safety net for new solar installations is set to disappear in 2027. Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) and Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) are announcing contracts for difference (CfDs) as a replacement. At the same time, EU approval for the current solar
Aircraft need energy-dense fuels, which is why batteries will play a minor role for the foreseeable future. Research is searching for alternatives to petroleum-based kerosene. Now, teams at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) have reported a breakthrough: They are cultivating microbes that produce precursors for aviation fuel in the laboratory up to 36 times more
Breakthrough in synthetic kerosene – microbes produce 36 times more fuel Read More »
Neustadt in Holstein experienced a power outage lasting several hours on February 2, 2026. Daily life was abruptly disrupted. Large parts of the town were affected, as well as Pelzerhaken and Rettin. Up to 10,000 residents were left without electricity. Anyone who wanted to pay, work, or communicate suddenly encountered limitations. (welt: 02.02.26) Neustadt in
Neustadt in Holstein – 10,000 people affected by power outage lasting several hours Read More »
At the end of December 2025, ADAC’s transport president, Gerhard Hillebrand, described CO₂ pricing as “the right instrument” and spoke of it as an “incentive” for switching to electric vehicles through higher fuel prices. Following this, the club reported a flood of complaints, leading to a wave of membership cancellations. Reports indicate that around 60,000
Wind power project developer Abo Energy is plummeting on the capital markets, resulting in substantial losses for investors. The company’s 2024 listed bond is now trading at only about 16 percent of its face value, effectively reducing the market value of many positions by more than 80 percent. Those forced to sell are realizing significant
Wind power project developer Abo Energy in crisis – shares plummet over 80 percent Read More »
The decline of the German automotive industry isn’t coming with sirens, but with briefcases. The diagnosis is brutal: The auto industry is losing its core business – and much faster than many believe. This is evident in factory closures, bankruptcies, and slashed development budgets. There’s a point where all sugarcoating ends: Once production has moved
The German government is launching a new funding program for hydrogen refueling stations and hydrogen-powered trucks, with €220 million allocated for this purpose. The program aims to support up to 40 stations and up to 400 trucks. However, the reality in Germany paints a different picture, as numerous projects have failed due to a lack
The heating market is currently in a paralyzing hold-up mode, and this is also affecting manufacturers. Several companies have already reacted with short-time work or job cuts due to a lack of orders. In 2025, sales fell to 627,000 heating units, the lowest level since 2010. Customers are deeply unsettled by the political maneuvering surrounding
Heating market at a standstill: Job cuts at manufacturers – customers boycott purchases Read More »
