News

The news hits the region hard. Hesse’s only steel mill, Buderus in Wetzlar, is facing closure. At a staff meeting, the management of the Munich-based investment company Mutares informed employees of the planned closure. Mutares has not yet publicly confirmed this decision. For the employees, however, the announcement means the loss of hundreds of jobs […]

The debate surrounding Chinese wind turbines is now reaching the North Sea. Offshore wind power no longer represents just the energy transition and climate goals, but also geopolitical tensions. Luxcara, a Hamburg-based investor, has distanced itself from Chinese proposals following public pressure. The “Waterekke” and “Waterkant” projects will exclusively use turbines from Siemens Gamesa. The

A controversial climate study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) is one of the biggest scientific scandals of recent years. Media outlets like “Tagesschau” and “Spiegel” made it headlines in 2024. “Scientifically completely invalid,” economist Richard Rosen declared. However, politicians and the financial world made far-reaching decisions based on the PIK study.

Toyota is pursuing a flexible approach in Europe that is strictly focused on demand. The company’s new strategy combines hybrid drive with traditional technology and complements this with targeted electromobility. “We are not pushing electric cars in markets where there is no demand,” explained Andrea Carlucci, brand manager for Europe. Thus, the Toyota strategy deliberately

China is at the center of the global climate debate. Officially, the government emphasizes its record-breaking expansion of renewable energies. At the same time, a massive coal boom is driving the electricity sector to record levels. In the first half of 2025, the country connected coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of 21 gigawatts

Hamburg’s energy utility has massively increased its charging prices. Customers are now paying up to 38 percent more. At AC charging stations, a kilowatt hour costs 59 cents, and at DC charging stations, 69 cents. Previously, the price was 49.9 cents. This affects both private users and businesses. At the same time, the municipal company

The German economy is far more deeply in crisis than official figures suggest. New revisions to gross domestic product reveal that previous estimates were exaggerated. These statistics conceal considerable uncertainty, which should alarm not only experts but also citizens and businesses, as numerous political decisions are based on the official figures. German economy and questionable

German gas storage facilities are insufficiently filled. Compared to previous years and our European neighbors, the levels are at a worryingly low level ahead of the coming winter. Although the Ministry of Economic Affairs describes gas supplies for the winter as stable, experts warn of serious risks. In particular, the low level of just 20

A nearly completed offshore wind farm off Rhode Island is idle. The Trump administration is prohibiting the Danish company Orsted from completing its “Revolution Wind” project. Officially, Washington is citing national security concerns. This exacerbates Orsted’s financial problems, as the facility was considered key to future revenue. Billion-dollar project under pressure from the Trump administration

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, together with the Dutch pension fund APG, plans to invest in Tennet. This shifts the focus to Germany’s largest electricity grid operator, which plays a key role in the energy transition. A billion-euro bid is expected to be on the table by mid-September, bringing new investors into play. (wallstreet-online: 22.08.25) The

A simple breakdown can turn into a nightmare for many electric car owners. Instead of around €300, some services charge more than €2,000 for towing. Those affected complain of being “ripped off” and feel let down by their e-car insurance. Thus, a simple electric car breakdown quickly becomes a cost trap that destroys trust. (n24:

The property tax was supposed to remain neutral, but many municipalities in Lower Saxony are significantly raising their assessment rates. Owners and tenants are now paying significantly more, even though the reform originally promised no hidden tax increase. Smaller municipalities in particular are using the adjustment to stabilize their budgets, which is fueling criticism of

The European auto industry is under massive pressure. Short sellers are taking advantage of the uncertainty and deliberately betting on falling prices. Competition from China and high tariffs from the US are putting pressure on manufacturers’ margins. According to the Financial Times, short positions have increased significantly since Trump’s return to the White House. According

District heating is currently causing outrage in Stuttgart. At an information event in Bad Cannstatt, EnBW presented an example with a €45,833 cost for a house connection. Many visitors were “downright shocked.” Added to this were €123,000 in building services costs for an apartment building. In the end, this meant a personal contribution of around

The shortage of IT specialists has noticeably eased in 2024. According to an analysis by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research, the number of open positions fell by 26 percent compared to 2023. Experts with academic degrees are particularly affected. Jurek Tiedemann, an economist specializing in securing skilled workers, describes the development as “rapid.” In