News

The demise of Voltstorage impressively demonstrates how quickly hopes can be dashed. The battery technology pioneered iron-salt energy storage, enabling a 1-megawatt system with over 1,000 cycles without any noticeable loss of performance. Nevertheless, the end came abruptly, as market conditions, investor interests, and strategies did not harmonize with the corresponding cell innovations. (pv-magazine: 28.08.25) […]

In the dispute over the planned wind farm in the Schmölauer Forest, a referendum has not been held. Around 30 wind turbines were at the center of the conflict. Although the Dähre municipal council had approved the citizens’ petition, the Saxony-Anhalt State Office for Administrative Affairs intervened and stopped the process. For the citizens’ initiative,

In the course of fiber optic expansion, providers often use door-to-door sales to pressure customers into signing up quickly. Many prospective customers feel pressured as a result. Consumer protection agencies warn that not every internet contract offer is worthwhile for fiber optic connections, and careful consideration remains crucial to benefiting from fast internet in the

National debt has reached a historic record level. Open and hidden liabilities total €19.5 trillion, equivalent to 454 percent of annual economic output. Within just one year, the sustainability gap increased by €4.1 trillion. Around one-third of the increase comes from social spending on health and long-term care insurance. (faz: 29.08.25) The pension crisis also

Poland is opting for a new site for its entry into the nuclear energy of the future. The first small modular nuclear power plant is being built in Włocławek. The energy company Orlen confirmed the construction after laying the foundations for close cooperation with Synthos Green Energy. The two companies agreed on a financing and

On August 25, 2025, a historic step was taken in Covert Township, Michigan: The previously decommissioned Palisade nuclear power plant officially transitioned from decommissioning to operational status. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved Holtec’s license package on July 24. Palisade thus made history, as it was the first time in the United States that

The Canadian government has issued a new travel warning for Germany. The official platform advises travelers to exercise extreme caution. (travel.gc.ca: 28.08.25) This brings the fragile security situation into sharper focus. Knife attacks in Dresden, Berlin, and other cities are considered a possible motive. Reasons for the travel warning The travel warning contains the sentence:

Today, the German Autobahn represents a contrast that could hardly be greater. In Berlin, almost three-quarters of a billion euros were invested in just a few kilometers of the A100 (fr: 29.08.25), while in Brandenburg the A14 is stalling despite years of planning (nordkurier: 29.08.25). On the one hand, a massive highway expansion is causing

The new Electricity Price Act is causing debate among politicians, business leaders, and consumers. The federal government under Friedrich Merz is planning a €6.5 billion subsidy from the Climate and Transformation Fund for 2026. This is intended to reduce grid fees, which account for a significant portion of electricity costs. However, for many households, the

A widespread blackout is one of the greatest risks facing modern societies. The power supply is considered stable, but an outage lasting several days would have catastrophic consequences. It would affect not only households, but also hospitals, telecommunications, transport, and water supplies. Preparedness is therefore essential, because an unprepared society risks its own ability to

The powerful BCE union has terminated its climate cooperation and is now opposing the core of climate policy. It has long supported the energy transition, the coal phase-out, and the nuclear shutdown. Now, however, Michael Vassiliadis declares: “It’s killing our companies.” This puts emissions trading, considered a key instrument, at the center of criticism. The

Germany is generating record amounts of renewable energy, but the effect on its citizens is disastrous. Increasingly, negative prices on the electricity exchange mean that neighboring countries are supplied with electricity almost for free, while German consumers are paying billions for green energy costs. The supposed advantage of cheap energy is turning out to be

Zimbabwe is considering the introduction of a Korean small-scale reactor. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has signed an agreement with the Centre for Education, Innovation Research and Development (CEIRD) to this end. The project focuses on a feasibility study that will analyze potential locations, technical requirements, and the benefits of nuclear energy for Zimbabwe.

The automotive supplier ZF is facing drastic downsizing in Schweinfurt. Up to 4,000 jobs in Bavaria are at risk. This poses an enormous challenge for the region, as the future of thousands of families depends on ZF. (merkur: 28.08.25) High debt forces job cuts Automotive supplier ZF employs around 160,000 people worldwide. Despite its size,

France is mired in a government crisis closely linked to its high budget deficit. Investors are reacting nervously as the minority government of Prime Minister François Bayrou looms. The looming loss of confidence recently triggered a massive selloff in the financial markets. Both stocks and French bonds fell significantly, while risk premiums rose. This brings