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The Rehden gas storage facility is emblematic of the current challenges facing Germany’s gas supply. With a fill level of only around 27 percent, Germany’s largest gas storage facility sends a worrying signal, as this state-owned storage system is supposed to contribute significantly to energy security. Rehden, once nationalized to protect against an energy crisis, […]

Helsinki is planning to use a compact reactor for climate-neutral heat supply. The municipal energy company Helen is relying on a technology that is compatible with the existing district heating system. A mini-reactor is intended to stabilize heating output and promote the energy transition. At the same time, the output of CO2-free heat will increase

Australia is facing a problem that, at first glance, seems positive: a massive overproduction of solar power around midday. This surge of energy is straining the power grid and driving wholesale electricity prices deep into negative territory. To mitigate this structural imbalance, the government is introducing a system from mid-2026 that will provide private households

Germany’s chemical industry is in freefall. More than 200 production facilities have already been shut down, and 40,000 skilled jobs are at risk. This development marks not only a crisis for the chemical industry but also a structural weakening of the entire industrial landscape. For months, the German government has been promising relief and a

The planned restructuring of the AE Group failed to avert its collapse. At the turn of the year, the plants in Gerstungen and Nentershausen will close completely. Around 700 employees will lose their livelihoods. The production shutdown will also hit the regional economy hard. The intended innovation failed due to financial constraints, while the necessary

The energy transition is presenting Germany with a growing waste disposal problem. Wind turbine scrap, in particular, is becoming a major concern, as thousands of old turbines need to be decommissioned. At the same time, disposal costs, rotor blade waste, recycling bottlenecks, and environmental burdens are creating massive challenges. The scale of this legacy waste

District heating is presented as a modern solution, but a look behind the scenes reveals a monopoly that traps households in a cost spiral and deepens their dependence on fossil fuels. The extensive ties to the operators prevent competition, while an opaque pricing system burdens consumers. This combination of a monopolistic structure, outdated energy production,

Mahle is in deep crisis. The traditional automotive company is struggling with massive cost pressure and is implementing the largest job cuts in its recent history. Locations in Germany are particularly affected. 1,000 jobs will be eliminated, a significant reduction in workforce that is shaking the entire automotive industry. In addition to the main cause,

The Chinese government is implementing a profound shift in policy: electric cars are being removed from the list of strategically important industries. For decades, new energy vehicles were considered a flagship project of national innovation, export, and environmental policy. Now, this phase of preferential treatment is coming to an end. The announced reduction in subsidies

In Förderstedt near Staßfurt, a battery storage system is being built that is unprecedented in Germany – and at the same time reveals how limited the benefits of such large-scale systems are for the power grid. With a capacity of more than 700 megawatt-hours, this storage system will theoretically hold enough electrical energy for approximately

Stuttgart Airport is under increasing pressure. More and more foreign airlines – including British Airways and Air France – are withdrawing their services. They cite high operating costs and increasing bureaucracy, which make operations unprofitable, as the main reasons. This development not only affects Stuttgart Airport but also underscores Germany’s declining attractiveness as an aviation

Germany’s trade balance is suffering from a significant shift in favor of China. While imports from China are increasing, German industry is facing an export crisis. The resulting trade deficit not only represents a financial risk but also necessitates an adjustment of economic policy. The figures show that Germany’s foreign trade balance is diverging, and

The severance packages offered to employees at Viessmann Climate Solutions mark a significant turning point for the North Hesse region. The heating market is in a sales crisis. Despite booming demand for heat pumps, operating profit is falling from $129 million to $120 million. The market for conventional heating systems has collapsed – a drastic

Offshore wind farms are increasingly reaching their limits. Climate change is leading to ever more violent extreme winds, which threaten existing and planned offshore installations. A recent study by an international research team confirms this trend and warns of an increase in long-term wind peaks in over 60 percent of coastal regions. This development increases

Danish dairy farmers have been under government mandate since October. A legally required feed additive called Bovaer is supposed to drastically reduce methane emissions from their animals. But this supposed step forward for climate goals is leading to emergencies in the barns. Cows are refusing feed, losing milk production, and in the worst cases, dying.