News

According to the annual statements of the electricity grid operators, €16.5 billion in subsidies flowed to operators of wind and solar power plants in 2025, even though electricity had virtually no market value during many hours, was sometimes given away for free, or could not be generated at all due to grid congestion. The root […]

In Germany, high diesel prices are currently driving up not only costs for drivers but also inflation for food and many everyday goods. The trigger is the noticeable increase in fuel costs, which makes transportation, agriculture, refrigeration, processing, and retail more expensive. The biggest risk factor lies in the duration of the price surge, because

High fuel prices are affecting almost all of Europe. However, government responses vary widely. While Italy, Austria, Slovakia, and Serbia are intervening directly, Germany is sticking to market regulations, price controls, and announcements. In Berlin, the proposed increase in the commuter allowance is now being considered. For many affected individuals, this would only provide relief

Following a fire involving a Mercedes EQE in an underground parking garage in Incheon, South Korea, in August 2024, the Korean Competition and Tax Commission (KFTC) has fined Mercedes-Benz approximately seven million euros. The authority accuses the manufacturer of failing to clearly inform buyers and dealers of the EQE and EQS electric vehicles about the

On March 11, 2026, in Stockholm, the Swedish government further tightened its nuclear policy and commissioned a new study intended to significantly increase the state’s responsibility for the construction of new reactors. This initiative stems from the political plan to accelerate and systematically expand nuclear power, even though no new plants have yet been connected

In the Mecklenburg Lake District, around 6,000 objections are blocking the evaluation of the new wind energy plan. The regional planning association has been reviewing submissions regarding the draft for new wind energy areas since the end of the public consultation period on December 12, 2025. The public consultation was initially opened in September 2025

Honda expects a loss of approximately $15.7 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, marking its first annual loss since going public in 1957. The company’s electric vehicle strategy, which relied on strong growth in EV sales despite a significant decline in demand, particularly in the US, is at the heart of the situation.

In Parsons, Kansas, the startup Deep Fission has begun its first deep drilling operation for an underground mini-nuclear power plant. The borehole is planned to reach a depth of 6,000 feet, or nearly two kilometers, and is part of a project comprising three exploratory boreholes. The impetus for this is the plan to operate a

In Germany, with current fuel prices, the largest share of each liter goes to the state. In mid-March 2026, Super E10 cost an average of around €2.006 per liter, and diesel about €2.130. This high cost is due to energy tax, value-added tax, and CO₂ emissions charges. As a result, the state collects around €1.13

The Russian LNG tanker “Arctic Metagaz” apparently did not sink after an explosion and a major fire off the Libyan coast on the morning of March 3, as had been reported previously, but is still drifting in the Mediterranean. Initially, the Libyan coast guard reported the sinking of the 277-meter-long vessel, but several subsequent reports

At the latest auction of ten-year German government bonds, demand fell significantly short of supply. The federal government aimed to raise five billion euros through an increase in the offering, but received bids totaling only 4.511 billion euros and ultimately placed 3.811 billion euros. At the same time, the average yield rose to 2.89 percent,

Japan’s debt has been considered a special case for years. Despite its extreme national debt, many investors long failed to see the country as an immediate threat. The reason was simple: interest rates remained ultra-low. The Bank of Japan kept the money market cheap. This very model is now beginning to crumble, increasing the risk

In early March 2026, the British investment bank Barclays, one of the world’s largest investment banks and financial services providers, warned investors of increasing risks associated with renewable energy investments. According to an analysis by the bank, the trigger is not a lack of wind or solar projects, but primarily the weak integration with the

The Volkswagen crisis is exacerbating the situation for the German automotive industry, hitting suppliers particularly hard. The massive drop in Volkswagen’s profits is acting as an accelerator in an already fragile environment, as high production costs, the stalled transition to electric vehicles, new US tariffs under President Donald Trump, and growing competitive pressure from China

In Schönerlinde near Wandlitz, north of Berlin, a fire broke out at an asphalt plant near the Pankow interchange between 2:55 and 3:00 a.m. on March 11. A truck driver spotted the blaze early and alerted emergency services, but the damage is estimated at millions of euros. Police are investigating the incident in all directions,