News

The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) warns of the enormous financial consequences of the energy transition in a recent study. The analysis shows that a cost explosion of up to €5.4 trillion is looming. This burden is weakening Germany’s competitiveness as a business location. Energy, industry, buildings, and transport are particularly affected, as […]

Around 2,000 skilled workers currently manufacture various versions of the Sprinter in Ludwigsfelde, Brandenburg. However, the outlook for the site is bleaking. According to the state government, series production is scheduled to end by the end of 2029. Mercedes is reorienting itself and plans to build the electric versions of the Sprinter in Poland in

The number of unemployed in Germany now exceeds three million. At the same time, the term “unemployment” symbolizes the crisis: deindustrialization, weak productivity, and growing national debt are putting a strain on employment and income. While politicians are trying to appease the situation, the country is losing competitiveness and strength. More unemployed despite growing public

The final closure of Maxhütte in Sulzbach-Rosenberg has shaken the region. Around 300 employees are losing their jobs after the last rescue attempt failed. The historic plant has stood for the steel industry and economic strength in Upper Palatinate for more than 150 years. (sueddeutsche: 01.09.25) Insolvency No Way Out For months, the administration searched

China’s industry giant BYD is under intense pressure. A renewed production cut demonstrates that the price war is leaving deep scars in its domestic market. Although Western manufacturers often admire the company’s success, its success story in electric mobility is faltering. Profit decline despite rising sales BYD published its quarterly figures at the end of

The number of decommissioned wind turbines in Germany is rising rapidly. As they are dismantled, so too is the mountain of wind turbine scrap. The enormous rotor blades, in particular, pose a persistent recycling problem. They are made of glass fibers, resins, and plastics that are tightly bonded together and difficult to separate. Without solutions,

August 2025 brought extreme fluctuations in the electricity market. In just one month, prices slipped below zero for 64 hours, marking one of the highest monthly values ​​since records began. The persistently sunny days caused massive overproduction, while demand at times failed to keep pace. Germany has thus already recorded 465 hours of negative prices

The used car market in Germany is booming. But the leasing of electric cars is facing a dramatic imbalance. More and more leased returns are flooding the lot, but buyers aren’t coming. Combustion-engine vehicles are easily finding new owners, while used electric vehicles are sitting like lead at dealerships, their residual values ​​steadily declining. (wiwo:

The solar industry is experiencing a deep crisis, and SMA Solar is at its center. Heavy losses, problems in the US, and a dramatic drop in its share price are rocking the last major German solar company. The situation is being exacerbated by the energy crisis, which is unsettling many investors and weighing on the

The number of unemployed in Germany has risen above the three million mark. This means unemployment has reached a sad ten-year record. At the same time, the civil service has grown significantly. Particularly striking: according to calculations by the German Economic Institute, Germany employs around 60,000 more civil servants than necessary. Without this increase, the

The AE Group is facing its final closure. The long-established automotive supplier is ending production in Thuringia and Hesse. Approximately 650 jobs will be lost as a result. The planned restructuring failed, and an investor solution failed to materialize. The bitter consequence: a complete factory closure by the end of the year. Hopes for AE

The global nuclear energy industry looks back on a truly record-breaking year. In 2024, the international reactor fleet delivered more electricity than ever before. The World Nuclear Performance Report 2025 documents this record high and highlights the importance of nuclear power for a stable energy future. Record year with strong results in electricity generation and

The renowned solar module manufacturer Meyer Burger has closed its plants in eastern Germany. The sites in Bitterfeld-Wolfen and Hohenstein-Ernstthal are affected. More than 500 employees are now jobless and struggling with the sudden job loss. The company filed for insolvency in May and has not found an investor to keep it operating. This move

At the end of August, a project in Lilienthal that had raised high hopes collapsed. The company Sweon spent two years investigating the potential of a geothermal power plant. The plan was to supply households and businesses via a far-reaching district heating network. Old drilling data from the 1980s and 2000s indicated insufficient permeability in

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)