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The Berlin power outage last winter affected around 45,000 households. Energy economist Claudia Kemfert, head of the Energy, Transport, and Environment department at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), draws a clear conclusion: emergency power should be mandatory in new buildings. In her view, the problem wasn’t so much the grid itself, but […]

The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) warn that wind turbines located near radar systems can interfere with military radar installations. They cite reflections, false echoes, and shadowing, as these can degrade the quality of the air situation picture. The Ministry of Defense therefore demanded strict building limits around air defense radars. However, this safety measure was

Plastic flowerpots are not a luxury item, but a functional means of transport. They hold the soil together, protect the roots, and prevent moisture from ending up in the car or home. Nevertheless, the EU wants to ban these flowerpots as single-use packaging. The goal sounds good, but the path to achieving it could create

Sweden is slowing down its climate protection efforts, even though the country was long considered a pioneer of the green transition. At times, the expansion of green energy and the pace of political action were significantly ahead of Germany and many other European countries. Now, however, economic thinking dominates, and the government is setting different

Several reports on the Federal Network Agency’s forecast currently highlight a key point: electricity prices could remain stable or even fall in 2026 because the expansion of renewable energies will increase supply and therefore have a price-dampening effect (welt: 27.12.25). This portrayal shapes public perception, especially since it is presented as a sign of success

In Tübingen, homeowners are reporting high additional costs after switching to a heat pump. Specifically, they are facing charges of €3,332 for the final disconnection from the gas network. At the same time, a look at other German states shows that there is no uniform standard. Depending on the network operator, the charges range from

A French court has explicitly confirmed that wind turbines can cause health problems. The court in Strasbourg has thus established a rarely clear legal precedent. The Tribunal judiciaire de Strasbourg sees a direct link between the operation of a nearby wind farm and the complaints of a resident from the Somme region. The court considers

A large portion of Germany’s gold reserves is not stored in Frankfurt, but in New York. Specifically, the Bundesbank currently holds 1,236 tons of gold deposited with the US Federal Reserve. This represents more than a third of Germany’s total gold holdings. Moreover, the gold has a market value of approximately €164 billion, which is

ZF is prematurely ending several electric vehicle projects. The supplier is reacting to a slower market ramp-up. At the same time, the company wants to free up funds so that future programs can reliably generate returns. (ntv: 23.01.26) Why ZF terminates projects with customers early ZF describes the decision as the result of discussions with

Honda and General Motors are ending their joint production of fuel cell systems in the US. The FCSM joint venture in Michigan is being shut down because demand fell significantly short of expectations. Fuel cells played a central role in the original business model, but a lack of customers prevented the necessary ramp-up. Honda and

France is abolishing low-emission zones in many cities. The system disproportionately affected drivers of older cars, often people with limited budgets. Mobility became a question of cost, even though many depend on their cars. At the same time, political pressure mounted because the unfairness significantly impacted daily life. (lemonde: 21.01.26) January 20, 2026: Abolition confirmed

In Innsbruck, electric buses on line 502 are unable to reliably manage the steep section of Schusterbergweg. As a result, passengers are repeatedly forced to disembark so the bus can climb the incline. This situation is disrupting public transport, the operation of the electric buses, and city traffic alike. Especially in Innsbruck, where gradients are

Aldi Süd is restructuring its administration. At the same time, the discount retailer has confirmed that job cuts are planned at its headquarters in Mülheim an der Ruhr. Specifically, up to 500 of the approximately 2,000 jobs could be eliminated because the company is consolidating processes worldwide through an IT project. (fokus: 22.0.1.26) Global IT

A research team from Peking University has reported on an analog AI chip with unusual performance characteristics. According to a publication in Nature Communications, also reported by the South China Morning Post, the chip is said to perform calculations twelve times faster than advanced digital processors in selected tasks. At the same time, it consumed

Between 2019 and 2024, Germany transferred approximately €4.33 million to Colombia. This money, provided as development aid, funded a project for climate-friendly refrigerators. The German government cites its climate targets in this context and sees a direct benefit for Germany. (bz-berlin: 23.01.26) Project name, partners, and trigger for the debate Specifically, the debate concerned the