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French nuclear power plants played a further significant role in stabilizing the German electricity grid in 2025. Nuclear energy once again accounted for the largest share of German electricity imports. Transmission system operators deployed them specifically for so-called cross-border redispatch. This was triggered by strong fluctuations in wind and solar power generation, which caused temporary […]

In Munster, Lower Saxony, another operational test of the German Armed Forces’ new digital radio system was aborted in November due to serious malfunctions. An internal report from early January classifies the D-LBO basic system as so deficient that, according to the test assessment, it posed a “danger to life and limb” during training and

In the Rhenish lignite mining region, RWE has been pushing forward with a project since the end of January 2026 that goes far beyond a typical construction project. Near Dormagen, a pumping station is to be built that will transport up to 18 cubic meters of Rhine water per second via a 45-kilometer pipeline, initially

At the Ceraweek energy conference in Houston, Texas, German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche warned of potential supply problems for gasoline, diesel, and kerosene in Germany if the war between the US and Israel against Iran continues. According to her, the conflict is already severely impacting international oil trade, while the consequences at

China achieved its economic rise through enormous energy consumption and is now rapidly expanding its energy system. Following the collapse of the real estate market, significant capital flowed into solar factories and the automotive industry, resulting in massive overcapacity in these sectors. At the same time, the central risk factor remains: a large portion of

The European Commission is reacting to the war with Iran and intends to lower the target for filling gas storage facilities before the coming winter to 80 percent, instead of the usual 90 percent. This decision is due to sharply rising energy prices since the end of February, attacks on oil and gas facilities in

The dispute within the German government is intensifying over the future of free family insurance coverage for spouses in the statutory health and long-term care insurance system. The trigger is the large deficits of the health insurance funds, while a reform commission is searching for ways to save money. Health insurance funds, social welfare organizations,

In Germany, criticism of the energy transition is intensifying. While the latest CO2 balance sheet shows declining emissions, these are primarily due to the reduction of energy-intensive industrial production. At the same time, the further expansion of wind and solar power requires billions of euros in investments in grids, storage facilities, and reserve power plants.

Fertilizer prices are rising sharply on the world market in a short period of time, and the consequences are directly impacting European agriculture. The triggers include the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the production outage at the Ras Laffan plant in Qatar, high import taxes on Russian fertilizers, and the CBAM CO2 import tax.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the war in the Middle East has triggered a global oil supply crisis that extends far beyond the current Brent and WTI prices. Approximately one-fifth of global oil production has been cut off from the world market, while Asian refineries, in particular, are under

At the Berching community wind farm between Wallnsdorf and Raitenbuch, a rotor blade fell from a wind turbine on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at around 9:00 a.m. The turbine involved was a Senvion model from 2012, which, according to the operator, was regularly maintained. The wind turbine was also equipped with a monitoring system for

The US government is pushing ahead with the construction of new coal-fired power plants and is planning a completely new facility in Alaska for the first time in over ten years. The Terra Energy Center is slated to be built at a cost of around one billion dollars, with a capacity of 1.25 gigawatts. Coal

In Germany and other major automotive countries in Western Europe, vehicle production has been declining noticeably for years. Manufacturers are increasingly shifting their production to Eastern Europe. Last year, unit sales in Germany, Spain, Italy, and the UK combined were more than a quarter lower than in 2019. In Germany, the decline was 16 percent,

In Frankfurt am Main, the German Chemical Industry Association is warning of growing risks to supply chains, as the war with Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz are already disrupting international supply chains. Important raw materials such as ammonia, phosphate, helium, and sulfur, needed for chemicals, fertilizers, and other industries, are affected.

According to calculations by Norwegian economics professor Jan Emblemsvåg, Germany’s nuclear phase-out has resulted in additional costs of around €330 billion. This equates to approximately €3,900 per capita and around €15,600 for a family of four. The core issue is the decommissioning of functioning nuclear power plants, even though Germany subsequently had to subsidize new