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Energy crisis – scientific advisors recommend domestic fracking for the wealthy
In Berlin, the scientific advisors to Economics Minister Katherina Reiche presented their impact assessment of the new energy crisis. The trigger is the Iran-Iraq War, which is once again putting pressure on energy markets and leading to higher prices for gas and oil in Germany. The economists therefore advise against rapid price controls such as
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LNG shortage drives storage filling costs for next winter up by 11.7 billion
Europe’s gas supply is coming under acute pressure ahead of next winter because gas storage facilities are currently at a historic low and the Iran crisis is simultaneously threatening key LNG supply routes. The triggers are Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the cessation of production at Qatar’s largest LNG export complex. Europe
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Study classifies the safety risk of new nuclear reactors as negligible
In Switzerland, the debate surrounding new nuclear power plants is intensifying as parliamentary discussions on the blackout initiative begin. The trigger is a study by Economiesuisse, which classifies the safety risk of modern Generation 3+ reactors as negligible from an economic perspective. The central question is whether a new nuclear power plant would be viable
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Government overturns heating law and stops mandatory electric heating in the heating sector
In Germany, the center-right/center-left coalition is initiating a fundamental shift in energy policy. This is prompted by the planned repeal of key provisions in the existing heating law, its renaming to the Building Modernization Act, and further amendments to energy legislation. The focus is on the heating sector, but also on the broader question of
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Iran conflict drives up energy prices – fuel, heating and electricity in Germany are becoming even more expensive
The escalation of the conflict with Iran exacerbated Germany’s energy crisis in early March 2026. At the heart of the conflict was the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes. Tankers were attacked, insurers slowed down shipments, and many ships were diverted to longer routes. This drove up oil and gas
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Funded by the EU with over 650 million euros – Mediterranean power cable on the verge of collapse
The planned Great Sea Interconnector power cable across the Mediterranean, connecting Crete, Cyprus, and eventually Israel, is on the verge of collapse despite EU funding. The project aims to end Cyprus’s energy isolation. It received €657.9 million in EU funding and was considered a strategic project in the eastern Mediterranean. Originally slated for completion by
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Porsche announces further job cuts – new CEO intensifies austerity measures after profit slump
At Porsche in Stuttgart, CEO Michael Leiters has announced further staff reductions following the ongoing elimination of 3,900 jobs. The trigger is the sports car manufacturer’s massive profit slump last year, during which the company presented the first key elements of its Strategy 2035 at its annual press conference. The strategy focuses on a more
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The Netherlands are getting serious – a newly founded state-owned company is to build new nuclear power plants
The Netherlands’ nuclear plans are now taking concrete form, as the government has established a new state-owned company specifically for their implementation. NEO NL will initially plan, build, and later operate two nuclear power plants. The Hague is planning for four reactors in the long term. This move is driven by a shift in energy
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Oil crisis in the Persian Gulf – blocked Strait of Hormuz paralyzes world markets
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has almost completely ground to a halt since the US and Israeli attacks on Iran at the end of February, triggering an acute oil crisis in the Persian Gulf. The triggers are the military escalation, threats against shipping, attacks on tankers, and the fear of further strikes against production
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In North Rhine-Westphalia, a house is being demolished to make way for the transport of wind turbine components
In Hemer, in the Märkischer Kreis district of North Rhine-Westphalia, part of a house in the Stephanopel neighborhood is being demolished to allow a wind turbine transport with 78-meter-long rotor blades to navigate the narrow route through the valley. This is due to three Enercon E-160 wind turbines being built in the northern Balver Forest
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Massive profit slump – Volkswagen cuts 50,000 jobs in Germany
Volkswagen is intensifying its cost-cutting measures in Wolfsburg following a massive slump in profits, planning to eliminate around 50,000 jobs across the entire group in Germany by 2030. The automaker announced this after already reaching an agreement with unions at the end of 2024 to reduce 35,000 jobs, primarily at its core brand. The more
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LNG tankers destined for Europe are turning around on open seas and heading towards Asia
The war in Iran is now hitting Europe’s gas supply hard, as several LNG tankers originally destined for Europe have changed course and are now sailing to Asia. The triggers are the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the temporary disruption of LNG shipments from Qatar, and the sharp rise in prices on
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Industrial orders collapse – Germany’s industry starts the year with a shock
German industrial orders plummeted in January 2026. According to the Federal Statistical Office, order intake fell by 11.1 percent compared to the previous month, significantly more than economists had predicted. The decisive factor was primarily the cancellation of an exceptionally large number of large orders following the strong December, coupled with a massive collapse in
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Solar parks need far more space – new analysis dismantles the arguments of the solar industry
In Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, the planned River City Energy Project, a 500-megawatt solar park, is facing significant pressure because a new analysis estimates the actual land area required to be much larger than previously thought. This is based on a comparison by analysts Isaac Orr and Mitch Rolling between the solar project and a
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Failed wind power projects – Strabag demands 330 million euros from Germany in the USA
Since April 7, 2025, a high-profile case against the Federal Republic of Germany has been pending before the District Court in Washington, D.C. Two Strabag subsidiaries are seeking to enforce an arbitration award of more than €330 million, granted in 2024 by the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Disputes (ICSID). The case stems