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Solar company EKD insolvent – customers face high costs for repairs and the rectification of defects
The solar company Energiekonzepte Deutschland (EKD)—a nationwide provider of photovoltaic systems, battery storage units, and heat pumps—has filed for insolvency. The Leipzig-based firm submitted its insolvency petition on October 2, following a refusal by the British financial investor Pemberton to provide further funding. Despite having installed more than 45,000 solar systems—with a recent rate of…
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Metal industry in a historic crisis – pleas for help to the government go unheeded
A commentary by our author Klaus Bastian: “We haven’t seen a crisis like this since the founding of the Federal Republic,” warns Oliver Zander, Director General of the employers’ association Gesamtmetall. The German metal industry is fighting for its economic survival, even as the federal government announces further reforms. According to the association, more than…
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Overvoltage destroys electrical appliances – three major incidents within four months
Three major grid disturbances resulting in overvoltage damage have occurred within the span of four months: in July, numerous households in Aspach-Rietenau were affected, while in August, an incident in Apfelstetten caused an estimated 600,000 euros in damages. In October, another disturbance—this time in Schleswig-Holstein—led to significant property damage and a widespread power outage, leaving…
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Moving away from non-essential standards: Draft legislation for simpler construction is ready
Lower standard temperatures in bedrooms, reduced impact-sound insulation, or thinner walls—in the future, it may be possible to deviate from established “comfort standards” in residential construction, thereby cutting costs. On Monday, the Federal Ministry of Justice presented a draft law aimed at amending construction contract regulations to allow for such changes. According to the Ministry,…
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New thermal power plant burns down after only one year – damages of up to 400,000 euros
On October 3, 2026, a fire severely damaged a combined heat and power plant in Straßlach-Dingharting, near Munich—a facility that had been in operation for only one year. A technical incident within the exhaust gas purification system triggered a smoldering fire, the precise cause of which remains under investigation. According to Mayor Hans Sienerth, repairs…
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Hans-Werner Sinn takes the energy transition to task – “It’s all nonsense. Nothing has turned out as claimed.”
In a lecture at the University of Lucerne on October 9, 2026, former ifo Institute president Hans-Werner Sinn delivered a scathing assessment of Germany’s energy transition. “It’s all nonsense. Nothing has pained out as claimed,” he remarked, sharply criticizing political promises of affordable energy, new export markets, and a leading international role for Germany. The…
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Energy policy: Natural gas ten times more expensive than in the US – basic materials industry faces decline
A commentary by our author Klaus Bastian: German energy policy is exacerbating the competitive disadvantage faced by the domestic basic materials industry vis-à-vis the United States. Natural gas in Europe now costs more than ten times as much as it does in the U.S. Further price hikes in October are hitting chemical companies, fertilizer manufacturers,…
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Insurance group Generali to close three locations in Germany – 800 jobs lost
The Italian insurance company Generali plans to close three of its German locations by the end of 2030, resulting in the elimination of 800 jobs nationwide. The affected branches are in Aachen, Nuremberg, and Stuttgart; employees will be relocated to the company’s offices in Cologne, Munich, and Karlsruhe. This move is part of a comprehensive…
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At least two euros more: EU to introduce new parcel fee starting in November
Starting Sunday, parcels from many countries outside the European Union will become even more expensive: as of November 1, the EU is introducing a processing fee of two euros for each distinct item contained in a package. This means an additional cost of at least two euros per shipment—on top of the customs duties on…
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Special funds: Bureaucracy hinders municipalities from accessing promised millions
The federal government promises to cut red tape, yet municipalities are experiencing the exact opposite when it comes to accessing state funding. In the district of Werra-Meißner in Hesse, 33.5 million euros are available from the first tranche of a special fund earmarked for infrastructure investments—16.7 million euros for the district itself, and 16.8 million…
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Planned for 20 years – Deutsche Bahn halts electrification to the Altmark Industrial Park due to a lack of funds
After approximately 20 years of planning, Deutsche Bahn has halted the electrification of the freight rail line serving the Altmark industrial and commercial park in Saxony-Anhalt. The decision stems from a funding gap of around 500 million euros in railway infrastructure. Consequently, the railway subsidiary DB InfraGO has put the project on hold indefinitely. The…
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Electricity Security Platform – Federal Network Agency prepares for production halts in the industrial sector
A commentary by our author Klaus Bastian: The Federal Network Agency is developing a “security platform for electricity”—a mechanism designed to facilitate state-mandated curtailment of large-scale power consumers. The system is scheduled to become operational in the winter of 2026/2027 and is intended for use during severe electricity shortages. It would primarily affect industrial facilities…
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Europe’s last penicillin factory faces closure – China dominates the market
In the Austrian town of Kundl, Europe’s last fully integrated penicillin factory is fighting for its economic survival as of October 2026. The pharmaceutical company Sandoz is finding it increasingly difficult to compete with significantly cheaper manufacturers from China. High energy costs and low selling prices are exacerbating the situation. A closure would substantially increase…
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Association bpa warns of more than 50,000 job terminations in the wake of nursing care reform
The Federal Association of Private Providers of Social Services (bpa) has warned of severe consequences for care services and those in need of care, in light of the nursing care reform. “Well-functioning support structures for people in need of care and their families are being dismantled, practically overnight,” association president Bernd Meurer told the newspaper…
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Bosch spins off 62,500 employees – corporate restructuring could facilitate job cuts
On October 22, 2026, Bosch announced a sweeping corporate restructuring. Starting in August 2027, approximately 62,500 employees are set to be transferred into four independent subsidiaries. The company cites growing competition from Asia, the transformation of the automotive industry, and insufficient profitability as the reasons for this reorganization. Existing employment contracts are to remain in…