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Free electricity at midday: Australia’s answer to its solar power overproduction
Australia is facing a problem that, at first glance, seems positive: a massive overproduction of solar power around midday. This surge of energy is straining the power grid and driving wholesale electricity prices deep into negative territory. To mitigate this structural imbalance, the government is introducing a system from mid-2026 that will provide private households…
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Chemical industry in decline – another key German industry is threatened with collapse
Germany’s chemical industry is in freefall. More than 200 production facilities have already been shut down, and 40,000 skilled jobs are at risk. This development marks not only a crisis for the chemical industry but also a structural weakening of the entire industrial landscape. For months, the German government has been promising relief and a…
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Restructuring efforts failed – AE Group closes plants in Thuringia and Hesse
The planned restructuring of the AE Group failed to avert its collapse. At the turn of the year, the plants in Gerstungen and Nentershausen will close completely. Around 700 employees will lose their livelihoods. The production shutdown will also hit the regional economy hard. The intended innovation failed due to financial constraints, while the necessary…
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Wind turbine scrap: Germany’s ticking environmental time bomb
The energy transition is presenting Germany with a growing waste disposal problem. Wind turbine scrap, in particular, is becoming a major concern, as thousands of old turbines need to be decommissioned. At the same time, disposal costs, rotor blade waste, recycling bottlenecks, and environmental burdens are creating massive challenges. The scale of this legacy waste…
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District heating – the operators’ monopoly drives up costs while achieving only a small reduction in emissions
District heating is presented as a modern solution, but a look behind the scenes reveals a monopoly that traps households in a cost spiral and deepens their dependence on fossil fuels. The extensive ties to the operators prevent competition, while an opaque pricing system burdens consumers. This combination of a monopolistic structure, outdated energy production,…
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The crisis is hitting Mahle harder than expected – another 1000 jobs are falling victim to cost pressure
Mahle is in deep crisis. The traditional automotive company is struggling with massive cost pressure and is implementing the largest job cuts in its recent history. Locations in Germany are particularly affected. 1,000 jobs will be eliminated, a significant reduction in workforce that is shaking the entire automotive industry. In addition to the main cause,…
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Change of course in China – Electric cars removed from the list of strategically important industries
The Chinese government is implementing a profound shift in policy: electric cars are being removed from the list of strategically important industries. For decades, new energy vehicles were considered a flagship project of national innovation, export, and environmental policy. Now, this phase of preferential treatment is coming to an end. The announced reduction in subsidies…
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Why 230V is not the worldwide standard – the history of voltage in household electricity
Anyone who has ever plugged in an electrical device abroad is familiar with the problem: the voltage in household power grids varies worldwide. In Germany, it’s 230 volts, while in the USA it’s 120 volts. Household electricity simply doesn’t have the same voltage or frequency everywhere. Historically developed structures, early technical standards, and regional peculiarities…
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Electricity storage facility in Förderstedt – a megaproject with enormous capacity and minimal impact
In Förderstedt near Staßfurt, a battery storage system is being built that is unprecedented in Germany – and at the same time reveals how limited the benefits of such large-scale systems are for the power grid. With a capacity of more than 700 megawatt-hours, this storage system will theoretically hold enough electrical energy for approximately…
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British Airways and Air France are leaving Stuttgart Airport
Stuttgart Airport is under increasing pressure. More and more foreign airlines – including British Airways and Air France – are withdrawing their services. They cite high operating costs and increasing bureaucracy, which make operations unprofitable, as the main reasons. This development not only affects Stuttgart Airport but also underscores Germany’s declining attractiveness as an aviation…
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Trade balance in disarray – Germany’s dependence on China is growing
Germany’s trade balance is suffering from a significant shift in favor of China. While imports from China are increasing, German industry is facing an export crisis. The resulting trade deficit not only represents a financial risk but also necessitates an adjustment of economic policy. The figures show that Germany’s foreign trade balance is diverging, and…
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Viessmann is offering severance packages to employees and is requesting government support
The severance packages offered to employees at Viessmann Climate Solutions mark a significant turning point for the North Hesse region. The heating market is in a sales crisis. Despite booming demand for heat pumps, operating profit is falling from $129 million to $120 million. The market for conventional heating systems has collapsed – a drastic…
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Increase in extreme winds pushes offshore wind turbines to their limits
Offshore wind farms are increasingly reaching their limits. Climate change is leading to ever more violent extreme winds, which threaten existing and planned offshore installations. A recent study by an international research team confirms this trend and warns of an increase in long-term wind peaks in over 60 percent of coastal regions. This development increases…
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Mandatory additive in animal feed to reduce methane emissions leads to the death of Danish cows
Danish dairy farmers have been under government mandate since October. A legally required feed additive called Bovaer is supposed to drastically reduce methane emissions from their animals. But this supposed step forward for climate goals is leading to emergencies in the barns. Cows are refusing feed, losing milk production, and in the worst cases, dying.…
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The number of unemployed people is rising rapidly in Munich – the economy is at a turning point
Munich is facing major economic challenges. The situation on the labor market is worsening, unemployment is rising, and the economy is weakening. In the Bavarian capital, the unemployment rate currently stands at 5.2 percent, a level not seen in a decade and a half. The industrial sector, in particular, is coming under pressure. A massive…