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EEG reform – government plans to end photovoltaic subsidies
The draft bill for the amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) marks a potential shift in German energy policy: New private photovoltaic systems will no longer receive a fixed feed-in tariff. Their operators will be required to market their electricity directly on the open market. The German government justifies this move with significantly
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Wind turbine in flames – major fire causes millions in damage
A wind turbine in the municipality of Kirrweiler in the Kusel district of Rhineland-Palatinate went up in flames and burned to the ground. The fire broke out on the evening of February 26, 2026, presumably due to a technical defect in the nacelle. Because of the turbine’s height, the fire department could not intervene directly,
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WMF faces deep cuts – parent company plans to close three German plants
The French household appliance group SEB has announced a comprehensive cost-cutting program that will hit the long-established German brand WMF particularly hard. WMF’s parent company plans to eliminate up to 2,100 jobs across Europe, including up to 600 in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The closure of WMF plants in Riedlingen, Hayingen, and Diez is also
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After billions in renovations – Hamburg-Berlin rail connection slower instead of faster
The renovation of the railway line between Hamburg and Berlin is drawing criticism because travel time is increasing despite an investment of at least €2.2 billion. After completion of the construction work, the fastest ICE train will take 107 minutes instead of the previous 103 minutes. Furthermore, the line will remain closed for several weeks
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Industrial decline is driving Germany towards poverty – the social crisis is accelerating
At the beginning of 2026, Germany faces a social shift whose dynamics are accelerating significantly: poverty is moving into the middle class, following the loss of approximately 120,300 jobs in the industrial sector alone in 2025. The automotive and manufacturing industries are particularly affected, while high operating costs, weak export markets, and a persistently weak
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Bitkom survey – Half of the start-ups would not choose Germany as a location again
Only about half of the startups surveyed would choose to establish a company in Germany again, according to current findings. This is the result of a survey conducted by the digital association Bitkom among 133 tech companies at the beginning of the year. The reasons for this skeptical assessment include a weak economy, a lack
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Fatal fall in wind turbine – two workers die in accident in the Main-Kinzig district
Two 32-year-old workers died in a serious workplace accident at a wind turbine under construction in Birstein-Fischborn, Main-Kinzig district, on the morning of February 25. The accident occurred around 5:00 a.m. inside the tower near Federal Highway 276 between Fischborn and Wüstwillenroth. Initial investigations indicate that a work platform, in which the two men were
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Ikea closes call center in Rostock – 279 jobs affected
Ikea plans to close its customer service call center in Rostock, despite handling numerous product inquiries from across Germany. Staff were informed of the decision on February 25th. Ikea cites long-term structural decisions as the reason, but the expiring lease in 2026 also plays a key role. The company further points to necessary, costly investments
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Vienna halts TRON – electric police cars unsuitable for patrol duty
In Vienna, the Ministry of the Interior has ended the TRON project, which had been testing electric vehicles as police patrol cars since 2023. Negative practical experiences during operations were the deciding factor, leading Interior Minister Gerhard Karner to prematurely halt the trial. The test was conducted in real-world situations and across several federal states,
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Network operators warn – government has no plan for locating black-start capable power plants
Germany plans to build twelve gigawatts of new gas-fired power plants, but a crucial point remains unresolved: there is no binding plan for the geographical distribution of these black-start capable power plants, which can restart the grid after a widespread power outage. While the federal government wants to attract investors primarily to Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg
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Dramatic drop in corporate tax revenue – 79% less in January
In January 2026, corporate tax revenues in Germany plummeted. Compared to January 2025, they fell by 79.1% to €181 million. According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, this was due to significantly lower additional tax payments, while refunds increased. The Ministry also cites the weak economy, particularly in the industrial sector, as a contributing factor.
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U-turn in the heating law – oil and gas remain – but from 2029 only with a 10% biofuel content
The German government has presented key points in Berlin for a new building modernization law, intended to replace the existing heating law (Building Energy Act) introduced by Robert Habeck. This initiative stems from the political restart following the collapse of the coalition government in 2024 and the controversy surrounding the de facto mandate for heat
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Insurers are calling for new rules – lithium batteries increase the fire risk on cargo ships
The German Insurance Association (GDV) is warning of an increasing fire risk in maritime transport because more and more electric cars, energy storage systems, and other lithium batteries are being transported worldwide on cargo ships and in containers. According to insurers, the triggers are often cells already damaged during production or handling, which can later
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The head of the Federal Court of Auditors criticizes the subsidies for electric cars: “This seems haphazard.”
Kay Scheller, President of the Federal Court of Auditors, accuses the German government of inefficiency and “state failure” in an interview with Welt am Sonntag, particularly regarding its handling of multi-billion-euro special funds. According to him, the debt-financed money too rarely flows into genuine investments, and the relevant authorities often fail to implement it effectively.
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Chimney in Ibbenbüren demolished – 840 megawatts of controllable power permanently lost
On Sunday, February 22, 2026, the chimney of the coal-fired power plant in Ibbenbüren was demolished, despite gas shortages and the fact that LNG terminals sometimes require icebreakers to clear ice. The demolition affected a plant that had been feeding 840 megawatts of controllable power into the German electricity grid. This controllable capacity is now