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Wind turbine scrap – the unsolved recycling problem is growing rapidly
The number of decommissioned wind turbines in Germany is rising rapidly. As they are dismantled, so too is the mountain of wind turbine scrap. The enormous rotor blades, in particular, pose a persistent recycling problem. They are made of glass fibers, resins, and plastics that are tightly bonded together and difficult to separate. Without solutions,…
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Electricity market in a state of emergency – new record for negative prices
August 2025 brought extreme fluctuations in the electricity market. In just one month, prices slipped below zero for 64 hours, marking one of the highest monthly values since records began. The persistently sunny days caused massive overproduction, while demand at times failed to keep pace. Germany has thus already recorded 465 hours of negative prices…
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Lease returns flood the used car market – buyers stay away
The used car market in Germany is booming. But the leasing of electric cars is facing a dramatic imbalance. More and more leased returns are flooding the lot, but buyers aren’t coming. Combustion-engine vehicles are easily finding new owners, while used electric vehicles are sitting like lead at dealerships, their residual values steadily declining. (wiwo:…
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SMA Solar – Crash of an industry giant
The solar industry is experiencing a deep crisis, and SMA Solar is at its center. Heavy losses, problems in the US, and a dramatic drop in its share price are rocking the last major German solar company. The situation is being exacerbated by the energy crisis, which is unsettling many investors and weighing on the…
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Study shows: German government employs around 60,000 more civil servants than necessary
The number of unemployed in Germany has risen above the three million mark. This means unemployment has reached a sad ten-year record. At the same time, the civil service has grown significantly. Particularly striking: according to calculations by the German Economic Institute, Germany employs around 60,000 more civil servants than necessary. Without this increase, the…
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Insolvency at AE Group – Automotive supplier closes plants in Thuringia and Hesse
The AE Group is facing its final closure. The long-established automotive supplier is ending production in Thuringia and Hesse. Approximately 650 jobs will be lost as a result. The planned restructuring failed, and an investor solution failed to materialize. The bitter consequence: a complete factory closure by the end of the year. Hopes for AE…
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Record year for nuclear energy – global electricity production reaches new high
The global nuclear energy industry looks back on a truly record-breaking year. In 2024, the international reactor fleet delivered more electricity than ever before. The World Nuclear Performance Report 2025 documents this record high and highlights the importance of nuclear power for a stable energy future. Record year with strong results in electricity generation and…
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Severe crisis in the German solar industry: Meyer Burger closes plants in eastern Germany
The renowned solar module manufacturer Meyer Burger has closed its plants in eastern Germany. The sites in Bitterfeld-Wolfen and Hohenstein-Ernstthal are affected. More than 500 employees are now jobless and struggling with the sudden job loss. The company filed for insolvency in May and has not found an investor to keep it operating. This move…
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Geothermal energy as a source of hope – municipalities are scrapping their projects one after the other
At the end of August, a project in Lilienthal that had raised high hopes collapsed. The company Sweon spent two years investigating the potential of a geothermal power plant. The plan was to supply households and businesses via a far-reaching district heating network. Old drilling data from the 1980s and 2000s indicated insufficient permeability in…
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New battery technology – almost weekly announcements unsettle buyers
The demise of Voltstorage impressively demonstrates how quickly hopes can be dashed. The battery technology pioneered iron-salt energy storage, enabling a 1-megawatt system with over 1,000 cycles without any noticeable loss of performance. Nevertheless, the end came abruptly, as market conditions, investor interests, and strategies did not harmonize with the corresponding cell innovations. (pv-magazine: 28.08.25)…
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Citizens’ referendum on wind farm stopped – State Administration Office causes outrage
In the dispute over the planned wind farm in the Schmölauer Forest, a referendum has not been held. Around 30 wind turbines were at the center of the conflict. Although the Dähre municipal council had approved the citizens’ petition, the Saxony-Anhalt State Office for Administrative Affairs intervened and stopped the process. For the citizens’ initiative,…
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Door-to-door sales for fiber optic connections – consumer protection advises caution
In the course of fiber optic expansion, providers often use door-to-door sales to pressure customers into signing up quickly. Many prospective customers feel pressured as a result. Consumer protection agencies warn that not every internet contract offer is worthwhile for fiber optic connections, and careful consideration remains crucial to benefiting from fast internet in the…
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Hidden national debt is exploding – Germany is threatened with financial collapse
National debt has reached a historic record level. Open and hidden liabilities total €19.5 trillion, equivalent to 454 percent of annual economic output. Within just one year, the sustainability gap increased by €4.1 trillion. Around one-third of the increase comes from social spending on health and long-term care insurance. (faz: 29.08.25) The pension crisis also…
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Poland selects location for first SMR in Włocławek
Poland is opting for a new site for its entry into the nuclear energy of the future. The first small modular nuclear power plant is being built in Włocławek. The energy company Orlen confirmed the construction after laying the foundations for close cooperation with Synthos Green Energy. The two companies agreed on a financing and…
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USA brings decommissioned Palisade nuclear power plant in Michigan back online
On August 25, 2025, a historic step was taken in Covert Township, Michigan: The previously decommissioned Palisade nuclear power plant officially transitioned from decommissioning to operational status. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved Holtec’s license package on July 24. Palisade thus made history, as it was the first time in the United States that…