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Mega-project failed – Europe’s largest insect farm closes despite millions in subsidies
The insect farm was intended to be Europe’s flagship project for sustainable protein production, but despite millions of euros in public subsidies and several hundred million euros in private financing, the venture failed. In total, more than $620 million was invested in the project. For years, the insect farm was considered an innovative project, but
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Active pension: Tax bonus for employees – targeted disadvantage for the self-employed
The new active pension scheme is supposedly modern, secures the future, and motivates older people to continue working. But it only applies to employees. The self-employed remain excluded. With this, policymakers are deliberately creating a two-tier society for the elderly. They are exacerbating inequality instead of resolving it, and they are ignoring economic reality at
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Insufficient demand – Porsche abandons its own charging network in China
Porsche is ending its own charging network in China because it’s simply no longer profitable. Demand for Porsche electric models was significantly weaker than expected, station usage remained low, and maintenance costs were high. At the same time, the Chinese market intensified the pressure from strong domestic competitors and a more densely developed infrastructure. Therefore,
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Transport revolution in Brandenburg – 46 hydrogen buses are idle, millions are wasted
The transport transition in Brandenburg is increasingly becoming a strain. In Cottbus, 46 new hydrogen buses are sitting unused in the depot, even though each vehicle cost around €650,000. The fuel is lacking. At times, the buses had to be transported on diesel low-loaders to distant filling stations. Simultaneously, the delivery of ordered electric buses
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Wind turbine nacelle collapses – oil contaminates soil – recovery operation takes months
In October, a serious wind turbine collapsed in Havixbeck. The turbine’s nacelle, along with the rotor blades, tore from the tower and crashed to the ground. This resulted in an oil spill, the extent of which has not yet been fully assessed. The soil contamination remains unclear because key components have not yet been recovered.
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Katherina Reiche and the growth problem – why longer working hours are not enough
Katherina Reiche has sparked a debate that extends far beyond traditional economic issues. For the first time, she openly stated that the promise of prosperity to the next generation can no longer be kept. This statement carries significant weight because it marks a historic turning point. At the same time, Reiche is calling for longer
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The German army buys a new pistol cheaply abroad – while Berlin demands local patriotism
The German Armed Forces’ new pistol represents a political contradiction with significant symbolic implications. The current arms contract is going abroad, even though German politicians are demanding greater local pride from businesses and announcing a strategically oriented procurement policy. The government is deliberately choosing the cheaper supplier outside Germany, while simultaneously demanding greater loyalty to
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World’s largest nuclear power plant about to restart – Japan focuses on security of supply
Nearly 15 years after Fukushima, the world’s largest nuclear power plant is once again at the center of the energy policy debate. Japan is preparing to restart Kashiwazaki-Kariwa to increase its energy security, implement a controlled restart of nuclear power, stabilize electricity prices in Japan, and permanently incorporate the lessons learned from Fukushima. The project
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Skysails insolvent – kite power plants fail due to lack of financing despite state subsidies
Skysails Power GmbH has filed for insolvency. The Hamburg-based company developed so-called kite power plants, designed to generate electricity from strong high-altitude winds. After a crucial financing round failed to materialize, the Hamburg District Court opened preliminary insolvency proceedings. Despite government subsidies, technical successes, and some sales, the business model proved economically unsustainable. The collapse
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Insulation overrated – new analyses question the renovation principle in the building sector
Insulation has long been considered a key lever for climate protection in the building sector, but new analyses are putting its importance into perspective. German buildings continue to account for around a third of national emissions, while ambitious renovation targets have been missed for years. Instead, replacing heating systems is gaining more attention because it
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Charging station misconception – why Germany’s charging policy misses the mark with everyday life
The charging station miscalculation is costing billions and shaping the streetscape of many cities. Public charging points are springing up everywhere, even though drivers have long since changed their behavior. The charging infrastructure is growing faster than its usage, while electric cars are increasingly being charged privately. At the same time, charging costs are rising,
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Real incomes are plummeting – why Germany’s prosperity is declining
The real income of Germans is decreasing because growing portions of economic output are permanently reserved for mandatory government and social expenditures. Klaus Regling, former head of the Eurozone bailout fund, describes a situation in which nominal growth barely translates into increased private consumption. A prolonged economic crisis, far-reaching interventions through pension reform, rising national
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State protection demanded – charging cable theft threatens Germany’s charging infrastructure
Charging station operators are calling for government protection because charging cable theft is increasingly crippling the charging infrastructure and noticeably slowing down electromobility in Germany. Industry representatives warn that organized copper theft is specifically targeting public charging points and undermining the confidence of electric car drivers. They are therefore demanding political action, as private countermeasures
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Negative electricity prices – billions spent on unused electricity are driving Germany into a cost trap
Negative electricity prices are no longer a fringe phenomenon, but a central cost problem of the German electricity system. A massive oversupply is increasingly occurring at midday, overwhelming both the grid and demand. The consequences are costly. Redispatch costs, rising grid fees, increasing surplus electricity, and structural market distortions add up to billions of euros,
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Electric car crisis worsens – Ford terminates battery contract with LG and halts electric offensive
The electric vehicle crisis has reached a new peak, as Ford terminates a key battery deal with LG Energy Solutions. This decision comes despite the agreement being signed only a few months ago and follows a significant drop in demand for electric vehicles. At the same time, the company’s existing electric vehicle strategy is faltering,