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Sweden’s Energy Minister speaks plainly – Europe needs nuclear power
Heat pumps are considered the heating of the future and both the German government and the EU Commission are working to convert heating systems accordingly. In Germany, the number of installed heat pumps is expected to increase to six million by 2030, a fivefold increase. However, the rising demand for electricity poses a challenge. According…
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More and more highly qualified Germans emigrate
A growing number of successful Germans are seriously considering leaving Germany. Germany now has the third highest emigration rate among the 38 leading industrialised nations, and three quarters of emigrants have a university degree, so more and more highly qualified people are leaving the country. (msn: 05.06.23). Entrepreneurs at a turning point: frustration with politics…
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Green Party headquarters: Years of efforts to install heat pumps remain unsuccessful
The Greens have been trying in vain for over three and a half years to install a heat pump in their party headquarters in Berlin-Mitte. Originally, they wanted to use the renovation of their federal headquarters to both renovate the rooms and make the heating system more environmentally friendly. However, research by “Der Spiegel” shows…
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Expert opinion confirms: Habeck’s heating law partly unconstitutional
Passau law professor Meinhard Schröder considers the federal government’s planned heating law to be partially unconstitutional. The Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters), commissioned a legal opinion which confirmed that the law violates the principle of equality in the Basic Law in several points. One example is the age limit of 80…
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Heat pumps in Italy: subsidies exhausted, market collapses
In Italy, there was an enormous increase in heat pumps and house renovations. However, this was an artificially generated investment boom with dubious benefits for climate protection. Now the subsidies in Rome have been used up and the market is collapsing. This should serve as a lesson to German heating politicians (Focus: 08.06.23). Italy’s construction…
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Energy crisis threatens Germany’s industry: Red alert at RWE, Evonik and trade union
Markus Krebber, CEO of the energy company RWE, warns that Germany is facing a power shortage in the medium term. This could lead to companies and jobs leaving the country. He stresses that Germany’s prosperity is based on strong industry. A shortage of energy leads to high prices and thus endangers the competitiveness of the…
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EU Commissioner Breton – Climate neutrality not achievable without nuclear power
Thierry Breton, EU Internal Market Commissioner, reiterated his support for nuclear energy to French MEPs. He stressed its importance as a promising sector and as a means to decarbonise the EU (Eractiv: 02.06.23). This was done in relation to the EU’s response to US subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act. Revolutionary proposal: EU Commission supports…
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The illusion of the climate-neutral heat pump
Discussions about the amendment to the Building Energy Act by Economics Minister Habeck have been going on for weeks. The media tries with some success to distract from the main weak point. According to the law, from 2024 only heating systems that are operated with “at least” 65% renewable energies should be installed. The government…
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Solar boom threatens farmers in Germany – farmland is becoming scarce and expensive
The solar boom in Germany is putting farmers under increasing pressure due to Investors often acquire large areas in order to build solar parks on them. This makes arable land scarce and expensive for the farmers (Tagesschau: 05.06.23). The solar boom in Germany: Farmers under pressure – dramatic effects on farmland and rents Large investors…
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Netzagentur allows electricity and gas network operators to make higher profits – energy is becoming even more expensive
Netzagentur President Klaus Mueller plans to give companies that operate electricity and gas networks more scope for profit. This will increase the costs for energy consumers (Handelsblatt: 07.06.23). Network operators benefit: Netzagentur plans higher returns for electricity and gas network operators from 2024 The news for electricity and gas network operators in Germany is positive.…
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German industry relocates production abroad
According to a BDI survey, almost every sixth company in German industry relocates its production and jobs abroad. Companies attribute this, among other things, to high energy and labor costs that weigh on them (Wiwo: 05.06.23). Industry lobby raises the alarm: companies in Germany are relocating production abroad The President of the Federation of German…
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Energy price disaster threatens German industry: Evonik board calls for urgent measures
According to the CEO of the chemical group Evonik, Christian Kullmann, energy for industry in Germany is more expensive than in any other country in the world. He warns of a possible economic decline in the country (Deutschlandfunk: 04.06.23). Evonik CEO warns of energy policy disaster and calls for subsidized industrial electricity prices Evonik’s CEO…
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Environmental groups warn against the approval of new wood heating systems
An alliance of major environmental organizations has warned the traffic light parties against classifying wood heating systems as sustainable. They warn against allowing new heating systems in the future. In a joint statement, the associations pointed out that forests are already being overexploited both in Germany and globally. Increasing deforestation has “devastating consequences for biodiversity”.…
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Left accuses Lindner of “austerity dictates” at the expense of poor people
The savings targets of Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) for the federal ministries in the budget for the coming year are met with resistance from the left and the Greens. “Lindner’s cuts are fatal, they will increase fears of relegation, increase poverty and exacerbate social inequality,” said Linken co-boss Janine Wissler to the AFP news…
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The green economic miracle promised by Olaf Scholz does not materialize
Germany is in an economic crisis and the growth rate is falling rapidly. Nevertheless, the government promises people a new ecological economic miracle (Wiwo: 01.06.23). Germany’s green economic miracle is missing: Current statistics reveal the murky reality The economic miracle promised by Chancellor Olaf Scholz through the green transformation does not materialize. The current statistics…