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Market & Industry 10/01/2025, 16:47
Lutz Eckenroth comes from the Essen headquarters of majority shareholder Eon.
(Image: Jörg Mettlach/E.ON SE)

"Thoroughbred technician" becomes managing director of Mitnetz

Kabelsketal - The eastern German energy supplier EnviaM has closed the gap in the management team of its grid companies. On 1 March, Lutz Eckenroth will take over the technical management of Mitnetz Strom and Mitnetz Gas.
Politics 10/01/2025, 16:30
Both institutes want a reduction in electricity prices for energy-intensive industry.
(Image: Envato Elements)

Economic institutes urge reduction in electricity prices

Berlin - The German Economic Institute, which is close to employers, and the trade union-affiliated Hans Böckler Foundation have published papers with recommendations on economic policy. Both argue in favour of lowering electricity prices and meeting climate deadlines. However, they are at odds with each other when it comes to the question of measures.
Gas & Heat 10/01/2025, 16:21
Eins Energie in Saxony is struggling with criticism of its district heating plans in Chemnitz.
(Image: eins energie in sachsen GmbH & Co. KG)

Chemnitz wood-fired power plant continues to be criticised

Chemnitz - Projects for wood-fired power plants often have a hard time. In Chemnitz, the fronts have hardened. Eins Energie has published new key points on the project.
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Politics

Politics 09/01/2025, 16:32
IGBCE boss Michael Vassiliadis sees the prosperity of society as a whole at risk.
(Image: Stefan Koch/IG BCE)

IGBCE trade union wants two-year electricity price guarantee

Hanover - The German Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union (IGBCE) is calling for a political guarantee that the price of electricity will remain stable for at least two years. This would also require an increase in the CO2 price to be waived. The state has so far failed to deliver in terms of transformation policy.
Politics 09/01/2025, 15:36

Study: Many hurdles remain for fusion power plants

Berlin - Fusion power plants could go into operation by the middle of the century at the earliest. This is one of the findings of a report on the challenges of the technology. The Office of Technology Assessment in the German Bundestag also looked at the economic viability.
Politics 09/01/2025, 13:00

CDU wants to reduce electricity prices by five cents

Berlin - The CDU wants to reduce electricity prices in Germany by at least 5 cents per kWh if it wins the elections. This is the result of a draft for an 'Agenda 2030', which is available to energate. The CDU is also once again calling for a reversal of the ban on combustion engines.
Politics 08/01/2025, 15:18

BDEW calls for competitive expansion of charging points

Berlin - The German energy and water association BDEW is calling for concrete measures to drive forward electromobility in Germany and Europe. These include a Europe-wide approach, the abandonment of special rules and sustainable tax incentives.
Politics 08/01/2025, 13:08

BSW party wants to nationalise grids

Berlin - According to its short election manifesto, BSW, the party of former Left Party leader Sahra Wagenknecht, wants to nationalise the grids. The party also wants to abolish the Heating Act. However, it does not take a position on many energy policy issues.
All news in the rubric Politics

Market & Industry

Market & Industry 10/01/2025, 14:19
Zindel: "CCS technology is commercially available today, but is associated with high system costs, space requirements and energy consumption."
(Image: Siemens Energy)

"CCS at gas-fired power plants is not worthwhile everywhere"

Erlangen - The use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) at gas-fired power plants is politically controversial. How far along is the development of CCS technologies in gas-fired power plants and what unanswered questions are there? We spoke about this with Erik Zindel, VP Hydrogen & Decarbonisation Strategy at Siemens Energy.
Market & Industry 10/01/2025, 14:12

Stadtwerke Hamminkeln founded

Hamminkeln - The town of Hamminkeln has been planning to establish its own municipal utility for more than a decade. Now, together with Gelsenwasser and Westenergie, it has put its money where its mouth is.
Market & Industry 10/01/2025, 13:32

Eon raises 1.75 billion euros on the capital market

Essen - Eon is expanding its scope for new investments at the start of the year. The Essen-based company has now raised 1.75 billion euros from major investors on the capital market via two bonds. One of the two new bonds totalling 900 million euros is a so-called green bond, which is intended to refinance "green projects".
Market & Industry 09/01/2025, 17:45

Aurubis supplies industrial waste heat for Hamburg

Hamburg - The Hanseatic city of Hamburg is focussing on green heat: Thanks to the cooperation between copper manufacturer Aurubis and Hamburger Energiewerke, industrial heat is becoming a sustainable energy source for 20,000 households.
Market & Industry 09/01/2025, 16:40

CO2 trading with downward correction after year-end rally

Willich - At the turn of the year 2024/2025, CO2 certificate trading experienced a rapid price increase to over the 76 €/t CO2 mark. However, the turnaround in the price curve was not too long in coming.
All news in the rubric Market & Industry

Power

Power 10/01/2025, 16:05
Originally, 10.6 billion euros in Renewable Energy Sources Act costs were planned for 2024.
(Image: Pixabay)

Renewable Energy Sources Act costs on the path to normalisation

Berlin - The promotion of renewables cost the federal government around 18.5 billion euros this year. This is 7.9 billion euros more than originally planned by the transmission system operators. While criticism of the costs has repeatedly arisen throughout the year, the rising figure can also be seen as normalisation following the energy crisis.
Power 10/01/2025, 16:05

Europe is building too few wind farms

Brussels/Münster - The expansion of wind power in Europe is not sufficient to achieve the climate targets for 2030. According to Wind Europe, only 15,000 MW were installed in 2024 - twice as many would be needed. According to an initial analysis, the expansion in Germany is at the same level as the previous year.
Power 10/01/2025, 14:00

RWE puts another large storage facility into operation

Essen/Hamm - Large electricity storage facilities are important in a system with many renewable generation plants in order to compensate for fluctuations in generation. RWE has now connected a new plant to the grid. Its purpose is to provide balancing power.
Power 10/01/2025, 10:00

"Distribution system operators need real-time data"

Haßfurt/Jyväskylä - The digitalisation of grids in Germany is still making slow progress. The Finnish company Aidon wants to accelerate these processes and is also relying on the experience gained in Northern Europe. energate spoke to Carlo Lazar, smart grid expert at Aidon, about the company's plans.
Power 09/01/2025, 17:25

Industrial electricity prices continue to fall

Hanover - According to the VEA electricity price comparison, electricity prices in Germany have fallen by an average of 15 per cent. The main reason for this is a 29 per cent drop in wholesale prices. However, regional differences remain considerable.
All news in the rubric Power

Gas & Heat

Gas & Heat 10/01/2025, 15:22
The expansion of the Kollsnes processing plant has contributed to the increase in gas exports, according to Gassco.
(Image: Gassco)

Norway sets new delivery record

Kopervik - Norwegian natural gas exports have reached a new high in 2024. This was announced by pipeline operator Gassco. New discoveries are needed to maintain this level.
Gas & Heat 10/01/2025, 15:00

Sluggish heat transition in existing buildings

Berlin - Although some progress is being made in the building sector, little is happening, particularly in existing buildings. The German Energy Agency's Building Energy Report 2025 shows which heating technology is being used where, whether new windows and insulation materials are being used in buildings and how high the demand for energy advice is.
Gas & Heat 10/01/2025, 14:49

Low temperatures cause storage tank levels to drop

Groningen - It is currently cold in Europe. The low temperatures are causing natural gas consumption to rise. This is also reflected in the storage levels. In the Netherlands, storage facilities are emptying faster than expected. According to grid operator Gasunie, this is not yet a problem. However, a cold spell could have a different effect.
Gas & Heat 09/01/2025, 16:28

Gas trade quickly processes end of Ukraine transit

Berlin - The surge in gas trading prices due to the end of the Ukraine transit did not last long - the day-ahead price has been falling again since 2 January. In futures trading, the entire curve is "flat" up to and including summer 25. Overall, market participants are expecting a trading year that could always be good for surprises.
Gas & Heat 09/01/2025, 13:43

Meersburg lake heating project takes shape

Meersburg - The town of Meersburg wants to utilise the heat from the water of Lake Constance for a local heating supply. Approval planning for the project should be completed by May.
All news in the rubric Gas & Heat