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Power 04/03/2025, 16:26
Shortly after the general election, calls for a new restart in the digitalisation of metering are growing louder.
(Image: EMH Metering)

Displeasure over smart meter rollout drives new debate

Essen - The smart meter rollout remains a topic of frustration for the industry. The politically driven attempts to speed up the digitalisation of metering seem to have been largely ineffective so far. A reform debate initiated by Eon puts its finger in the wound. At the same time, individual proposals have been heavily criticised.
Politics 04/03/2025, 16:24
The Heating Act will probably have to be revisited after the government is formed.
(Image: Pixabay)

Industry alliance calls for reform of the Heating Act

Berlin - In a joint appeal, various energy industry associations are calling for the heat transition regulations to be simplified. In particular, the Heating Act needs to be revised in order to find more favour in practice.
Gas & Heat 04/03/2025, 16:15
Gas-fired power plants play an important role in heat planning in many municipalities.
(Image: Siemens)

McKinsey: Gas demand falls less than expected

Düsseldorf - Natural gas will continue to play a key role in Germany's energy supply in the coming years. Demand is not falling as quickly as expected. In certain areas, it is even increasing, the consulting firm McKinsey is warning.
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Politics

Politics 04/03/2025, 12:20
Some of the most recent energy laws have yet to be authorised by the EU under state aid law.
(Image: European Union)

Renewable Energy Sources Act and Energy Industry Act amendments partially come into force

Berlin - It was one of the last decisions made by the "old" Bundestag before the new elections:The adoption of the mini-Energy Industry Act amendment and the biomass package. The changes have now come into force. An overview of what has changed for plant operators and where we are still waiting for a "go" from Brussels.
Politics 03/03/2025, 15:59

German government rejects speculation about Nord Stream 2

Berlin - According to the German Ministry of Economics, the utilising the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is out of the question. Nord Stream 2 is not certified and therefore not legally authorised, emphasised a spokesperson. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit also rejects such reports as "highly speculative".
Politics 03/03/2025, 12:26

BNE calls for more care in energy procurement

Berlin - The German government is inheriting many of the traffic light's energy policy construction sites. These include the Power Plant Safety Act and a delayed smart meter rollout. The BNE association is critical of a capacity mechanism and is calling for simplifications in the digitalisation of the energy system.
Politics 03/03/2025, 11:51

Think tanks present concept for e-car promotion

Berlin - In order to get electric mobility moving, think tanks are proposing a two-stage process to promote electric cars. Their plan: first reach broad groups of buyers, then provide targeted support for commuters and households without alternatives. Meanwhile, Germany is in danger of losing its place in the e-car market.
Politics 28/02/2025, 15:17

Black-red energy policy will not be a sure-fire success

Berlin - The CDU/CSU and SPD have started exploratory talks. In view of the major geopolitical challenges, energy issues are not in the centre of attention. Nevertheless, the path to a joint black-red energy policy harbours a risk of stumbling.
All news in the rubric Politics

Market & Industry

Market & Industry 04/03/2025, 15:46
Off the coast of Borkum, the investment company Luxcara is planning a wind farm with sixteen wind turbines from the Chinese manufacturer Mingyang.
(Image: RWE AG)

Criticism of Chinese wind turbines off Borkum

Berlin - After the German government banned the use of Chinese components in the area of 5G mobile network expansion in 2024, the discussion has now moved on to other areas of critical infrastructure. At the centre: The Waterkant offshore project off Borkum.
Market & Industry 04/03/2025, 13:55

"AI can be valuable, but is not a panacea"

Aachen - Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the world of work. In an interview with energate, two experts from the consulting firm BET explained the extent to which this is already the case in the energy industry and where this particular form of digitalisation is taking us.
Market & Industry 03/03/2025, 17:30

Battery industry needs stable supply chains

Berlin - According to a study by the Capgemini Research Institute, batteries are opening up new business models in the energy sector. However, the industry still faces challenges in the areas of data analysis and digitalisation.
Market & Industry 03/03/2025, 16:24

Officium acquires metering service provider

Pegnitz/Munich - The metering service provider Officium is taking over another company in the sector. The purchase of the heating cost billing company EAD Region Mainz-Wiesbaden brings the group's portfolio to 15 companies and expands its market presence in Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse.
Market & Industry 03/03/2025, 10:00

"The market situation for electrolyser manufacturers is difficult"

Düsseldorf - Numerous producers of electrolysers are positioning themselves in the hydrogen market, but many plant manufacturers are struggling with the sluggish market development. energate spoke to Dirk Niemeier, director of the management consultancy PWC Strategy& Germany, about the challenges and the resulting overcapacities.
All news in the rubric Market & Industry

Power

Power 04/03/2025, 16:00
(Image: Envato Elements)

Siemens and Mennekes cooperate on charging infrastructure

Zug - The Siemens subsidiary Smart Infrastructure and the charging infrastructure manufacturer Mennekes are cooperating in the planning of electromobility charging infrastructures.
Power 04/03/2025, 12:05

PV guide explains community building supply

Berlin - The BSW Solar and GDW associations have summarised how landlords can supply their tenants with solar power from their own PV system in a guide to communal building supply. The model was introduced last year with the solar package. The associations see a lot of potential in it.
Power 04/03/2025, 10:53

"Bridging the time of grid expansion with battery storage"

Essen - The Swedish company Flower wants to enter the German market with battery storage solutions. The company was launched as a tech start-up in 2020. In an interview with energate, Marion Kretzschmar, responsible for project development in the DACH region, explained what the company offers and what opportunities it sees in Germany.
Power 03/03/2025, 12:42

Upswing expected from global offshore construction

Berlin/Oslo - Global offshore wind power will grow faster in 2025 than in the previous year, according to expectations of the Norwegian energy analyst Rystad. Germany will play a decisive role in Europe.
Power 03/03/2025, 11:18

"Capacity mechanism is not a market, but a subsidy race"

Berlin - The Power Plant Security Act, including the capacity market, is likely to be at the top of the new German government's agenda. Robert Busch, managing director of the BNE, thinks little of this mechanism, instead he is in favour of more flexibility and more care in electricity purchasing.
All news in the rubric Power

Gas & Heat

Gas & Heat 04/03/2025, 14:00
Hydrogen producer Lhyfe believes it is well positioned, explained Luc Graré in an interview with energate.
(Image: William Jezequel/Lhyfe)

Hydrogen sector: Gold-rush mood gives way to realism

Cologne - There are many reasons for the sluggish market ramp-up in the hydrogen economy. Nevertheless, the hydrogen producer Lhyfe believes it can cope with the changing market - and is still working on a major project.
Gas & Heat 04/03/2025, 13:44

Hydrogen industry hopes for new federal government

Berlin - Hydrogen as the key to jobs and competitiveness: The Hydrogen Europe association is hoping for support from the new German government. However, high prices and bureaucratic hurdles are slowing down the market - quick solutions are needed here.
Gas & Heat 04/03/2025, 13:43

Green hydrogen more expensive again

Bonn - The very low wind power feed-in compared to the previous week has driven up the price of electricity. This has also made the production of green hydrogen more expensive. Meanwhile, prices on the gas markets fell.
Gas & Heat 04/03/2025, 10:27

Current gas contracts

Hanover - The German Association of Energy Consumers VEA (Bundesverband der Energieabnehmer​) regularly reports on current gas contract agreements. In view of the continuing lack of transparency regarding the price level for industrial customers, the information can provide an initial indicator of achievable prices.
Gas & Heat 04/03/2025, 10:24

German households are heating less

Heidelberg - In 2024, German households heated more economically and benefited from lower gas prices, as a Verivox analysis shows. Despite the savings, the impact of the energy crisis remained noticeable, while record-high temperatures further reduced the need for heating.
All news in the rubric Gas & Heat