Latest news

Politics 04/10/2024, 11:45
The Energy Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, Tobias Goldschmidt, is also in favour of fewer offshore turbines.
(Image: www.lichtschacht.com)

Goldschmidt in favour of spreading the grid expansion costs over time

Kiel - Schleswig-Holstein's Energy Minister Tobias Goldschmidt sees the distribution of grid costs as the biggest political challenge at the moment. In an interview with energate, he explained how he intends to reduce grid costs and what the expansion of offshore wind power has to do with this…
Politics 04/10/2024, 11:00
In the "Berliner Woche" column, our capital city editorial team looks back on what is happening in energy policy.
(Image: Envato Elements)

Of slowness and simplification - a gloss

Berlin - Of all the EU countries, only Denmark has implemented the EU regulations on simplifying and speeding up authorisation procedures from the Renewable Energy Directive RED III. All the others were too slow. However, an opponent from the CDU of all parties might have a tip for the Minister of Economic Affairs.
Market & Industry 04/10/2024, 10:17
Christina Ledong and Markus Hoffmann are calling for new approaches to tackle the shortage of skilled labour.
(Image: Anika Dollmeyer/Fotostudio Ventura)

"The skills shortage was absolutely foreseeable"

Leipzig - The shortage of skilled labour is putting increasing pressure on the economy and society. In their guest article, Christina Ledong and Markus Hoffmann from VNG criticise the political ignorance of the past decades and urgently call for new approaches to tackle the crisis.
Try now for free!

News

Politics

Politics 02/10/2024, 17:31
Wind power in Bavaria is set to make significantly more progress in the coming years.
(Image: Windkraft Simonsfeld, Klaus Rockenbauer)

Is Bavaria softening its wind power plans?

Munich - The Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs has unveiled its renewable energy strategy: The signs are still clearly in favour of expanding PV and biomass. However, Energy Minister Hubert Aiwanger has caused a stir with a statement on the expansion of wind power.
Politics 02/10/2024, 17:14

Chancellor Scholz promises to reduce electricity prices

Berlin - At the Unternehmertag organised by the German association of foreign trade, BGA, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised the German economy relief on electricity prices. He has both short and long-term measures in mind.
Politics 02/10/2024, 11:42

Hydrogen bank: EU tightens conditions for participation

Brussels - The conditions for participation in the second auction of the European hydrogen bank have been finalised. They have become stricter. One new condition concerns the origin of the electrolysers. It is directed against imports from China.
Politics 01/10/2024, 16:19

Gas alert level under review

Berlin - The German 'Gas Alert Level' could soon be lifted. Philipp Steinberg, head of department at the Ministry of Economics, hinted at this at the Handelsblatt Annual Conference Gas 2024. At the same time, Germany is likely to retain a stake in gas importer Sefe.
Politics 01/10/2024, 12:53

EU countries too slow in approval processes

Brussels - The EU Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against almost all EU member states. They have failed to speed up and simplify approval procedures in time, in breach of the Renewable Energy Directive RED III. Only Denmark is on track.
All news in the rubric Politics

Market & Industry

Market & Industry 02/10/2024, 17:31
Stadtwerke Tübingen also produces its own electricity.
(Image: Stadtwerke Tübingen)

Public utility Stadtwerke Tübingen dampens expectations for 2024

Tübingen - After the first nine months of the year, the public utility Stadtwerke Tübingen is tempering its expectations for the current year. The past financial year was a good one.
Market & Industry 02/10/2024, 16:41

Schleswig-Holstein: Ammonia import terminal starts operations

Brunsbüttel - The federal state of Schleswig-Holstein has a new ammonia import terminal. The plant in Brunsbüttel, owned by the Norwegian chemicals group Yara, has a capacity of 3 million tonnes. It has now been officially inaugurated and is set to make Brunsbüttel an important hub for the hydrogen economy.
Market & Industry 02/10/2024, 14:11

Ice cream cold storage as a cost-cutting 'battery'

Heppenheim - One of Europe's largest ice cream factories has recently made a freezer warehouse more flexible. Using AI-powered energy management and a natural battery made from ice cream, consumer goods giant Unilever is able to "drastically" reduce the cost of producing Langnese ice cream in Heppenheim, Germany.
Market & Industry 01/10/2024, 17:05

Landwärme: Price agreements and a dozen interested parties

Berlin - Landwärme appears to be making progress with its insolvency in self-administration. Twelve potential financial partners are considering joining the company, while progress is being made with the old contracts on both the supplier and customer side, according to the restructuring manager Anna Katharina Wilke.
Market & Industry 01/10/2024, 16:46

Municipal recycling centre becomes more climate-friendly with CCS

Zurich - Recycling companies are part of an industry that is difficult to decarbonise. The city of Zurich wants to do this with the help of a cleantech start-up that will build separation plants for a sewage sludge incineration plant and biogas processing. There is a lot of support from the local population.
All news in the rubric Market & Industry

Power

Power 02/10/2024, 16:37
"Coal prices are very stable," said one trader.
(Image: Wolfi30 - Fotolia)

Renewables cause an huge price range in the day-ahead market

Essen - Volatile renewable energies resulted in a price range of 80 euros within five days on the day-ahead market. In the long-term market, Spain and France are influencing prices.
Power 02/10/2024, 16:28

Federal state North Rhine-Westphalia reopens funding for open-space PV

Düsseldorf - North Rhine-Westphalia has reopened the 'Progres.NRW - Climate Protection Technology' funding programme for ground-mounted, floating and agricultural PV systems. The aim is to further accelerate the expansion of photovoltaics and increase the installed capacity to at least 21 GW by 2030.
Power 02/10/2024, 14:01

RWE secures monopile capacities from Steelwind

Essen - RWE secures production capacity for 300 monopile foundations from Steelwind Nordenham. Starting in 2027, a total of 200 foundations will be built over 24 months, with an option to expand.
Power 02/10/2024, 14:01

Large battery storage systems: BSW expects a five-fold increase

Berlin - According to a market analysis by the German solar industry association BSW, the installed capacity of large-scale battery storage systems in Germany could rise to almost nine GWh by 2026. The association sees this expansion as crucial for the integration of solar energy into the electricity system and is calling for political measures to support it.
Power 02/10/2024, 12:08

Mer and Nio realise charging park

Kirchlengern/Munich - Mer Germany and Nio are opening a charging park with eight fast-charging points in Kirchlengern. The charging hub is covered with a PV system and enables plug & charge for electric cars.
All news in the rubric Power

Gas & Heat

Gas & Heat 02/10/2024, 16:12
The risk premium to the Middle East continues to be offset by the good supply situation in Europe.
(Image: Fotolia)

Gas prices on the rise due to Middle East conflict

Essen - The conflict in the Middle East is causing unrest in the gas markets. However, the supply situation remains good. This at least limits the volatility that has been evident in previous escalations.
Gas & Heat 02/10/2024, 15:45

Federal Court of Justice curtails consumer rights on price increases

Karlsruhe - Price increases for district heat are currently a hotly debated topic. The Federal Court of Justice has now set out the requirements for appealing against price adjustments. What brings "legal peace" to the industry is not particularly pleasing to consumer advocates.
Gas & Heat 02/10/2024, 15:41

Rostock regional transport relies on hydrogen

Rostock - Green power plants in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern produce more electricity than the federal-state itself can currently use. Electrolysers can use this green electricity to produce green hydrogen. Hydrogen buses are now to be introduced in the Rostock area…
Gas & Heat 01/10/2024, 15:49

Big question marks over gas grid financing

Berlin - How should the gas infrastructure be financed in future with fewer consumers? The capacity utilisation regulation KANU 2.0 cannot be the only answer, was the conclusion of the discussion at the Handelsblatt Annual Gas Conference.
Gas & Heat 01/10/2024, 14:51

Sachsenenergie builds provisional heat pipeline

Dresden - The damaged district heat infrastructure in Dresden continues to keep the supplier Sachsenenergie on tenterhooks. The company has to build a temporary main supply line, otherwise some customers may freeze in winter. The temporary solution is only possible at one point.
All news in the rubric Gas & Heat