Latest news

Power 05/03/2025, 17:58
The driver controls her charging requirements via app.
(Image: BMW AG, München (Deutschland))

Pilot project for bidirectional charging launched

Berlin - Grid operators have high hopes for the grid-friendly behaviour of electric vehicles. Bidirectional vehicles that can also feed back into the grid are still a dream of the future. A pilot test will now show the extent to which they can stabilise the system.
Market & Industry 05/03/2025, 17:14
In the future, synthetic fuels could replace fossil alternatives.
(Image: Lufthansa Group)

E-fuel project secures funding commitment

Karlsruhe/Frankfurt - The company Interatec has secured 70 million euros for the construction of Europe's largest e-fuel plant for the decarbonisation of aviation. The project aims to reduce CO2 emissions in sectors that are difficult to electrify.
Power 05/03/2025, 17:08
The petrol station operator Orlen wants to expand its network of charging points at retail properties.
(Image: ORLEN Deutschland GmbH)

Orlen expands charging network in Germany

Elmshorn - The Polish energy group Orlen is expanding its activities in the German market for charging infrastructure. The company is planning to equip the retail properties of investor May & Co. with fast-charging stations.
Try now for free!

News

Politics

Politics 05/03/2025, 16:23
The fleet limits for combustion engines will probably not be reached in many cases. The EU is now reacting to this.
(Image: Envato Elements/nina_p_v)

EU wants to give car manufacturers more time to meet emissions targets

Brussels - The EU Commission wants to give the automotive industry more room for manoeuvre when it comes to meeting CO2 fleet limits. The aim is to prevent many manufacturers from missing the targets and having to pay fines.
Politics 05/03/2025, 15:39

Calls for investment in grids and climate protection

Berlin - The Christian Democratic CDU/CSU and Social Democratic SPD have announced that they will set up a special fund for infrastructure and relax the debt brake. Industry voices assume that the funds will also be available for investments in the energy transition. The Greens are attaching conditions to their agreement.
Politics 05/03/2025, 13:28

EWE and Verdi warn of cuts in personnel costs

Oldenburg - The EWE group is against the German Federal Network Agency's reorganisation of costs that cannot be permanently influenced, particularly in the area of personnel, arguing that it would exacerbate the shortage of skilled labour. In a joint position paper with Verdi, it emphasises that the costs are essential for security of supply and the energy transition.
Politics 04/03/2025, 16:24

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.
Politics 04/03/2025, 12:20

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.
All news in the rubric Politics

Market & Industry

Market & Industry 05/03/2025, 16:08
The new Wattline Managing Director Peter Langeder (centre), next to the founders and shareholders Harald and Martin Praml.
(Image: wattline)

Change of leadership at Wattline

Ruderting - The southern German procurement service provider Wattline has new leadership. After more than ten years at the helm of the company, CEO Harald Wimmer is stepping down. His successor is Peter Langeder.
Market & Industry 05/03/2025, 15:10

Envitec Biogas becomes wind and PV project developer

Lohne - In addition to its core business, biogas producer Envitec Biogas is entering another field of activity. A newly founded joint venture is building and operating wind and solar farms in the vicinity of agricultural operations.
Market & Industry 05/03/2025, 10:59

Carbonify minimises risks in GHG quota trading

Gräfelfing - Although quota trading has been around for some time, oil companies have been able to financially offset their CO2 emissions via GHG quotas since 2022. E-mobilists can benefit from these quotas. The start-up Carbonify intervenes as a service provider and assists with the payout.
Market & Industry 04/03/2025, 16:07

New managing director at RWE Gas Storage West

Essen - The storage operator RWE Gas Storage West will have a new commercial director as of 1 July. Michael Kohl is retiring and Sabine Augustin is taking over his position.
Market & Industry 04/03/2025, 15:46

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.
All news in the rubric Market & Industry

Power

Power 05/03/2025, 16:20
The regulation of onshore grids will be harmonised with that of offshore grids.
(Image: Amprion GmbH / Daniel Schumann)

More harmonised regulation for the transmission grid

Bonn - The Federal Network Agency is working on a new regulation for distribution grid operators as part of the Nest process. Changes are also planned for the transmission grid. The Federal Network Agency has now presented a corresponding key issues paper. This envisages some massive changes to the status quo.
Power 05/03/2025, 15:02

"There are smarter solutions than nationalising everything"

Berlin - The Federal Network Agency is planning new incentives for transmission system operators. 50 Hertz CEO Stefan Kapferer sees this as a positive approach, but warns that too low a return on equity could jeopardise investments.
Power 04/03/2025, 16:26

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.
Power 04/03/2025, 16:00

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.
All news in the rubric Power

Gas & Heat

Gas & Heat 05/03/2025, 16:10
European underground gas storage facilities must be 90 per cent full by 1 November.
(Image: Gas- und Wasserstoffwirtschaft_Swen Gottschall)

EU wants to extend 90 per cent fill level requirement

Brussels - The EU Commission wants to stick to the filling level target of 90 per cent for gas storage facilities. Market participants had previously hoped that the target would be cancelled or at least softened. However, the Commission considers this to be important in order to further secure the gas supply in Europe. It is only making concessions with regard to the interim targets.
Gas & Heat 05/03/2025, 15:00

Seismic measurements begin in Hanover

Hanover - Geothermal energy is to play a part in making Hanover's district heating system climate-neutral by 2035. Vibrotrucks are now driving along 50 kilometres of measuring sections to explore the deep geological conditions.
Gas & Heat 05/03/2025, 14:07

The city of Kassel postpones climate targets - district heating target remains

Kassel - Kassel is being honest. The climate target that the Hessian city set itself for 2022 is unlikely to be achieved. The transport sector is causing problems, progress is only being made in the energy sector, but here too the coal phase-out will be delayed.
Gas & Heat 05/03/2025, 13:11

"Confidence in the market has suffered noticeably"

Cologne - The Landwärme insolvency has caused a massive shake-up in the biomethane market. Nevertheless, biomethane can be an attractive business segment for municipal utilities. Kara Hoffmann, group manager for green energy products at the municipal utilities initiative Asew, explains why this is the case in an interview with energate. However, trust must first be rebuilt.
Gas & Heat 04/03/2025, 16:15

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.
All news in the rubric Gas & Heat