Latest news
Coal consumption in Germany is steadily increasing
Following the decision of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel to phase out nuclear energy and switch to cleaner energy generation, coal consumption has been steadily increasing. A 2,200 MW lignite-fired power plant, near Cologne, started its activity last week as part of the country’s energy policy.
read more... 20/08/2012
German power grid upgrading plan
Chancellor Angela Merkel unveiled a 20-billion-euro plan to upgrade the country's grid over the next decade as Germany quits nuclear power in favour of renewables such as wind and solar. Operators specified the type and location of new high voltage power lines to be built or modernised. Germany's 70-year old infrastructure was laid out to deliver steady power generated from fossil fuels to nearby consumers. But new installations are springing up not only far from consumers, but they tap renewable sources which produce intermittent power, creating technically challenging supply swings.
read more... 02/07/2012
First Solar to boost German production before closing plants at the end of 2012
U.S.-based First Solar, the second maker of solar cells in the world, will increase the production at its German plants, expected to close later this year, move aimed to meet an expected hike in demand.
read more... 14/06/2012
Germany's energy sector
Chancellor Angela Merkel summoned the heads of Germany's 16 federal states for talks on Wednesday to rescue her government's planned energy shift away from nuclear energy to renewable power.
read more... 24/05/2012
Germany’s upper house to put solar feed in tariffs cuts on hold
The Bundesrat, Germany's upper house of parliament, decided to temporarily suspend the planned sharp reduction in solar feed-in tariffs last week, sending the controversial proposals to an arbitration panel, move that represented a blow for Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has been struggling for months to force through cuts to feed-in tariffs of between 20 and 40 per cent.
read more... 15/05/2012