About: Robert Habeck
Berlin asks anxious heat pump industry to produce 500,000 a year
Hoping to achieve its 2024 target of producing 500,000 heat pumps a year, the German government is pushing the industry to make necessary investments amid fears it will end up like the solar panel industry.
Germany and five other EU countries commit to solidarity as blackouts loom
Germany, Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on risk preparedness and solidarity in the electricity sector as the danger of blackouts becomes more realistic in light of the dwindling energy supplies coming from Russia.
Germany escalates to ‘alert level’ over security of gas supply
The German government has escalated its warning over gas supplies to the “alert level” in accordance with the EU’s security of supply regulation following reduced gas flows from Russia.
Climate neutral within seven years: Lessons from Sønderborg
Sønderborg, a small Danish town lying just beyond the border with Germany, is a living example of a possible future for decarbonised towns – and a blueprint for study by policymakers the world over.
Berlin to launch ‘painful’ gas saving scheme to secure next winter’s supply
Faced with low gas flows from Russia, the German government will burn more coal in summer, pay industry not to use gas and provide billions of euros in loans to merchants for gas purchasing.
New law reserves 2% of German land area for onshore wind by 2032
German states will have to actively look for areas that can be designated for wind farm construction in order to meet government targets as per a new draft law presented on Wednesday (15 June), reported Clean Energy Wire.
Habeck launches energy-saving campaign backed by leading associations
The German ministry for economy and climate action (BMWK) is launching an awareness campaign to further citizen energy savings. The campaign is backed by influential associations, yet shies away from regulatory measures.
Berlin forces storage in Gazprom facilities on German soil by decree
The German government has ordained that gas be stored in the country’s largest gas storage facility, Rehden, in order to ensure security of gas supply. Gas stores at the facility sold to Gazprom had hitherto been at historic lows.
German LNG accelerator law under fire by environmental NGOs
The German government, rushing to reduce its reliance on Russian gas, is about to enact a law that will accelerate the construction of liquified natural gas infrastructure. Germany will then be able to import LNG from anywhere, causing concern among environmental NGOs about extending its dependence on fossil fuels even longer.
Germany, Denmark, Netherlands and Belgium sign €135 billion offshore wind pact
Heads of government from the North Sea countries gathered in Esbjerg to sign a cooperation agreement on offshore wind development and “green” hydrogen. They will target at least 65 GW by 2030 and 150 GW by 2050.
Germany presents energy efficiency ‘work plan’ to reduce fossil fuel demand
Amid growing pressure to reduce Germany’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels, the government presented plans on Tuesday (17 May) to save more energy, reports Clean Energy Wire.
Berlin inches closer to expropriating Gazprom assets
Following the Russian announcement of sanctions against 31 European utilities, including Gazprom Germania, the German government is inching closer to expropriating the German Gazprom subsidiary and related assets.
German government agrees on law to speed up LNG terminal construction
The German government has submitted a legislative proposal to speed up the permitting process and construction of onshore and floating liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals, as well as the necessary pipelines to connect them to the grid.
Germany’s ‘summer package’ to focus on heating sector revamp
Germany will seek to shake off its dependency on Russian gas with a new heating strategy focusing on district solutions and a mandate to make heat pumps mandatory as of 2024.
Germany secures four floating LNG terminals in mad rush to replace Kremlin gas
As Russia’s war continues, the German government has been frantically looking for alternatives to Russian pipeline gas and mobile floating tankers repurposed to process LNG from around the world have become the government’s solution. To ship gas long-distance, it needs...
Germany signs hydrogen cooperation agreement with India
Germany’s economy and climate minister Robert Habeck and India’s energy minister R.K. Singh have signed an agreement on German-Indian hydrogen cooperation following multiple rounds of consultations.
Germany’s Habeck: ‘We have to try the unrealistic’ to break free from Russian gas
As Russia’s war on Ukraine enters its third month, Germany’s vice-chancellor Robert Habeck called for unprecedented measures to decrease the country's reliance on Russian gas and counter the Kremlin's energy blackmail.
Germany revamps 1975 oil crisis law in face of new energy supply threats
The German government has decided to revamp its energy security act from 1975. The update will allow the executive to expropriate operators of critical infrastructure while authorities will be given "far-reaching options for action to manage crises.”
Europe outlines 9-step plan to save energy, Ukraine and the planet
Together with the European Commission, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has presented a 9-step plan to reduce the EU’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels, save households' money, and protect the climate.
Germany’s big scramble for Ukrainian workers
The growing shortage of skilled labour may soon threaten productivity in Germany, and Europe's biggest economy is now scrambling to make the most of well-trained Ukrainian refugees as Russia's war on Ukraine enters its third month
Germany’s global hydrogen plans could accelerate climate change
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck plans to import hydrogen from all over the world to satisfy Germany's hunger for energy despite a new study questioning the climate-friendliness of hydrogen transport. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany to use controversial biomass amid energy crisis
Biomass will be used to meet particularly high energy demands, according to the German government's so-called "Easter Package", which aims to use agricultural raw materials for energy production in response to the war in Ukraine.
Germany unveils major electricity sector revamp
The German government presented on Wednesday (6 April) a comprehensive revamp of the country's electricity sector, outlining new frameworks for renewables, power grids and markets in order to set the country on track to reach climate neutrality.