SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 24, 2012
German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a summit Wednesday to review the lack of progress in the country's dramatic nuclear phaseout and shift to renewable energies. On the editorial pages, many commentators are critical of government policies that have caused electricity prices to soar. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 23, 2012
Germany's energy revolution has hardly begun, but it's already running out of steam. There is a lack of political decisiveness and companies are complaining of a dearth of incentives to invest billions in necessary infrastructure. Progress or no progress, taxpayers continue footing the bill. By Frank Dohmen, Alexander Jung, Michael Sauga and Andreas Wassermann more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 16, 2012
Chancellor Angela Merkel sacked Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen on Wednesday, replacing him with her close aide Peter Altmaier. Röttgen, a former protege of the chancellor, lost a major election for Merkel's conservative party on Sunday. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- April 27, 2012
The global solar industry has entered a brutal phase of consolidation and nowhere are the effects as dramatic as in eastern Germany. Several companies have already declared bankruptcy, leaving towns and cities in the region struggling with job losses and tax revenue shortfalls. The future bodes ill. By Charles Hawley more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- April 11, 2012
It's even smaller than Daimler's Smart and runs entirely on electric power. Renault's new Twizy shows the limits of E-mobility technology and may be the perfect city vehicle. But at almost 8,000 euros without doors or battery, the price tag isn't nearly as small as the car itself. By Christian Wüst more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- April 03, 2012
The German solar industry is at a turning point. The bankruptcy of Q-Cells this week shows that the days of German solar cell production are numbered. Asian competitors took the lead years ago, and German government subsidies were part of the problem. By Stefan Schultz more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- March 09, 2012
The tiny village of Feldheim, some 60 kilometers southwest of Berlin, was catapulted by chance to the forefront of the renewable energy movement. Now visitors from around the world are flocking to this otherwise unremarkable rural community to see if they can replicate its success. By Renuka Rayasam more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- March 05, 2012
Berlin has spearheaded a huge transition to renewable energy, but it isn't running smoothly. Funding for renewable energy projects was meant to come from carbon dioxide emissions trading. But significant shortfalls have now prompted auto industry leaders to request that Chancellor Merkel maintain support for electric cars. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- February 27, 2012
Germany long aimed to be a front runner in the solar energy industry, but waning subsidies and rising competition from China have clouded its outlook. To add insult to injury, the Chinese boom has been generously supported by German financial aid. By Alexander Neubacher more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- February 24, 2012
Last spring, Chancellor Angela Merkel set Germany on course to eliminate nuclear power in favor of renewable energy sources. Now, though, several industries are suffering as electricity prices rapidly rise. Many companies are having to close factories or move abroad. By Frank Dohmen and Alexander Neubacher more...
