German steel industry stable / EPH promises jobs - report
The German steel industry has remained stable in a difficult global environment, according to a report by the Rhineland-Westphalia Institute for Economic Research (RWI). 鈥淭he capacity utilisation of the steel industry increased to 89 percent in the first half of this year. When compared internationally, that鈥檚 an exceptionally high value,鈥� said Roland D枚hrn, head of RWI's macroeconomics and public finance department, according to a press release. Globally, capacity utilisation was at聽65 percent, the lowest value since the recession in 2008/09, RWI says. Because of continued intensive global competition, RWI sees the German steel industry under pressure to adapt and anticipates a slight decline in the employment in the sector.
Read the press release in German .
Lausitzer Rundschau
Czech investor EPH has announced plans to move 鈥渟everal hundred鈥� administrative jobs to the city of Cottbus in Lusatia - one of Germany鈥檚 lignite mining and power production regions - once the acquisition of 聽Vattenfall鈥檚 German lignite plants and mines is finalised, reports Lausitzer Rundschau. EPH board member Jan 艩pringl also told the newspaper the company would not be exporting German coal. 鈥淲hat is mined here will also be converted to electricity here,鈥� writes Lausitzer Rundschau.
Read the article (behind paywall) in German .
Read the 威力彩玩法 article Czech utility takes over Vattenfall鈥檚 German lignite.
Tennet
The four German transmission grid operators and Austrian grid operator APG have agreed to cooperate on secondary balancing power. The aim is for grid operators to work more closely to shape a harmonised European market for secondary balancing power. By shaping a common merit order for secondary balancing power, the most cost-efficient offer will be used in both countries, Tennet says in a press release.
Secondary balancing power is needed to stabilise the grid in the event of discrepancies between power fed onto the grid and power consumed.
Read the press release in German .
WirtschaftsWoche
The Renewable Energy Act (EEG) should be ditched and replaced by a carbon tax, writes Dieter D眉rand in an opinion piece in WirtschaftsWoche. 鈥淚t is time for a clear cut: get rid of the EEG. In its place could be a simple tax on CO2,鈥� writes D眉rand. 鈥淭his would reward investments in climate friendly and energy-efficient facilities but leave which technologies prevail to the market.鈥�
Read the opinion piece (behind paywall) in German .
Deutsche Welle
Among the motivations for Germany's聽reform of its renewable energy support system have been complaints from neighbouring countries, and the EU Commission鈥檚 rules on state aid to the energy sector, writes Dave Keating for Deutsche Welle. But D枚rte Fouquet, director of Brussels-based European Renewable Energy Federation says with the new auction system for renewable producers, Germany has done more than was asked and could 鈥渄ecimate the industry and jeopardize Germany's ability to meet its climate and energy targets for 2020 and 2030鈥�.
Read the article in English .
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
The Energiewende 鈥楳ade in Germany鈥� will be the main theme of Germany's pavilion at Expo 2017 in Astana. The Expo鈥檚 overall theme will be 鈥淔uture Energy 鈥� Solutions for tackling humankind鈥檚 greatest challenge鈥�. The German pavilion will present 鈥渋nnovative solutions and processes in the fields of solar energy, wind power, geothermal power, biomass and hydro power鈥�, according to the federal economics ministry.
Find more information on the website of the economy ministry in German .
S眉ddeutsche Zeitung
The German semiconductor manufacturer Infineon Technologies is to strengthen its position as a supplier of electric cars with the acquisition of US chip manufacturer Wolfspeed, reports S眉ddeutsche Zeitung. Among other things, the California-based company's expertise聽will enable Infineon to build smaller and more efficient chargers for e-cars, writes S眉ddeutsche.
Read the article (behind paywall) in German .
Read a press release by Infineon in English .
