At the end of February, the Renewable Energies Agency awarded Greifswald the title of Energy Municipality of the Year 2025 – a city that is continuously transforming its heat sector through smart sector coupling.
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The share of renewable energy in gross electricity consumption and heat generation continued to rise in 2025, as shown by the latest figures from the Working Group on Renewable Energy Statistics (AGEE-Stat).
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The coalition has agreed on the key elements of a new Buildings Modernisation Act. This means that the Heatings Act will be abolished. The 65% rule will no longer apply. The new Buildings Modernisation Act will be more technology-neutral, flexible and practical.
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Stationary large-scale battery storage facilities are considered to be a key technology for an efficient and climate-friendly energy system. The Next-MeBa research project is a joint undertaking by industry and science to adjust these facilities to the needs of the future in an optimised way.
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A new CHP plant in Memmingen, Bavaria, sets new benchmarks for the energy and heat transitions. It uses a technology mix involving a boiler powered by wood chips, solar-powered heat pumps and industrial waste heat, and will supply up to 3,700 households with district heating.
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“In adopting this package of measures, we are increasing transparency regarding fuel prices and limiting the number of potential daily price increases at petrol stations.”
How those commuting by car can save money; how an innovative CHP is making an entire region energy-independent; why PV installations have a much longer lifespan than previously thought.
Find out moreThe ERA Net Smart Energy Systems (ERA Net SES) – a pan-European platform for the joint implementation of research, development and innovation projects in the field of smart energy systems – has published a call for the development of interoperable digital infrastructure in the energy sector. They are looking for project partners from Germany and Austria to build a large-scale European pilot project. Entries are to be submitted by 7 May 2026. Find out more
The Urban Vibro Truck has won the renowned Ruggero Bertani European Geothermal Innovation Award in 2026. The truck was developed in the UVT research project and is designed for use in urban areas: it can conduct seismic measurements even in narrow streets in cities. This opens up new exploration opportunities for deep geothermal energy. Also, at 65 decibels, the truck is much quieter than other measurement vehicles and can therefore even be used at night. Find out more
A large climate chamber that can copy temperatures and humidity levels of most of the world’s climate zones, plus some smaller climate cabinets, and all of this in combination with any electric load that could occur: this is why the HiPE LAB at Bremen University had full order books in 2025. This unique new lab was built as part of the HipE WiND research project and allows companies from the wind energy and PV sectors to have the lifespans of their high-performance electronics parts and systems determined. Find out more
The decline in Germany’s emissions harming the climate has slowed down. This can be seen from the emissions data released by the German Environment Agency (UBA) for 2025. According to these, emissions fell by just under one million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (or 0.1%) compared to the preceding year. In the energy sector, emissions were reduced by 0.6 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in the same period, not least due to another increase in power generation from renewables. Find out more
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