Friday, September 29, 2023

Deindustrialization 20, Germany's departing companies, EV slowdown

More reports here of creeping deindustrialization, degrowth in Germany. 
Meanwhile, electricity spot prices the last 5 years, chart from Trading Economics.


1. High Energy Bills Force German Industry to Eye Production Abroad
Almost a third of manufacturers considering or executing shift
Survey shows companies concerned about competitiveness
By Petra Sorge 29 August 2023
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-29/high-energy-bills-force-german-industry-to-eye-production-abroad?

Over half of surveyed companies say the energy transition is having negative or very negative effects on their competitiveness, according to a report by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Among manufacturers, almost a third are considering or already executing a production shift abroad — twice as much as during last year’s energy crisis.

2. Power failure in Germany - Horror scenario or genuine possibility?
DW Documentary
Deutsche Welle, 1 September 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52tzT09z81E 

3. German electricity imports hit new record as nuclear phase-out increases production cost
Despite closing its nuclear power plants to focus on renewable energy production, more than a fifth of imported electricity last month was produced from nuclear power
THOMAS BROOKE September 02, 2023
https://rmx.news/germany/german-electricity-imports-hit-new-record-as-nuclear-phase-out-increases-production-cost/

The federal government has replaced much of the electricity produced by its recently closed nuclear power stations with imported electricity, almost half of which was ironically produced using nuclear power and fossil fuels.

This resulted in a significant electricity trade balance deficit, with the country importing €557 million worth of electricity more than it exported to its EU neighbors last month.

4. How heat pumps exploded Germany’s ruling coalition
Olaf Scholz’s government wanted to be a pioneer in climate protection. The effort has come at a very high political price.
Berlin Mayor Giffey Visits Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant
Months of pained negotiations over the heating bill caused public infighting within Germany’s ruling coalition
BY HANS VON DER BURCHARD. SEPTEMBER 7, 2023
https://www.politico.eu/article/heat-pumps-exploded-germany-ruling-coalition-green-law/

5. Germany Onshore Wind Auction Dip Casts Doubt on Renewable Goals
Just 1.4 gigawatts of capacity was awarded in latest auction
Country needs to triple wind capacity by 2030 to reach targets
By Petra Sorge 8 September 2023 
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-08/germany-onshore-wind-auction-dip-casts-doubt-on-renewable-goals

6. Weekend Read: A 10 GW time bomb
It is estimated that 10 GW of solar modules in Germany suffer from prematurely aging backsheets, with sites of all sizes affected. pv magazine Germany’s Cornelia Lichner looks at how to detect and repair such defects.
CORNELIA LICHNER SEPTEMBER 9, 2023 
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2023/09/09/weekend-read-a-10-gw-time-bomb/

7. China and Germany: Firing Up Coal Power While Wind Takes a Back Seat
Countries postpone lofty climate goals to adapt to demands of reality.
Bridget Ryder September 9, 2023
https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/china-and-germany-firing-up-coal-power-while-wind-takes-a-back-seat/

8. How Olaf Scholz turned Germany into the 'sick man of the world'
A complex mixture of factors led to the malaise exposed in the chancellor’s speech this week
By Jörg Luyken 10 September 2023
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/09/10/inside-implosion-of-chancellor-olaf-scholz-germany/

9. Yes, The “World’s Dumbest Energy Policy” Is In Fact Getting A Whole Lot Dumber
By P Gosselin on 10. September 2023
https://notrickszone.com/2023/09/10/yes-the-worlds-dumbest-energy-policy-is-in-fact-getting-a-whole-lot-dumber/

Tichy’s Einblick here reports that in the first half of 2023, Germany generated 233.9 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. “Sounds like a lot, but it’s not: In fact, it’s 11.4% less than in the first half of 2022.”

Our electricity imports from France promptly increased more than from any other country: by a whopping 147.8%. In France alone, we bought 4.4 billion kWh in the first half of 2023,” reports Tichy’s Einblick. “We shut down our nuclear power plants. France generates well over two-thirds of its electricity from its nuclear power plants. What does all this tell us?”

10. Germany’s Lindner blasts EU over ‘enormously dangerous’ green plans
Finance minister warns that a Brussels push to make buildings across the bloc more energy-efficient would threaten ‘social peace.’
BY HANS VON DER BURCHARD AND MATTHEW KARNITSCHNIG SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-finance-minister-christian-lindner-eu-dangerous-green-plans-clean-energy/

11. VW is cutting jobs at its German EV factory because demand is plunging
BYMONICA RAYMUNT AND BLOOMBERG. September 14, 2023
https://fortune.com/2023/09/14/vw-cutting-jobs-german-ev-factory-because-demand-plunging-china-tesla/

12. Will Germany be the first to ditch its net zero commitments?
Ross Clark 18 September 2023
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/will-germany-be-the-first-to-ditch-its-net-zero-commitments/

...Just last year, chemicals giant BASF announced that it would invest in a new £10 billion plant in China rather than Europe, thanks to the cost of energy.

13. Volkswagen boss warns the sale of electric vehicles is 'stagnating' as poll reveals just 2% of drivers would buy one in the near future
By DAVID CHURCHILL 19 September 2023
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12532987/Volkswagen-boss-sale-electric-vehicles-stagnating.html

14. German government to suspend tightening of building efficiency rules
Sören AmelangBenjamin Wehrmann 25 Sep 2023
https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/german-government-suspend-tightening-building-efficiency-rules

15. Volkswagen Cuts EV Output at German Sites as Demand Craters
Production of VW, Cupra models in Zwickau halted for two weeks
Expiration of German subsidies leads to decline in demand
By Monica Raymunt. 26 September 2023
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-26/volkswagen-cuts-ev-production-at-german-sites-as-demand-craters

16. German airline Lufthansa says it would consume half of Germany’s electricity if it were to switch to green fuels

Prarthana Prakash September 26, 2023
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/german-airline-lufthansa-says-consume-112352475.html
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See also:
Deindustrialization 17, Germany recession, ESG problems, August 17, 2023
Deindustrialization 18, Germany recession and degrowth, August 30, 2023
Deindustrialization 19, UK and EU and rising cost of net zero, Sept. 17, 2023.

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