Energy Newsletter

European gas prices rose over 50% within 72 hours following production halt in Qatar. Germany particularly affected with critically low gas reserves (partially only 6-20% full) and high import dependency. Massive price impacts on electricity, heating, and industry.

E.ON increases investments from €43 to €48 billion for electricity grid modernization. However, leaked documents and analyses show that 75% of grid problems stem from E.ON itself. Cartel office warns in parallel of excessive market power by RWE, LEAG, and EnBW.

Federal Cartel Office warns of significantly increased market power of three major electricity generators RWE, LEAG, and EnBW. Political entanglements (Reiche connections to E.ON) amplify control mechanism deficits. Concerns grow over infrastructure gatekeeping and pricing.

Four transmission system operators introduce new maturity level procedure instead of first-come-first-served principle for grid connections. Federal government enters TenneT with 25% stake (for electricity grid sovereignty). Centralized grid control intended to accelerate expansion, but TenneT warns of overload in high-voltage networks.

Germany managed to supply itself completely with renewables for only 25 hours (2.7%) so far in 2026. Daily shares fluctuate between 68-77%, fossil remains at 20-31%. Wind expansion stalls, solar expansion weakens, import dependency remains high despite 80% target by 2030.