Energy Newsletter

European gas prices have risen from €30/MWh (Sept. 2025) to €81/MWh (Sept. 2026) – a doubling within one year. Germany enters winter with only 50% gas storage capacity, the lowest level in 15 years. The price increase drives electricity prices up and threatens heating supply as well as industrial production.

In September 2026, several physical attacks on German power grids were carried out; an attack in NRW switched 4,200 MW of RWE capacity offline. TenneT calls for reinforced infrastructure protection measures and better coordination between state and grid operators. The sabotage reveals significant vulnerability of energy infrastructure.

Germany added more battery storage in the first half of 2026 (888 MW) than in all of 2025; EnBW is building a 400 MW/800 MWh facility in Philippsburg, Vattenfall 1 GWh at the former nuclear power plant. These projects are central to grid stability with high wind power share and serve as a buffer against negative electricity prices.

In September 2026, renewable energies provide approximately 57–60% of German electricity; wind and solar dominate clearly. However, expansion (especially wind power) lags behind 2030 targets (80% renewables); bottlenecks in grid expansion and approvals slow momentum. Experts warn of missing targets despite billions in investments.

RWE secures majority stake in transmission grid operator Amprion, strengthening its control over critical electricity infrastructure. This move enables RWE to directly steer grid expansion and energy transition investments while leveraging synergies with generation and storage. The consolidation changes market dynamics among Germany's four transmission grid operators.