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☆ Germany says France's iPhone 12 process has guiding function for Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Germany will examine radiation concerns about Apple's (AAPL.O) iPhone 12 for the German market if France's probe advances sufficiently, its network regulator said on Thursday, adding that the French procedure has a guiding function for Europe as a whole. "The Federal Network Agency is in close contact with the responsible authority in France," the regulator told Reuters. Researchers have conducted a vast number of studies over the last two decades to assess health risks resulting from mobile phones. According to the World Health Organisation, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use. Reporting by Riham Alkousaa Editing by Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Riham, Miranda Murray Organizations: France's Agence Nationale des, Apple, Federal Network Agency, Reuters, World Health, Thomson Locations: Germany, Europe, France's, France

☆ Germany's photovoltaic system demand set for double-digit growth this year, lobby says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, June 13 (Reuters) - German demand for photovoltaic power systems is expected to grow at a double-digit rate this year with solar storage system installations by mid-year topping 2022's total, the BSW solar power association said on Tuesday. Solar power systems are booming in Europe's biggest economy as consumers seek alternatives to expensive fossil fuels following a drop in Russian supply last year. BSW said it expected new solar power installed capacity this year to be between 9 to 11 gigawatts (GW), up from 7.4 GW in 2022, meaning an increase of up to 49%. A total output of 5.3 GW of solar power systems were installed in 2021. Annual solar parks production currently covers more than 10% of the country's electricity needs, BSW said, adding solar power expansion on commercial buildings was still weak compared to residential and solar parks.

Persons: BSW, Carsten Koernig, Riham, Jason Neely, David Evans Organizations: Private, Federal Network Agency, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Ukraine

☆ German energy regulator expects lower power reserve needs this winter
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Federal Network Agency, called Bundesnetzagentur, said it had cut the amount of winter power capacity needed in reserve for the 2023/24 season by 44% from 2022/23 to 4,616 megawatts (MW). Also, the slow pace of network expansion is hampering the delivery of wind power from the north of Germany to the industrial south. That amount of capacity could be raised by combining plants operating regularly in the market with domestic and foreign network reserve capacities and the "winter" reserve, it said. Under the network reserve schemes, Germany can draw year-round on domestic plants that were registered for closure but declared system-relevant. Some power plants abroad will also be contracted under one-off agreements, where a relevant tender runs until May 15.

☆ German regulator identifies 5,000 km to aid green power switch
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The natural regulator, the Bundesnetzagentur has planning authority over a total of 7,300 km of grid. It reports to the economy ministry, which shares the goal of increasing the use of renewable energy and distributing wind energy, concentrated in Germany's north, and solar energy from the south. "The renewable energy generated in the north of the country must be transported," Klaus Mueller, the authority's president, said in a statement. Germany plans a total 14,000 km of high voltage grids, responsibility for which would be shared between the central regulator and state level authorities in co-operation with four transmission grid companies (TSOs). Since the Green Party gained prominence as part of the coalition government installed in late 2021, Berlin has accelerated planning and approval procedures to ease the take-up of renewable power.

A large dent has also come from industrial sectors forced to curb output as high gas prices make production uneconomic with some firms shifting production to regions with cheaper energy. FIGHT FOR SUPPLIESThe obvious way to boost supplies is through liquefied natural gas (LNG). That may not happen next year, meaning Europe would face fierce competition for LNG that would drive up the cost. Record high prices in Europe, however painful, helped the region to secure record volumes of LNG imports this year. Benchmark European gas prices hit a peak in August of more than 300 euros/MWh.

The rapid drawdown in gas inventories for space heating, industrial processes and power generation shows the system functioning as intended. Gas stocks were +56 TWh (+21% or 1.39 standard deviations) above the ten-year seasonal average for 2012-2021. The largest seasonal depletion was -148 TWh (winter 2018/19) while the smallest was just -34 TWh (winter 2014/15). Related columns:- Europe’s gas stocks comfortable despite cold snap (Reuters, December 14)- Europe on course to end winter with plenty of gas (Reuters, November 28)- Europe’s gas storage peaks after record refill season (Reuters, November 18)- Mission accomplished? Europe fills gas storage ahead of schedule (Reuters, October 4)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

☆ Russia's Rosneft says net income hit by assets transfer in Germany
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Vladimir Soldatkin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The company also said it boosted oil sales to Asia amid growing rift with Europe over what Moscow calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine. Rosneft said nine-month net income was 591 billion roubles ($9.4 billion), without providing comparison. This was down 15% from a record-high 696 billion roubles reported for the same period in 2021. The transfer of assets also resulted in a 76 billion roubles reduction in cash. The company is facing more headwinds from the price caps on Russian oil imposed by the West.

Any hope of the Nord Stream network resuming shipments to Germany was dashed last month by suspected sabotage. Even then, it is unlikely to make up for the missing Russian gas. A risk is that as energy supplies dwindle, energy demand will not shrink enough. European industrial gas demand has fallen as high gas prices have led factories in energy-intensive sectors such as aluminium, steel and ammonia, have shut production. Europe can't afford any surprises this winter without Russian gasA more comfortable energy supply situation could be many winters away.

☆ Germans will face a gas shortage this winter unless they use less energy - while a new price cap could encourage more consumption
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Amid colder weather, gas consumption was 14.5% above average compared to 2018-2021, Federal Network Agency data shows. The German government, however, has also proposed a gas price cap, which could incentivize more energy use. But that could be difficult to achieve with the government proposing a price cap that could make using gas more affordable. "Without significant savings in the private sector, too, it will be difficult to avoid a gas shortage in winter," he said in a statement Thursday. To avoid a gas shortage, a reduction of at least 20% in consumption is necessary, the regulator estimated.

☆ German gas consumption too high, says energy regulator
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FRANKFURT, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Germany's network regulator, which would be in charge of gas rationing in the event of a supply emergency, on Thursday said that household consumption was too high to be sustainable. Last week's usage of natural gas by German households and small industry was 483 gigawatt hours, up 14.5% above the average for that week over the past four years, the Federal Network Agency said. "Without significant savings in the private area of consumption, it will be difficult to avoid an emergency situation in winter." Germany requires more gas imports and its neighbours need to organise stable supplies, he said, but energy savings are the order of the day. Households and small industry account for 40% of consumption while big manufacturing industries require 60% of the country's gas.

☆ The US is supporting efforts to investigate the 'apparent sabotage' of the Nord Stream pipelines, says security advisor Jake Sullivan
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Nidhi Pandurangi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

US security advisor is speaking to his Danish counterpart about the "apparent sabotage" of the Nord Stream pipelines. The US is supporting investigation efforts and will continue safeguarding Europe's energy security, he said. "I spoke to my counterpart Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe of Denmark about the apparent sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines," Sullivan tweeted Tuesday night. "The U.S. is supporting efforts to investigate and we will continue our work to safeguard Europe's energy security," he added. The Nord Stream 2 natural-gas pipeline, which runs parallel to Nord Stream 1, has never been operational because Germany shelved the project in February, days before Russia invaded Ukraine.

☆ German officials reportedly believe the crucial Nord Stream natural-gas pipelines connecting Russia to Europe were attacked near a Danish island
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

German officials reportedly believe the Nord Stream Russia-Europe natural-gas pipelines were attacked. Later Tuesday, the Kremlin said it couldn't rule out that damage to the Nord Stream pipelines was caused by sabotage. The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipeline systems are the largest for sending natural-gas from Russia to Europe. The Danish Energy Agency said Monday it had discovered a leak in the Nord Stream 2 system near Bonhomme, a Danish island in the Baltic Sea. The Swedish Maritime Authority said leaks had been detected in both Nord Steam 1 and Nord Stream 2 near Bornholm.

Berlin/London (CNN Business) The German government has seized control of three Russian-owned oil refineries to secure supplies of gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel. Germany's economy ministry announced on Friday that it had temporarily taken over Russian oil giant Rosneft's subsidiaries in the country. Rosneft Deutschland and RN Refining & Marketing account for about 12% of Germany's oil refining capacity, the ministry said in a statement. Europe has been embroiled in a bitter energy standoff with Russia since Moscow invaded Ukraine in late February, and its imports of Russian oil and natural gas have fallen sharply. Germany's Federal Network Agency, which regulates its gas and electricity industries, will control Rosneft's shares in three refineries: PCK Schwedt, near Berlin, MiRo, near Heidelberg, and Bayernoil in Bavaria.

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