In brief | 17 December '25
IEA: Global coal demand has reached a plateau and may well decline slightly by 2030
New IEA market report sees increasing competition from other power sources, though developments in China’s electricity sector will remain key for coal’s prospects.
The European Commission and the European Investment Bank announced the disbursement of 1.8 billion euros from the Modernisation Fund to support 45 clean energy-related investments in 12 different Member States.
EU Commission: Action on more affordable, sustainable and good-quality housing
The New European Bauhaus (NEB) Academy of the EU’s package on affordable housing re- and up-skills the construction ecosystem for sustainable and circular construction and supports innovation and research in the sector.
Bloomberg: US, Europe retreat from electric cars risks ceding race to China
The unravelling of the transition to electric cars in the US and Europe has handed Chinese automakers an opportunity to cement their dominance in the electrification race, according to analysts.
Ember: Plugging heat in: smart policy can help electrify household heating in Europe
Heat pumps can slash EU fossil fuel imports, protect consumers from price shocks and boost local industry, but wider use depends on making them cost competitive with fossil heating.
Ember: Highlights of the global energy transition in 2025
End-of-year commentary synthesises think tank Ember’s key findings from 2025.
Reuters: Tesla ramps up battery cell investments at German gigafactory
Tesla is creating the conditions to produce up to 8 gigawatt hours of battery cells a year at its German gigafactory in Grünheide near Berlin starting in 2027.
Euractiv: Europe’s last remaining solar PV players join forces against China threat
New group unites European producers of equipment at the heart of EU grid vulnerability.
Kiel Institute: Temporary CO₂ removals can offset methane
Nature-based CO₂ removals with temporary effects, such as afforestation, are a key building block for effective climate protection because they can precisely offset the warming impact of methane.
Deutsche Bank Research: Germany's energy transition: A proposal for readjustment
It is vital that greater attention is paid to cost efficiency in the Energiewende, says Deutsche Bank Research Institute.
