In brief | 4 December '25
Renewables Now: Germany allocates over 1 GW in solar, biomass tenders
Network agency awards contracts to 121 projects with a combined capacity of 281 MW in a rooftop solar auction and 692 projects totalling 815 MW in a biomass tender.
Orsted: Borkum Riffgrund 3, Ørsted’s largest offshore wind farm in Germany, produces first power
The 913 MW farm will enable German industry to decarbonise at a large scale once fully operational, company says.
Reuters: TenneT Germany plans €35 bln debt issue for grid upgrades
The government is considering acquiring a 25.1% stake in TenneT's German unit, the country's largest high-voltage grid operator.
BBC: 'Carspreading' is on the rise - and not everyone is happy about it
In the UK and across Europe, cars are steadily becoming longer, wider and heavier. Some cities are determined to clamp down on them - but are they right to do so?
Euractiv: Europe's hydrogen dream has swallowed €20bn with little to show for it
Despite generous subsidies, electrolyser numbers fall short of targets by a factor of 20.
Deutsche Welle: EU frees billions in bid to reduce China rare earth reliance
The European Commission plans to set up a centre to coordinate the purchases and stocks of the crucial raw materials.
Reuters: EU agrees to end Russian gas imports by late 2027; Hungary, Slovakia oppose
Phaseout is part of an effort to end bloc's decades-long dependency, though legal challenges from its members already loom.
Canary Media: As solar booms and coal fades, Greece’s mining region struggles to adapt
Next year, Greece will complete its rapid coal phaseout. It’s an undeniable success for the energy transition — but residents of Western Macedonia feel left behind
European Commission: EU Agenda for Cities: Shaping Europe’s urban future
Agenda establishes a comprehensive framework for sustainable and integrated urban development.
Strategic Perspectives: Boosting electrification in Europe
With limited oil and gas reserves, but home to some of the world’s trailblasing electrotech companies, the EU is perfectly positioned to take a leading role in the global electrification race.
German environmental agency UBA: Climate protection scenarios until 2050 considering CO₂ price differences and carbon leakage
Report looks at socioeconomic effects of scenarios in which the EU moves forward in climate policy with different Emission Trading System (ETS) designs combined with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Global Wind Energy Council: Workforce readiness must be prioritised to meet projected wind roll-out
628,000 technicians will be needed to build and maintain wind fleets, as global wind energy capacity is projected to grow by 86,5 percent over the next five years.
