https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Germany has overhauled its subsidies for installing heat pumps in homes, but lower-income households may actually be eligible for more support. Here's what's changed, who still qualifies and how to apply. https://www.thelocal.de/20260722/how-much-money-can-you-get-for-installing-a-new-heat-pump-in-germany Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:44:25 +0200 how-much-money-can-you-get-for-installing-a-new-heat-pump-in-germany Planning to replace your heating system in Germany? Government support for heat pumps is set to fall over the coming years, but some households could actually receive more help. https://www.thelocal.de/20260708/what-plans-to-cut-heat-pump-subsidies-in-germany-could-mean-for-homeowners Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:50:17 +0200 what-plans-to-cut-heat-pump-subsidies-in-germany-could-mean-for-homeowners German prosecutors said Wednesday they had brought charges against a suspect in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipeline linking Russia with Europe. https://www.thelocal.de/20260702/german-prosecutors-charge-nord-stream-suspect Thu, 02 Jul 2026 09:05:30 +0200 german-prosecutors-charge-nord-stream-suspect Around 20,000 homes lost power early on Monday morning in a city in the southwest state of Baden-Württemberg. The grid operator says it looks like there was an arson attack on a power station. https://www.thelocal.de/20260608/sabotage-suspected-after-major-power-outage-in-reutlingen Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:02:10 +0200 sabotage-suspected-after-major-power-outage-in-reutlingen The federal government wanted to make it possible for companies to offer tax-free employee bonuses, but the proposal was rejected by state representatives in Germany's Upper House of Parliament. https://www.thelocal.de/20260511/is-germanys-planned-relief-bonus-for-employees-off-the-table Mon, 11 May 2026 11:11:58 +0200 is-germanys-planned-relief-bonus-for-employees-off-the-table With millions of photovoltaic panels hanging from balconies across the country, Germany is said to be the world leader in balcony solar. Here's how to register yours. https://www.thelocal.de/20260511/how-do-i-register-my-balcony-solar-panel-in-germany Mon, 11 May 2026 17:09:47 +0200 how-do-i-register-my-balcony-solar-panel-in-germany The price at the pump for petrol and diesel fell at the start of May when a fuel tax cut took effect, but watchdog groups say oil companies haven't passed on the savings to consumers entirely. https://www.thelocal.de/20260504/germanys-fuel-discount-tax-cuts-havent-fully-reached-drivers Mon, 04 May 2026 12:44:48 +0200 germanys-fuel-discount-tax-cuts-havent-fully-reached-drivers Thousands of petrol stations in Germany may be breaching a law intended to limit how often fuel prices can rise, according to new analysis. https://www.thelocal.de/20260430/thousands-of-german-petrol-stations-accused-of-breaking-midday-price-rule Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:58:38 +0200 thousands-of-german-petrol-stations-accused-of-breaking-midday-price-rule Price controls introduced at German petrol stations to shield motorists from spiking oil prices amid the Middle East war have had the opposite effect and driven up the average cost of fuel, economists said Monday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260427/economists-slam-german-petrol-price-law-for-pushing-up-prices Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:46:28 +0200 economists-slam-german-petrol-price-law-for-pushing-up-prices Germany is pushing forward with its plan to temporarily cut taxes on fuels and offer relief bonuses to employees. So how much money can you actually expect to save? https://www.thelocal.de/20260424/how-much-money-will-germanys-fuel-price-relief-actually-save-you Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:07:15 +0200 how-much-money-will-germanys-fuel-price-relief-actually-save-you The European Union said on Tuesday that it was considering importing more jet fuel from the US and requiring member states to hold minimum reserves as the Middle East war squeezes supplies. Brussels will lay out a series of measures on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/we-must-be-ready-eu-to-lay-out-its-plan-to-deal-with-jet-fuel-crisis Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:48:22 +0200 we-must-be-ready-eu-to-lay-out-its-plan-to-deal-with-jet-fuel-crisis Since the outbreak of war in the Middle East fuel costs have soared with the price of just about everything else expected to follow. Here are the articles to read to understand which costs are rising in Germany, how to save and what's being done. https://www.thelocal.de/20260416/essential-articles-to-understand-how-the-fuel-crisis-is-affecting-germany Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:41:31 +0200 essential-articles-to-understand-how-the-fuel-crisis-is-affecting-germany Consumers in Germany have been bracing for widespread inflation since war broke out in the Middle East. Here's a look at which prices are beginning to trend upward. https://www.thelocal.de/20260410/which-costs-are-rising-in-germany-as-higher-fuel-prices-drive-inflation Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:07:25 +0200 which-costs-are-rising-in-germany-as-higher-fuel-prices-drive-inflation A new heating project linking Görlitz in Germany and Zgorzelec in Poland shows how local leadership and cross-border collaboration could deliver cleaner, more affordable heat – and greater energy security – in uncertain times. https://www.thelocal.de/20260409/a-new-german-polish-project-shows-how-cities-can-be-heated-without-fossil-fuels Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:40:18 +0200 a-new-german-polish-project-shows-how-cities-can-be-heated-without-fossil-fuels The price of diesel fuel has rocketed by more than 30 percent across Europe since the start of the Middle East war highlighting the continent's dependence on imported energy and the lingering prominence of diesel on the car market. https://www.thelocal.de/20260404/european-drivers-choke-on-rising-diesel-prices Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:17:02 +0200 european-drivers-choke-on-rising-diesel-prices Spain and four other European Union nations have called for a tax on windfall profits of energy companies in response to rising fuel prices due to the Middle East war, Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said Saturday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260404/five-eu-nations-urge-tax-on-energy-firms-windfall-profits Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:12:23 +0200 five-eu-nations-urge-tax-on-energy-firms-windfall-profits Lawmakers have adopted a measure to limit petrol stations from putting prices up more than once in 24 hours. The rapidly approved law is to come into force by the start of April. https://www.thelocal.de/20260330/germanys-new-fuel-price-rule-takes-effect-on-april-1st Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:07:18 +0200 germanys-new-fuel-price-rule-takes-effect-on-april-1st War in the Middle East has caused energy market volatility around the globe, forcing governments in Europe to intervene and keep fuel costs down for consumers. https://www.thelocal.de/20260328/what-are-european-countries-doing-to-keep-fuel-costs-down Sat, 28 Mar 2026 14:13:15 +0100 what-are-european-countries-doing-to-keep-fuel-costs-down Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday that if the energy crisis sparked by the Middle East war dragged on, Germany might have to keep running coal-fired power plants longer than planned. https://www.thelocal.de/20260328/energy-crisis-may-force-germany-to-run-coal-plants-longer Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:56:53 +0100 energy-crisis-may-force-germany-to-run-coal-plants-longer German MPs have approved new fuel price rules aimed at curbing sudden price spikes at the pump. But will limiting price rises to once a day really make filling up cheaper? https://www.thelocal.de/20260326/bundestag-gives-green-light-to-new-fuel-price-rules Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:03:59 +0100 bundestag-gives-green-light-to-new-fuel-price-rules