Georg Zachmann
@gzachmann.bsky.social
senior fellow - energy & climate policy -
@bruegel_org
Scientific Lead - GreenDealUkraїna -
@HZBde
@bruegel_org
Scientific Lead - GreenDealUkraїna -
@HZBde
Reposted by Georg Zachmann
I wrote on Russia's cyber-attack against Poland's energy system in December, why it suggests a more aggressive Russian approach to disrupting critical infrastructure in Europe, and why the involvement of the FSB, Russia's security service, is bad news. www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
Russia’s sabotage campaign is becoming bolder
Hacks against Polish energy plants suggest the FSB is involved
www.economist.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:47 PM
I wrote on Russia's cyber-attack against Poland's energy system in December, why it suggests a more aggressive Russian approach to disrupting critical infrastructure in Europe, and why the involvement of the FSB, Russia's security service, is bad news. www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
Reposted by Georg Zachmann
Russia launched its worst-ever attack on Ukraine's nuclear-connected substations on Feb. 7, cutting the volume of electricity generated by the country's nuclear power by around 50%, Vitaliy Zaichenko, CEO of Ukrenergo, the state grid operator, told the Kyiv Independent.
Exclusive: Russia’s worst attack on substations halves Ukraine’s nuclear power output
Russia launched its worst-ever attack on Ukraine's nuclear-connected substations on Feb. 7, cutting the volume of electricity generated by the country's nuclear power by around 50%, Vitaliy Zaichenko,...
kyivindependent.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Russia launched its worst-ever attack on Ukraine's nuclear-connected substations on Feb. 7, cutting the volume of electricity generated by the country's nuclear power by around 50%, Vitaliy Zaichenko, CEO of Ukrenergo, the state grid operator, told the Kyiv Independent.
Reposted by Georg Zachmann
Updated @bruegel.org European gas import data for week 5, 2026
I spoke with @nytimes.com about Europe’s growing reliance on US gas
📰 www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/b...
📊 Download January LNG data: www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
I spoke with @nytimes.com about Europe’s growing reliance on US gas
📰 www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/b...
📊 Download January LNG data: www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
February 6, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Updated @bruegel.org European gas import data for week 5, 2026
I spoke with @nytimes.com about Europe’s growing reliance on US gas
📰 www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/b...
📊 Download January LNG data: www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
I spoke with @nytimes.com about Europe’s growing reliance on US gas
📰 www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/b...
📊 Download January LNG data: www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
Reposted by Georg Zachmann
As German media continue to worry about low gas storage volumes, EU gas markets go 🤷.
February 4, 2026 at 5:38 PM
As German media continue to worry about low gas storage volumes, EU gas markets go 🤷.
As German media continue to worry about low gas storage volumes, EU gas markets go 🤷.
February 4, 2026 at 5:38 PM
As German media continue to worry about low gas storage volumes, EU gas markets go 🤷.
Reposted by Georg Zachmann
European natural gas demand bounced back slightly in December 2025. Low prices and a drop in wind led to more gas burned for power. Slight growth in industrial demand too.
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
February 4, 2026 at 11:41 AM
European natural gas demand bounced back slightly in December 2025. Low prices and a drop in wind led to more gas burned for power. Slight growth in industrial demand too.
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
Germany substantially increased direct LNG imports, and import capacity during the past three years.
Nominally, there is still a lot of underutilised import capacity.
Nominally, there is still a lot of underutilised import capacity.
February 4, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Germany substantially increased direct LNG imports, and import capacity during the past three years.
Nominally, there is still a lot of underutilised import capacity.
Nominally, there is still a lot of underutilised import capacity.
Ukraine’s gas supply crisis last year wasn't just external - it was largely "home-made."
In her new GDU piece, Agata Loskot-Strachota argues that market dysfunction stalled storage volumes. Urgent reforms are the only way to sustainably secure future supply.
greendealukraina.org/products/ana...
In her new GDU piece, Agata Loskot-Strachota argues that market dysfunction stalled storage volumes. Urgent reforms are the only way to sustainably secure future supply.
greendealukraina.org/products/ana...
February 3, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Ukraine’s gas supply crisis last year wasn't just external - it was largely "home-made."
In her new GDU piece, Agata Loskot-Strachota argues that market dysfunction stalled storage volumes. Urgent reforms are the only way to sustainably secure future supply.
greendealukraina.org/products/ana...
In her new GDU piece, Agata Loskot-Strachota argues that market dysfunction stalled storage volumes. Urgent reforms are the only way to sustainably secure future supply.
greendealukraina.org/products/ana...
Shmyhal : "Today at 10:42 a.m., a technical failure occurred, causing a simultaneous shutdown of the 400 kV line between RO and MD and the 750 kV line between the western and central parts of UA. This caused a cascade shutdown in Ukraine's power grid. Nuclear power plant units were unloaded".
January 31, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Shmyhal : "Today at 10:42 a.m., a technical failure occurred, causing a simultaneous shutdown of the 400 kV line between RO and MD and the 750 kV line between the western and central parts of UA. This caused a cascade shutdown in Ukraine's power grid. Nuclear power plant units were unloaded".
Reposted by Georg Zachmann
Es ist unerträglich. Wo bleibt die Reaktion des Westens? Wollte Merz nicht Taurus schicken, wenn Putin die ukrainische Bevölkerung so terrorisiert? ME könnte und müsste man Russlands Ölexportinfrastruktur sehr empfindlich treffen - und dann würde Putins Terror auch schnell wieder aufhören.
Massive blackout in #Ukraine
❗️Kyiv is without electricity,water& heating
Ukraine's Energy Minister:
"Today at 10:42 a.m.,a technological failure occurred, simultaneously shutting down the 400kV line between the Romanian and Moldovan power systems and the 750 kV line between Western&Central Ukraine"
❗️Kyiv is without electricity,water& heating
Ukraine's Energy Minister:
"Today at 10:42 a.m.,a technological failure occurred, simultaneously shutting down the 400kV line between the Romanian and Moldovan power systems and the 750 kV line between Western&Central Ukraine"
January 31, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Es ist unerträglich. Wo bleibt die Reaktion des Westens? Wollte Merz nicht Taurus schicken, wenn Putin die ukrainische Bevölkerung so terrorisiert? ME könnte und müsste man Russlands Ölexportinfrastruktur sehr empfindlich treffen - und dann würde Putins Terror auch schnell wieder aufhören.
Reposted by Georg Zachmann
This is insane. Kyiv has been under an intense russian drone attack for more than 4h now. In broad daylight, russia executes a city of 4M people. With full impunity, russia destroys Ukraine. #russiaisaterroriststate
January 26, 2026 at 4:34 PM
This is insane. Kyiv has been under an intense russian drone attack for more than 4h now. In broad daylight, russia executes a city of 4M people. With full impunity, russia destroys Ukraine. #russiaisaterroriststate
Investigators on Berlin Blackout "are in the dark" and are now offering a € 1,000,000 reward for information.
Bei den Ermittlungen zum Anschlag auf das Berliner Stromnetz tappen die Ermittler - Vorsicht - im Dunkeln. Wie Berlins Innensenatorin Iris Spranger (SPD) nun bestätigte, hat der Bund deshalb eine Belohnung von einer Million Euro für Hinweise zur Aufklärung der Tat ausgelobt. rbburl.de/belohnung
January 26, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Investigators on Berlin Blackout "are in the dark" and are now offering a € 1,000,000 reward for information.
Reposted by Georg Zachmann
🆕 EU natural gas demand bounced back slightly as TTF prices fell < €30 / MWh toward the end of 2025.
This repeats the pattern of winter 23/24.
After summer months of demand ≈ 20% down on pre-crisis 2019-21 AVG, winter months are ≈ 10% down
This repeats the pattern of winter 23/24.
After summer months of demand ≈ 20% down on pre-crisis 2019-21 AVG, winter months are ≈ 10% down
January 26, 2026 at 10:48 AM
🆕 EU natural gas demand bounced back slightly as TTF prices fell < €30 / MWh toward the end of 2025.
This repeats the pattern of winter 23/24.
After summer months of demand ≈ 20% down on pre-crisis 2019-21 AVG, winter months are ≈ 10% down
This repeats the pattern of winter 23/24.
After summer months of demand ≈ 20% down on pre-crisis 2019-21 AVG, winter months are ≈ 10% down
US LNG export capacity could double in just three years 📈, while EU demand is set to continue its downward trend 📉.
Doesn’t exactly sound like a seller’s market.
Doesn’t exactly sound like a seller’s market.
January 23, 2026 at 3:32 PM
US LNG export capacity could double in just three years 📈, while EU demand is set to continue its downward trend 📉.
Doesn’t exactly sound like a seller’s market.
Doesn’t exactly sound like a seller’s market.
Last week saw record LNG imports - have a look at our gas imports tracker for more details
(thx @keliauskaite.bsky.social for updating).
(thx @keliauskaite.bsky.social for updating).
January 23, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Last week saw record LNG imports - have a look at our gas imports tracker for more details
(thx @keliauskaite.bsky.social for updating).
(thx @keliauskaite.bsky.social for updating).
Recently we were at 9g silver per kW solar panel (thx @solarchase.bsky.social) -> at today's elevated silver prices this is close to 25€ in silver, per kW.
There is about 20g of #silver in a 1 kW solar panel.
The price of 20 g silver has tripled from €14 to €40 in the last two years.
-> At a module cost of 100€/kW silver would be about 40% of the module cost.
Good news: most silver in new PV can be replaced by copper
www.pv-tech.org/wp-content/u...
The price of 20 g silver has tripled from €14 to €40 in the last two years.
-> At a module cost of 100€/kW silver would be about 40% of the module cost.
Good news: most silver in new PV can be replaced by copper
www.pv-tech.org/wp-content/u...
January 22, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Recently we were at 9g silver per kW solar panel (thx @solarchase.bsky.social) -> at today's elevated silver prices this is close to 25€ in silver, per kW.
My GDU colleague Rouven Stubbe had a first look into the actual impact of live-CBAM, using data from real-time electricity trading. And the distortions are pretty visible!
www.linkedin.com/posts/rouven...
www.linkedin.com/posts/rouven...
January 22, 2026 at 6:58 PM
My GDU colleague Rouven Stubbe had a first look into the actual impact of live-CBAM, using data from real-time electricity trading. And the distortions are pretty visible!
www.linkedin.com/posts/rouven...
www.linkedin.com/posts/rouven...
During the past weeks more LNG arrived in the EU than at the same time a year ago.
January 22, 2026 at 6:05 PM
During the past weeks more LNG arrived in the EU than at the same time a year ago.
This is unbelievably sad news. Oleksii Brekht was acting CEO of Ukraine’s transmission system operator, Ukrenergo, during the turbulent and challenging first half of 2025. He died defending his country’s power system - a role that no civilian energy professional should ever be forced to assume.
Top Ukrainian energy worker Oleksii Brekht was killed while on the job, after being electrocuted at a substation.
Top Ukrainian energy official killed at substation
Top Ukrainian energy worker Oleksii Brekht was killed while on the job, after reportedly being electrocuted at a substation.
kyivindependent.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM
This is unbelievably sad news. Oleksii Brekht was acting CEO of Ukraine’s transmission system operator, Ukrenergo, during the turbulent and challenging first half of 2025. He died defending his country’s power system - a role that no civilian energy professional should ever be forced to assume.
I came across a useful Wikipedia page compiling various polling results for #Hungary’s April parliamentary elections, which strongly suggest that “he who pays the piper calls the tune.”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion...
January 21, 2026 at 3:46 PM
I came across a useful Wikipedia page compiling various polling results for #Hungary’s April parliamentary elections, which strongly suggest that “he who pays the piper calls the tune.”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion...
Reposted by Georg Zachmann
"Personalities linked to Trump are leading negotiations on a European contract to build a gas pipeline": [this is how the...
by RTBF in Belgium
by RTBF in Belgium
How people close to Donald Trump want to scoop a European pipeline contract worth more than €100 million
"Personalities linked to Trump are leading negotiations on a European...
www.rtbf.be
January 19, 2026 at 10:30 AM
"Personalities linked to Trump are leading negotiations on a European contract to build a gas pipeline": [this is how the...
by RTBF in Belgium
by RTBF in Belgium
Reposted by Georg Zachmann
€: Everyone knows Germany's "Industriestrompreis". These "broad, uncoordinated national subsidy schemes … risk fragmenting the internal market,” the Austrian letter warns.
However, whilst complaining, Vienna launched its own industry subsidy tariff “modelled after the German scheme”.
However, whilst complaining, Vienna launched its own industry subsidy tariff “modelled after the German scheme”.
Vienna slams ‘uncoordinated’ electricity subsidies, while launching its own | Euractiv
The Austrian government has asked the EU to step in as it joins a growing list of the bloc's countries looking to shield firms from high prices
www.euractiv.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:17 AM
€: Everyone knows Germany's "Industriestrompreis". These "broad, uncoordinated national subsidy schemes … risk fragmenting the internal market,” the Austrian letter warns.
However, whilst complaining, Vienna launched its own industry subsidy tariff “modelled after the German scheme”.
However, whilst complaining, Vienna launched its own industry subsidy tariff “modelled after the German scheme”.
In the EU, at current withdrawal rates (10 TWh/day) storage volume (643 TWh) will last till mid March.
But if fast storage depletion continues - at some moment EU prices will rise - attracting more LNG-tankers and lowering demand -> then storage withdrawal will slow.
But if fast storage depletion continues - at some moment EU prices will rise - attracting more LNG-tankers and lowering demand -> then storage withdrawal will slow.
January 10, 2026 at 9:57 AM
In the EU, at current withdrawal rates (10 TWh/day) storage volume (643 TWh) will last till mid March.
But if fast storage depletion continues - at some moment EU prices will rise - attracting more LNG-tankers and lowering demand -> then storage withdrawal will slow.
But if fast storage depletion continues - at some moment EU prices will rise - attracting more LNG-tankers and lowering demand -> then storage withdrawal will slow.
Ugne wraps up the Bruegel gas imports tracker for 2025:
- more imports (primarily from the US)
- less gas in storage
- higher implied gas demand
- more imports (primarily from the US)
- less gas in storage
- higher implied gas demand
European natural gas import tracker @bruegel.org
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
4 insights for 2025
1/4 Import volumes
-RU gas imports fell after closure of Ukrainian transit. Turkstream, the only remaining pipeline route, increased flows, while RU LNG is slightly down
-US gas imports rose sharply
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
4 insights for 2025
1/4 Import volumes
-RU gas imports fell after closure of Ukrainian transit. Turkstream, the only remaining pipeline route, increased flows, while RU LNG is slightly down
-US gas imports rose sharply
January 9, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Ugne wraps up the Bruegel gas imports tracker for 2025:
- more imports (primarily from the US)
- less gas in storage
- higher implied gas demand
- more imports (primarily from the US)
- less gas in storage
- higher implied gas demand
A coordinated assault on critical heat, water, and electricity lifelines serving a city of several million people during freezing temperatures is a calculated cruelty.
Such a barbaric 'strategy' must not be allowed to succeed.
kyivindependent.com/4-injured-ru...
Such a barbaric 'strategy' must not be allowed to succeed.
kyivindependent.com/4-injured-ru...
January 9, 2026 at 11:43 AM
A coordinated assault on critical heat, water, and electricity lifelines serving a city of several million people during freezing temperatures is a calculated cruelty.
Such a barbaric 'strategy' must not be allowed to succeed.
kyivindependent.com/4-injured-ru...
Such a barbaric 'strategy' must not be allowed to succeed.
kyivindependent.com/4-injured-ru...