Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
@nkurmayer.bsky.social
Journalist - energy, climate, buildings and occasionally politics @Euractiv
Tell me what I got wrong: nikolaus.kurmayer@euractiv.com
Tell me what I got wrong: nikolaus.kurmayer@euractiv.com
Der VKU macht einen neuen Vorstoß um Kunden in seine lokalen Monopole zu drängen
www.welt.de/finanzen/art...
www.welt.de/finanzen/art...
Energiewende: Wo Fernwärme ist, keine Wärmepumpen-Förderung – der drastische Vorschlag der Versorger - WELT
Städte und Versorger investieren Milliarden in Fernwärme. Nun wächst die Befürchtung, dass sich viele Hausbesitzer eine Wärmepumpe zulegen, bevor die neue Fernwärmeleitung fertig ist – und Netzbetreib...
www.welt.de
February 8, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Der VKU macht einen neuen Vorstoß um Kunden in seine lokalen Monopole zu drängen
www.welt.de/finanzen/art...
www.welt.de/finanzen/art...
Interesting stuff from Renew, explicitly picking a fight on bidding zones (and pressuring the Commission to get involved)
www.euractiv.com/news/parliam...
www.euractiv.com/news/parliam...
Parliament's liberals push for bloc-wide electricity rulebook rethink | Euractiv
Renew MEPs want to take on the bloc’s grid powerhouses that are blocking energy market integration
www.euractiv.com
February 4, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Interesting stuff from Renew, explicitly picking a fight on bidding zones (and pressuring the Commission to get involved)
www.euractiv.com/news/parliam...
www.euractiv.com/news/parliam...
Gazprom gloats about relatively empty EU gas storage facilities -- meanwhile, they aggressively try to sell what looks to be meagre progress on Power of Siberia 2 as meaningful diversification of customers...
February 3, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Gazprom gloats about relatively empty EU gas storage facilities -- meanwhile, they aggressively try to sell what looks to be meagre progress on Power of Siberia 2 as meaningful diversification of customers...
Text-Bild-Schere aus der Hölle
Wir zittern uns durch diesen Winter. Die Bundesregierung hat schlecht vorgesorgt. #Gasspeicher
February 1, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Text-Bild-Schere aus der Hölle
January 29, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Not a military jet expert but doesn't the two-track solution seem like a classic European fudge?
www.euractiv.com/interview/ai...
www.euractiv.com/interview/ai...
Airbus Defence CEO: Two seperate fighter jets for FCAS a 'good' option | Euractiv
An ongoing dispute between France and Germany has raised doubts about whether the project will continue
www.euractiv.com
January 29, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Not a military jet expert but doesn't the two-track solution seem like a classic European fudge?
www.euractiv.com/interview/ai...
www.euractiv.com/interview/ai...
€: Europe faces a climate reckoning amid slowing emission cuts (gas-heating resurgence & stagnant transport sector, via CREA) which put -55% by 2030 at risk -- throwing a molotov into current discussions on the post-2030 framework (call it Fit for 90 if you will)
www.euractiv.com/news/emissio...
www.euractiv.com/news/emissio...
Emission cuts slow as gas-fired heating makes a comeback | Euractiv
Limited progress puts EU climate target in jeopardy
www.euractiv.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:51 AM
€: Europe faces a climate reckoning amid slowing emission cuts (gas-heating resurgence & stagnant transport sector, via CREA) which put -55% by 2030 at risk -- throwing a molotov into current discussions on the post-2030 framework (call it Fit for 90 if you will)
www.euractiv.com/news/emissio...
www.euractiv.com/news/emissio...
Don't let the jubilations fool you -- the new North Sea offshore wind target, while substantial, is much lower than the 2022 pledge by a much smaller group
www.euractiv.com/news/europe-...
www.euractiv.com/news/europe-...
January 26, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Don't let the jubilations fool you -- the new North Sea offshore wind target, while substantial, is much lower than the 2022 pledge by a much smaller group
www.euractiv.com/news/europe-...
www.euractiv.com/news/europe-...
There has been a momentuous shift in Brussels few took notice of: energy efficiency first, the mantra that ruled the roost of the EU capital's lobbying circuit, is being quietly dropped (and is on track to be supplanted by a new darling term -- electrification)
www.euractiv.com/news/how-the...
www.euractiv.com/news/how-the...
January 26, 2026 at 11:30 AM
There has been a momentuous shift in Brussels few took notice of: energy efficiency first, the mantra that ruled the roost of the EU capital's lobbying circuit, is being quietly dropped (and is on track to be supplanted by a new darling term -- electrification)
www.euractiv.com/news/how-the...
www.euractiv.com/news/how-the...
Banger paragraph from Rapporteur this morning
January 22, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Banger paragraph from Rapporteur this morning
€: 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”.
Spains military budget stood at approximately €17.2 billion, or 1.24 percent of the country's GDP in 2024, the lowest among NATO members...
Sánchez: EU must build common defence, even without full bloc support
Sánchez: EU must build common defence, even without full bloc support
“Europe must move forward in its integration process and equip itself with a truly common defence," the Spanish prime minister said
dlvr.it
January 18, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Spains military budget stood at approximately €17.2 billion, or 1.24 percent of the country's GDP in 2024, the lowest among NATO members...
Reposted by Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
Venezuela flares over $1.4bn of natural gas annually - enough to meet the entire gas needs of neighbouring Colombia!
Colombia's LNG imports would be wiped out, if only it could get its hands on Venezuelan gas.
Colombia's LNG imports would be wiped out, if only it could get its hands on Venezuelan gas.
January 16, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Venezuela flares over $1.4bn of natural gas annually - enough to meet the entire gas needs of neighbouring Colombia!
Colombia's LNG imports would be wiped out, if only it could get its hands on Venezuelan gas.
Colombia's LNG imports would be wiped out, if only it could get its hands on Venezuelan gas.
Athens ditches EU line in IMO net-zero shipping negotiations
Athens breaks EU ranks to side with US and Saudi Arabia in green shipping row
Athens breaks EU ranks to side with US and Saudi Arabia in green shipping row
Greece is working on a counter proposal after helping torpedo a net-zero shipping deal
dlvr.it
January 16, 2026 at 11:09 AM
Athens ditches EU line in IMO net-zero shipping negotiations
Bsky implementing some weird livestream feature before adding other features gives me bearish vibes -- think algo feed, better content sorting, better search feature
📢 v1.114 is rolling out!
Today, we're expanding access to the Live Now beta to everyone.
This experimental feature lets you add a temporary LIVE badge to your avatar, helping others discover that you're currently live-streaming on Twitch. They can click it to land directly on your stream page.
Today, we're expanding access to the Live Now beta to everyone.
This experimental feature lets you add a temporary LIVE badge to your avatar, helping others discover that you're currently live-streaming on Twitch. They can click it to land directly on your stream page.
January 16, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Bsky implementing some weird livestream feature before adding other features gives me bearish vibes -- think algo feed, better content sorting, better search feature
Guess they didn't abandon the new tradition (seeking to cause at least one blackout over christmas) after all !
www.euractiv.com/news/russia-...
www.euractiv.com/news/russia-...
Russia attack on power grid brought Poland to brink of blackout, Warsaw says | Euractiv
Russia’s ‘digital tanks’ are already in Europe, minister warns
www.euractiv.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Guess they didn't abandon the new tradition (seeking to cause at least one blackout over christmas) after all !
www.euractiv.com/news/russia-...
www.euractiv.com/news/russia-...
Even where alcohol is taxed, Europe applies some of the lowest rates worldwide. The WHO estimates that excise taxes account for just 9.7% of beer prices in the European region — the lowest share of any WHO region, reports @maglken.bsky.social
www.euractiv.com/news/europes...
www.euractiv.com/news/europes...
January 13, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Even where alcohol is taxed, Europe applies some of the lowest rates worldwide. The WHO estimates that excise taxes account for just 9.7% of beer prices in the European region — the lowest share of any WHO region, reports @maglken.bsky.social
www.euractiv.com/news/europes...
www.euractiv.com/news/europes...
Roughly 45% of the world's population is living in cities!
Banger graph from @jkempenergy.bsky.social
Banger graph from @jkempenergy.bsky.social
January 13, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Roughly 45% of the world's population is living in cities!
Banger graph from @jkempenergy.bsky.social
Banger graph from @jkempenergy.bsky.social
Reposted by Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
Electricity 2026 starts with a depressing figure: €30 billion!
Thats the amount of subsidies Berlin alone is injecting into the power system IN ONE YEAR to stave off necessary structural reforms
€11 bn in France, €3 bn in Poland
Yet, reform to-do list is long
www.euractiv.com/news/stop-ga...
Thats the amount of subsidies Berlin alone is injecting into the power system IN ONE YEAR to stave off necessary structural reforms
€11 bn in France, €3 bn in Poland
Yet, reform to-do list is long
www.euractiv.com/news/stop-ga...
January 12, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Electricity 2026 starts with a depressing figure: €30 billion!
Thats the amount of subsidies Berlin alone is injecting into the power system IN ONE YEAR to stave off necessary structural reforms
€11 bn in France, €3 bn in Poland
Yet, reform to-do list is long
www.euractiv.com/news/stop-ga...
Thats the amount of subsidies Berlin alone is injecting into the power system IN ONE YEAR to stave off necessary structural reforms
€11 bn in France, €3 bn in Poland
Yet, reform to-do list is long
www.euractiv.com/news/stop-ga...
Electricity 2026 starts with a depressing figure: €30 billion!
Thats the amount of subsidies Berlin alone is injecting into the power system IN ONE YEAR to stave off necessary structural reforms
€11 bn in France, €3 bn in Poland
Yet, reform to-do list is long
www.euractiv.com/news/stop-ga...
Thats the amount of subsidies Berlin alone is injecting into the power system IN ONE YEAR to stave off necessary structural reforms
€11 bn in France, €3 bn in Poland
Yet, reform to-do list is long
www.euractiv.com/news/stop-ga...
January 12, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Electricity 2026 starts with a depressing figure: €30 billion!
Thats the amount of subsidies Berlin alone is injecting into the power system IN ONE YEAR to stave off necessary structural reforms
€11 bn in France, €3 bn in Poland
Yet, reform to-do list is long
www.euractiv.com/news/stop-ga...
Thats the amount of subsidies Berlin alone is injecting into the power system IN ONE YEAR to stave off necessary structural reforms
€11 bn in France, €3 bn in Poland
Yet, reform to-do list is long
www.euractiv.com/news/stop-ga...
Small Wikipedia rabbit hole: while looking up Coalition on Compliance Carbon Markets, one of the COP30 outcomes, I noticed the Wikipedia site was a) expansive b) somewhat biased in the scheme's favour -- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Co...
So I looked into who wrote it: user אלכסנדר סעודה
1/n
So I looked into who wrote it: user אלכסנדר סעודה
1/n
January 11, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Small Wikipedia rabbit hole: while looking up Coalition on Compliance Carbon Markets, one of the COP30 outcomes, I noticed the Wikipedia site was a) expansive b) somewhat biased in the scheme's favour -- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Co...
So I looked into who wrote it: user אלכסנדר סעודה
1/n
So I looked into who wrote it: user אלכסנדר סעודה
1/n
Reposted by Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
Europe talks. Iran kills
Europe talks. Iran kills
As Iranians risk their lives in the streets, Europe is left choosing between moral clarity and diplomatic habit
dlvr.it
January 11, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Europe talks. Iran kills
DJT may (sadly) actually be the protagonist of humanity
January 9, 2026 at 12:21 PM
DJT may (sadly) actually be the protagonist of humanity
Reposted by Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
If you stop taking blood pressure meds, your BP goes up. We call that medicine.
If you stop taking GLP-1s, your weight goes up. Scientists are calling it "weight recidivism"—a term for convicted criminals.
Why is obesity still treated as a moral failure? #GLP
open.substack.com/pub/overmatt...
If you stop taking GLP-1s, your weight goes up. Scientists are calling it "weight recidivism"—a term for convicted criminals.
Why is obesity still treated as a moral failure? #GLP
open.substack.com/pub/overmatt...
The moral panic about GLP-1 rebound
Scientists and journalists are piling on the misery about the weight regain after medication
overmatter.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:13 PM
If you stop taking blood pressure meds, your BP goes up. We call that medicine.
If you stop taking GLP-1s, your weight goes up. Scientists are calling it "weight recidivism"—a term for convicted criminals.
Why is obesity still treated as a moral failure? #GLP
open.substack.com/pub/overmatt...
If you stop taking GLP-1s, your weight goes up. Scientists are calling it "weight recidivism"—a term for convicted criminals.
Why is obesity still treated as a moral failure? #GLP
open.substack.com/pub/overmatt...
NEW: Slovakia and Czechia are teaming up to fight the ETS.
The Czech PM argued that the cost of emissions allowances in ETS1 had diverged sharply from projected prices, and called for a temporary pause of “four or five years” and a decoupling of carbon costs from electricity prices.
The Czech PM argued that the cost of emissions allowances in ETS1 had diverged sharply from projected prices, and called for a temporary pause of “four or five years” and a decoupling of carbon costs from electricity prices.
Prague calls for five-year freeze of EU's original carbon pricing scheme | Euractiv
Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš and his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico team up to fight ETS1 and 'Green Deal madness'
www.euractiv.com
January 8, 2026 at 4:29 PM
NEW: Slovakia and Czechia are teaming up to fight the ETS.
The Czech PM argued that the cost of emissions allowances in ETS1 had diverged sharply from projected prices, and called for a temporary pause of “four or five years” and a decoupling of carbon costs from electricity prices.
The Czech PM argued that the cost of emissions allowances in ETS1 had diverged sharply from projected prices, and called for a temporary pause of “four or five years” and a decoupling of carbon costs from electricity prices.