This was the motto of the VDMA Energy Networking Day held in Frankfurt on May 7 and 8. Around 80 members from several trade associations came together to discuss strategically relevant issues relating to energy and climate policy.
Leading industry associations are urging the rapid implementation of hybrid offshore connections for the production of hydrogen.
The Centre for European Policy provides a good overview of the current state of the German energy sector with reference to natural gas and hydrogen as important energy sources and formulates recommendations for policy makers
A division of the German electricity bidding zone would be a drastic change to the system and would call into question many projects that have already been initiated. Rapid and consistent grid expansion is crucial in order to counter existing system bottlenecks.
The amendment to the German Federal Emission Protection Ordinance (4th BImSchV) by the German legislator brings clarity and relief both for the placing on the market of smaller electrolysers below 5 MW and for large-scale plants.
To ensure the competitiveness of the mechanical and plant engineering industry, the VDMA is calling for reliable economic framework conditions. A strong industry means a strong economy.
There are major growth opportunities for the mechanical and plant engineering sector in climate protection technologies. To remain competitive, reliable framework conditions for investments and technology-open implementation are essential.
Emissions trading is the lead instrument for climate protection. EU countries are using additional instruments to achieve further targets. An IMPULS study examines the challenges of the instrument mix.
With the introduction of the new Ecodesign Regulation and the creation of a Digital Product Passport (DPP), the EU Commission has implemented key elements of the EU Green Deal.
At the end of November 2024, the European Court of Justice ruled that the "customer installation" grid category is unlawful.
The objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal are fundamentally correct. However, EU policy must urgently improve the conditions in Europe across the board. Not only the symptoms of crisis industries must be treated.
The modern production world depends crucially on a secure and equally modern energy supply. The variety of solution ideas will be presented at Hannover Messe.
Innovative solutions and pioneering technologies at the world's largest industrial trade fair.
The VDMA has addressed extensive demands to politicians. What do the parties think? Our overview shows the extent to which the mechanical and plant engineering industry is taken into account in the programs for the federal election on February 23, 2025.
In the IEA's 2024 "Energy Technology Perspectives" report, the agency looks at global market developments in green technologies and the resilience of their production chains.
Germany is at a crossroads. The construction and renovation crisis, coupled with the ambitious goals of the heating transition, calls for comprehensive measures and clear political strategies.
In January 2025, the EU Commission presented its report "The net-zero manufacturing industry landscape across the Member States". It documents the current state of affairs.
The transformation to climate neutrality presents a significant competitive opportunity for Germany and Europe. To fully capitalize on this potential, emissions trading and climate protection technologies must be designed effectively.
The German government now also wants to relieve companies of CSRD reporting obligations. It would be an urgently needed step. Politicians must now do everything they can to convince the EU of this measure.
The European Deforestation Regulation is being postponed - an important measure to ease the burden on companies. Other EU regulations must now also be put to the test as part of the omnibus regulation.
Heavy seas and no calm in sight: the mechanical engineering industry expects a decline in production and a slight reduction in jobs in 2025. A political turnaround is needed to strengthen the industry.
The COP29 climate conference in Baku has opened the way to a global carbon market - but postponed crucial questions on financing global climate protection. Small steps, but not nearly enough.
The agreement reached at the COP climate conference on a voluntary global carbon market is a milestone. It has the potential to accelerate the global use of particularly efficient technologies to avoid emissions.
The COP29 world climate conference is taking place in Baku (Azerbaijan) from November 11 to 29. Find out here what topics will be discussed there and how the results could affect the mechanical and plant engineering sector.
Climate protection needs sufficient resources - both financially and technologically. The climate conference in Baku must set the right course for this.
On August 29, Germany published its updated national energy and climate plan. In these plans, each EU member state provides comprehensive information on its national energy and climate policy for the next 10 years.
Tax money for the scrappage scheme is not being put to good use. It would be better to use it at the beginning of the value chain in production research. This would benefit jobs and technologies.
Transformation will only succeed if the framework conditions for Germany as an industrial location are improved. Reforms must not be put on the back burner any longer.
The Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) published the new funding guideline "Federal Funding for Industry and Climate Protection (BIK)" on August 23.
The time-limited funding for the decarbonization of SMEs is the right thing to do. It will enable innovations to be brought to market more quickly.
The German government's planned funding cuts in climate financing are the wrong signal, especially for the planned development of a hydrogen economy.
The ramp-up of renewable energies is sometimes a challenge for stability. Pumped storage can provide a flexible remedy here and thus ensure the stability of the grids and security of supply.
VDMA member companies discussed with political representatives at the Week of the Environment.
The International Energy Agency's Energy Efficiency Toolkit is a collection of policies to increase energy efficiency. It is intended to help decision-makers find new opportunities for their own countries.
The Energy Services Act is intended to make companies more efficient in their use of energy. To achieve this, companies now need planning certainty quickly in order to implement the numerous regulations!
Important challenges relating to the OECD Tractor Codes recently dominated the agenda at a working group meeting in Slovakia.
Unfortunately, no substantial progress was made on climate financing at the Bonn Climate Change Conference. Difficult negotiations now lie ahead at COP29 in Baku.
Development of the value chain picks up speed
The ninth future study examines the role of carbon management as the key to achieving climate targets. It outlines opportunities and hurdles for industry and society and presents four future scenarios for 2035 and beyond.
The federal government's promotional loan provides a high level of funding for particularly climate-friendly components, systems and solutions and a repayment subsidy of up to 60 percent.
Here you will find links to our publications that have already been published. We make the latest analyses available exclusively to VDMA member companies via our mailing list.
The agricultural machinery industry acts as an enabler of climate-friendly drives in agribusiness. In a position paper that has just been published, VDMA Agricultural Machinery defines the framework for alternative fuels and drives in agriculture.
With its energy market simulation software "Power2Sim", Energy Brainpool created a scenario for an energy economy based on hydrogen and green electricity as the main energy carriers.
The IEA examines current trends and risks of future energy technologies and recommends that responsible parties actively pursue solutions.
On behalf of the German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur), industrial sectors are analyzed for their importance in case of a gas shortage in order to enable better decisions for a shutdown sequence in case of a crisis.
In 2020, the EU classified textiles as "high impact" products. Environmental impacts are to be minimized along the entire textile value chain.
