In brief | 17 January '25

Reuters: Chinese buyers interested in unwanted German Volkswagen factories, source says

Buying a factory would allow China to build influence in Germany's prized auto industry, home to some of the oldest and most prestigious car brands, the person said.

Energy Storage News: Partners Group investing €400 million in German BESS platform ‘green flexibility’

With the equity commitment and complementary debt financing, green flexibility will have over €1 billion to invest in its pipeline of battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Germany, some of which are already under construction.

Bloomberg: EU’s green push needs changes to protect carmakers, lobby says

The European Union should adapt its landmark decarbonization road map because it risks hurting the competitiveness of its carmakers, according to the region’s main auto lobby.

Bloomberg: EU environment chief sees opportunity in recycled raw materials

Boosting the use of recycled raw materials is an opportunity that the European Union “can’t miss” in its shift toward a sustainable economy while bolstering its competitiveness, its new environment commissioner said.

Yan Qin (ClearBlue Markets analyst): Carbon: A tale of Two Markets in 2025 (so far)

EU carbon price rose to one-year high near €80/t and is still holding strong today despite weaker gas, while UK carbon price on sustained downward move at the start of 2025...now at £32.3 (€38.5).

Bloomberg: China used more coal power last year in blow to climate efforts

The boom in clean energy failed to keep pace with surging electricity consumption in the world’s second-biggest economy.