Europe is experiencing fresh spikes in energy prices, caused by both high demand for natural gas during the economic recovery from the pandemic and heightened geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West. As the goal of both the European Union and the recently formed German government is to focus on achieving ambitious emission reduction targets by the end of the decade, coal is not a desired option in Germany's energy production schemes. Seeing that households and businesses are facing very, very increased energy bills, the governments of almost all European countries have introduced certain relief schemes to help consumers remain able to afford the now expensive fossil fuel to heat their homes.

The article explains what has caused the rise in energy prices; what Germany is doing to help households, and how the government plans to ensure a secure energy supply in the future, while simultaneously adhering to its own self-imposed climate targets.