Clean Energy Wire
Berlin-based energy journalism outlet; primary English-language source on German energy transition.
Last refreshed: 18 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
How does Clean Energy Wire cover Germany's gas-versus-renewables policy debate?
Timeline for Clean Energy Wire
Mentioned in: Berlin confirms 12 GW gas tender
European Energy Markets- What is Clean Energy Wire and is it independent?
- Clean Energy Wire (CLEW) is a Berlin-based non-profit journalism service covering Germany's energy transition and European energy policy. It is funded by the European Climate Foundation, Stiftung Mercator, and other philanthropic donors. CLEW operates without a paywall and publishes in English, making it the primary English-language reference for German Energiewende reporting.Source: Lowdown European Energy Markets
- Where can I find English-language news about German energy policy?
- Clean Energy Wire (cleanenergywire.org) is the most comprehensive English-language source for German energy transition news, publishing daily factsheets, analysis, and news reports. For official government positions, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs publishes English summaries. Reuters and Bloomberg cover major German energy policy events internationally.Source: Lowdown European Energy Markets
- Is Clean Energy Wire biased in favour of renewables over fossil fuels?
- CLEW's funders (European Climate Foundation, Stiftung Mercator) are climate-focused philanthropies, which gives it an editorial orientation towards energy transition coverage. Its reporting is factual and cited as a source by Reuters and mainstream outlets, but its framing generally assumes the Energiewende as a policy framework rather than subjecting it to fundamental critique.Source: Lowdown European Energy Markets
- When was Clean Energy Wire founded and who funds it?
- Clean Energy Wire was founded in 2014 as part of a push to make Germany's energy transition legible to international audiences. It is principally funded by the European Climate Foundation (ECF) and Stiftung Mercator, two major European philanthropies focused on climate and energy, with additional donor support. It publishes without a paywall.Source: Lowdown European Energy Markets
Background
Clean Energy Wire (CLEW) is a Berlin-based independent journalism and information service covering Germany's energy transition (Energiewende) and European energy policy. Founded in 2014, CLEW is funded by the European Climate Foundation, Stiftung Mercator, and other philanthropic donors; it publishes in English and German and provides free access to reporting aimed at international media and policy audiences. In May 2026 Clean Energy Wire was cited as the primary English-language source for confirmation that Germany's 12 GW hydrogen-ready gas-plant tender programme had been formally agreed between Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and the European Commission .
CLEW maintains a team of energy journalists and policy analysts covering Bundestag energy legislation, grid regulation, renewable deployment, and industrial decarbonisation. The outlet functions as a key intermediary for international readers following German energy policy, publishing factsheets, explainers, and original reporting. Its coverage of the gas tender confirmation carried the detail on the September 2026 first-auction date that had been blocked under SPD environment-ministry opposition for three years.
As a philanthropically funded outlet, Clean Energy Wire does not carry commercial advertising from energy companies. Its independence gives its coverage credibility as a source on contested policy questions including the German gas-capacity debate, where industry and environmental lobbying both seek to shape the narrative. For Lowdown readers following European energy markets, CLEW is a primary-tier reference for German domestic energy-policy developments.
