This Week in Energy — Brussels (#29, 2026)
Commission approves German State aid for fuel-impacted fisheries; New rules for CO2 data in heavy-duty vehicles; UN Regulation No 100 on electric power train safety in force.
August 17, 2026 to August 23, 2026
Commission approves German State aid for fuel-impacted fisheries; New rules for CO2 data in heavy-duty vehicles; UN Regulation No 100 on electric power train safety in force.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
European Commission
Commission approves €4.5 million German State aid for fishing and aquaculture companies facing increased fuel prices
The European Commission approved a €4.5 million State aid scheme for German fishing and aquaculture companies facing increased fuel costs attributed to the Middle East crisis. The scheme, notified by Germany, will provide direct grants covering up to 70% of the increase in fuel costs experienced by eligible companies from 1 March to 23 July 2026, with a maximum of €50,000 per company. The measure was assessed under Article 107(3)(c) TFEU and the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF), adopted by the Commission on 29 April 2026 and effective until 31 December 2026. The Commission found the scheme to be necessary, appropriate, and proportionate, supporting the primary production of fishery and aquaculture products without distorting competition contrary to the common interest. The non-confidential version of the decision is available under case SA.124349 in the State aid register.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1282 updates CO2 monitoring for new heavy-duty vehicles
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1282, published on 21 August 2026, amends Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1242. The changes address data to be monitored, reported, and published for new heavy-duty vehicles, detailing the reporting of manufacturers' identifiers, component data, and additional monitoring parameters for new vehicle types and technologies. The Regulation also corrects errors in previous annexes and clarifies requirements for technical services and publication of sensitive data. These provisions enter into force 20 days after publication and apply directly in all Member States.
UN Regulation No 100 on electric power train safety enters into force
UN Regulation No 100, incorporated by the Commission on 17 August 2026, sets uniform provisions for the approval of vehicles regarding specific requirements for electric power trains. The regulation addresses safety requirements for electric power trains and rechargeable energy storage systems (REESS), including protection against electrical shock, mechanical impact, fire resistance, and thermal management. Transitional provisions detail the acceptance of type approvals under various amendment series, with full application dates ranging from 2025 to 2030. Only the original UN/ECE texts have legal effect, and the regulation is referenced in the EU Official Journal as [2026/1695].
What We're Reading This Week
- The Next Frontier of Europe’s Energy Transition: Why Clean Power Moves Home: European nations accelerate domestic clean energy production to boost energy security and meet climate targets.
- ‘Do not believe my prime minister’: Youngest-ever Norwegian MP urges EU to resist Oslo’s Arctic-oil lobbying: Norway’s youngest MP publicly calls on the EU to reject Norway’s push for expanded Arctic oil drilling.
- Video: Giant land art warns about risks of new oil and gas drilling: A massive land art installation raises public awareness about environmental dangers posed by expanding oil and gas exploration.
- Geothermal energy promises domestic power - the EU is hesitating: EU delays adoption of geothermal energy despite its potential to boost domestic power and reduce reliance on imported fuels.
