Dutch grid operator Enexis is partnering with the company Zonnedimmer to pay tens of thousands of households to temporarily shut off their solar panels. This initiative is designed to prevent the power grid from becoming overloaded during peak sunny periods.
The municipality of Amsterdam has abandoned plans to introduce an emission-free zone for passenger cars by 2030 due to a lack of national legislation. Economist Walther Ploos van Amstel suggests that the city should instead focus on incentives like lower parking fees and more charging infrastructure to encourage the transition to electric vehicles.
European companies with critical infrastructure have been using password management software called Passwork, which is actually based in Russia. Cybersecurity experts warn that this poses a significant security risk, as the software serves as a digital key to sensitive corporate systems.
Due to ongoing water shortages in the Netherlands, some builders and homebuyers are implementing new systems to use 4500 liters of stored rainwater under floors for daily tasks like flushing toilets. This initiative aims to reduce the consumption of purified drinking water.
The trade union FNV has announced a series of protest actions throughout the first two weeks of September, affecting the government, ports, and hospitals. Additionally, the union plans to organize a 24-hour strike that will halt train services across the Netherlands.
Italian police have conducted raids on the offices of luxury brands, including Bulgari and Chanel. The investigation centers on allegations that these companies utilized subcontractors who employed Chinese workers in exploitative conditions.