It is no secret that the shale gas revolution has not gone unnoticed. US exploration sites can be seen from space, and night-time photos of the continent show a rising number of bright spots where fracking is being undertaken. It should come as no surprise, then, that repercussions can be felt even in the heart of Europe. And not just in the form of environmental discussions or demonstrations.

Drivers in Bavaria recently had to face long delays on the usually mega-fast Autobahn, as massive cracker parts were inched across the highway to the Donau River, from where the equipment with the stamp “Made in Germany” is shipped to the US, adding yet another light to the night-time map of North America.