Key facts
- Germany's overall energy demand decreased by 1.9% in the first half of the year.
- Consumption of oil products fell by 8%, with diesel consumption down close to 6%.
- Coal consumption increased by 7%, and natural gas consumption rose by 1.3%.
- Wind and solar power accounted for 22.2% of total energy consumption, up from 20.9% a year prior.
- Wind and solar generation reached an all-time high of 58% of electricity generation.
Germany's energy demand saw a preliminary drop of 1.9% in the first half of the year, primarily driven by surging oil and gas prices, according to data from the Working Group on Energy Balances (AGEB).
Consumption of oil products experienced a significant decline of 8%, with diesel usage falling by nearly 6%. Gasoline consumption saw a more modest decrease of 0.6%, while jet fuel consumption was down 1% and light heating oil consumption plummeted by over 30%.
In contrast, coal consumption rose by 7%, and natural gas consumption increased by 1.3%. Hydrocarbons collectively represented 75.9% of Germany's energy consumption during this period.
Renewable energy sources, particularly wind power, contributed to growth in solar and wind generation, which together accounted for 22.2% of overall energy consumption, an increase from 20.9% in the previous year. Electricity generation from hydropower, wind, and solar reached an all-time high of 58%, up from 55.8% a year earlier, with wind power being the main driver of this increase.
Despite ambitious energy transition plans focused on wind and solar dominance, Germany's efforts face challenges including past wind droughts and transmission capacity limitations, necessitating substantial grid expansion investments.