Statistics: Experts expect energy consumption to decrease
The subdued economy and high energy prices will likely ensure that Germany uses less energy overall this year. Fossil fuels continue to dominate.
Germany's total energy consumption is expected to decrease by almost 3% in 2026 compared to the previous year, according to a forecast by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Energiebilanzen (AGEB). The main reasons for this decline are a sluggish economic development and a significant increase in energy prices. The energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are expected to decrease by almost 4% in 2026.
In the first nine months of 2026, energy consumption decreased by 3.6% compared to the same period in the previous year, driven by a decline in mineral oil consumption, which fell by over 12%. The share of renewable energy in Germany's energy consumption rose to 22.5% in the first nine months of 2026, up from 20.5% in the previous year.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Hochrechnung: Experten rechnen mit sinkendem Energieverbrauch handelsblatt.com
