Energy mix continues to become lower in CO2

July 10, 2026

Source: E & M powernews

Germany’s energy supply became even lower in carbon in 2025. Natural gas and renewable energy sources, in particular, expanded their market shares.

Germany’s energy supply shifted further toward lower-carbon energy sources in 2025. This is according to the annual report released on July 9 by the Working Group on Energy Balances (AG Energiebilanzen, AGEB). The Berlin-based organization evaluates energy industry statistics for this purpose. While petroleum remained the most important energy source with a 36 percent share, natural gas and renewable energy sources gained market share, while hard coal, lignite, and petroleum lost share.

According to AGEB, natural gas’s share of primary energy consumption rose from 25.8 to 26.6 percent. Renewable energy sources increased their share from 20.1 to 20.8 percent. In contrast, hard coal and lignite each lost 0.5 percentage points, and petroleum lost 0.3 percentage points.

Total primary energy consumption in 2025 fell by 0.4 percent compared to the previous year, to 10,530 petajoules or 359.3 million metric metric tons of hard coal equivalent (SKE). The AGEB cites persistently high energy prices and weak economic performance as the causes. In contrast, cooler weather increased the demand for heating energy. According to AGEB’s calculations, energy consumption would have fallen by about 2 percent if weather effects and inventory changes had not been taken into account.

Structural changes also continued in the consumption of individual energy sources. Consumption of renewable energy rose by 2.9 percent, while natural gas consumption increased by 2.8 percent. Consumption of hard coal fell by 6.8 percent, and that of lignite by 7.4 percent. Mineral oil sales decreased by 1.1 percent.

According to AG Energiebilanzen, the changes in the energy mix led to a further reduction in the carbon intensity of the energy supply. However, this trend did not extend to all consumption sectors. While energy-related CO2 emissions fell in the energy sector and in manufacturing, they rose in the building sector due to higher heating demand and in the transportation sector as a result of increased traffic volumes.

Germany a Net Electricity Importer for the Third Consecutive Year

Germany’s gross electricity consumption decreased slightly by 0.1 percent in 2025 to 528.4 billion kWh. At the same time, gross electricity generation increased by 1.2 percent to 509.2 billion kWh. Renewables accounted for 57.3 percent of this total, thereby maintaining their leading role in domestic electricity production. Natural gas accounted for 17 percent, lignite for 14.6 percent, and hard coal for 5.9 percent.

Renewables accounted for 55.2 percent of gross electricity consumption, up from 54.4 percent the previous year. Germany was thus a net electricity importer for the third consecutive year in 2025. The net import balance amounted to 17.8 billion kWh. Electricity imports declined by 2.2 percent compared to the previous year, while exports fell by 8.3 percent.

According to AGEB, the German energy supply’s dependence on imports remained virtually unchanged. Overall, Germany met 65.6 percent of its energy needs through imports. The import share was 96 percent for petroleum and 89 percent for natural gas. All hard coal was imported. Lignite and renewable energy, on the other hand, came almost entirely from domestic sources. Overall economic energy productivity improved by 0.6 percent in 2025.

Author: Davina Spohn