Germany’s energy consumption is set to reach a record low for the second year running, according to research group AG Energiebilanzen, Bloomberg reports.
The decline, projected at 1.7% to 10,453 petajoules (2,904 terawatt-hours) in 2024, is a direct consequence of the country’s economic slowdown.
The report attributes the drop to significant production declines in manufacturing and processing industries, despite a recent uptick in demand. This follows a record low energy consumption in 2023. While Germany narrowly avoided a technical recession in the third quarter, the economy remains stagnant due to sluggish factory activity and struggles in the automotive sector.
The country’s ongoing energy transition is further evidenced by the shift away from fossil fuels. Coal and lignite consumption dropped by 15% in the first nine months of 2024, while renewable energy and natural gas consumption each rose by approximately 3%.
The use of coal for power generation saw a particularly steep decline, falling by 39% due to increased reliance on renewable sources and electricity imports from neighboring countries.
