Final energy consumption

While final energy consumption in Germany fluctuates from year to year, its annual average change rate from 2005 to 2023 decreased somewhat. However, if the national contribution towards the EU’s 2030 target is to be met, the annual average change rate will need to accelerate substantially – that is, by a factor of almost three.

The largest decreases in overall energy consumption were observed in 2007, 2009 and 2020, which were years of either strong economic downturns (e.g. the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic) or relatively mild weather conditions. While energy consumption in the industry sector remained relatively stable until 2018, it recorded a particular decrease during the last two years, which correlated with peaking energy prices that particularly affected energy-intensive industries. As for households, their energy consumption is significantly dependent on weather conditions, as households mainly use energy for space heating. Commercial and public services exhibited a clear and relatively stable decrease in energy consumption in the period considered.