AG Energiebilanzen

In the first three months of this year, energy consumption in Germany was almost 7 % below the comparable value from the previous year (Figure 1).

According to preliminary calculations from the Working Group on Energy Balances (AG Energiebilanzen), consumption in the first quarter fell by 6.8 % to 3,457 PJ or 117.9 Mtce. The lower energy consumption due to the economic situation, especially in the energy-intensive industries, the warmer weather conditions in the first two months of the year, and the initial effects of the coronavirus pandemic were responsible for the decrease in consumption. This year’s leap day, by contrast, boosted consumption. With the exception of renewables, all energy sources were affected by the decline in consumption, with coal recording an especially drastic decrease. As the AG Energiebilanzen also calculated, energy consumption would only have decreased by 6.4 % without the impact of the mild weather. The AG Energiebilanzen is also expecting a decrease in energy-related CO₂ emissions of almost 11 %.

The consumption of mineral oil fell by 3.2 %. While petrol experienced only a slight drop in sales compared to the previous year, the decrease for diesel fuel was 3.4 %. Sales of heating oil were 5.7 % higher than the same period of the previous year. This growth may have been caused by consumers stocking up due to the sharp drop in prices. Petroleum experienced a 10.5 % decline due to the economic situation.

Natural gas consumption reduced by 5.5 % in total due to the mild weather in the first two months of the year and the slightly reduced use of natural gas in electricity production.

The consumption of coal fell by around 22 % in the first quarter of 2020. The use of coal in power stations recorded a decline of a good third. This development is primarily due to the significantly increased supply of electricity from wind turbines and photovoltaic installations. The use of coke and coal in the steel industry declined by almost 7 %.

In the first three months of 2020, the consumption of lignite fell by more than 30 %. This significant drop has three main causes: The dramatically increased electricity production from renewable energy, the transfer of further lignite power plant blocks to standby mode for emergency reserve power, and the initial effects of the coronavirus pandemic on electricity consumption.

Due to the planned shutdown of the Philippsburg power station at the end of 2019, nuclear energy saw an almost 17 % decrease in electricity production.

By contrast, renewable energies’ contribution to overall energy consumption in the first quarter of 2020 rose by 6 % overall. Wind power recorded an extraordinary increase of 22 % and solar energy grew by 10 %. Biomass saw a decrease of 1 %. Hydroelectric power stations supplied 3 % less electricity.

The electricity exchange balance saw a reduction in electricity flows abroad and an increase in imports, causing a drop in the negative exchange balance, which had significantly increased over recent years. (AGEB/Si.)

According to preliminary calculations from the Working Group on Energy Balances (AG Energiebilanzen), Berlin/Germany, energy consumption in Germany reached 12,815 PJ or 437.3 Mtce (Figure 1) in 2019. This is a decline of 2.3 % compared to the previous year.

AG Energiebilanzen claims that this reduction in consumption was due to additional improvements in energy efficiency, energy mix substitutions and a decline in energy consumption in industry that occurred as a result of the economy. Factors in favour of increased consumption included the somewhat cooler weather conditions as well as the increase in population. By and large, however, these factors were significantly weaker than those that led to a reduction in consumption. According to calculations by AG Energiebilanzen, energy consumption would have even decreased by more than 3 % when adjusted for the impact of the weather and changes in stock levels. As the consumption of coal in 2019 was in rapid decline and the use of renewable energies continued to increase, the AG Energiebilanzen assumes a noticeable decline in CO₂ emissions (also adjusted for temperature effects and changes in stock levels) of around 7 % or an ample 50 Mt.

The consumption of mineral oil in 2019 amounted to a total of 1.7 % higher than in the previous year. A slight increase was recorded in the sale of diesel and petrol as well as aviation fuel. Light heating oil saw a significant increase in sales of around 17.4 %. Due to the economic situation, supplies of petroleum to the chemicals industry decreased by around 8 %.

Gas consumption in Germany rose by 3.6 %. Alongside the higher heating requirements in the cooler spring months, the increased use of natural gas in power stations also contributed to this development.

The consumption of coal decreased by 20.5 % in total and reached a historical low. The power and heat generation sector suffered declines of around a third as more electricity was generated from renewable energies and natural gas. The steel industry reduced its use by just short of 4 %. For the first time again in a long while, the steel industry has become the most important sales sector for this energy source.

In 2019, the consumption of lignite fell by 20.7 %. The supplies to the lignite-fired power stations also fell considerably due to the safety preparedness of other power plant blocks, the reduced handling in the Hambach surface mine, a higher number of power plant upgrades compared to the previous year, as well as the increase in electricity generation from renewable energies. As a result, the consumption of lignite has now decreased for the seventh year in a row.

Compared with the previous year, nuclear energy saw a slight decrease in power production of around 1 %. Another nuclear power plant (Philippsburg) is planned to be decommissioned by the end of the year.

Renewable energies’ contribution to overall energy consumption over the past year rose by 4 %. Wind power increased its contribution by 15 %. For hydropower there was an increase of 4 %. Solar energy only increased slightly by 1 %. Biomass, which accounts for more than 50 % of total volume in the area of renewable energies, recorded an increase of 2 %.

Germany’s negative electricity exchange balance with its neighbouring countries in 2019 amounted to slightly lower than in previous years, according to initial figures: The amount of electricity flowing into Germany from other countries increased, while electricity flows from Germany to its neighbours significantly decreased by contrast. Reasons for this development included shifts in the European electricity generation structure as a result of increased CO₂ prices and lower gas prices.

The proportions of the various energy sources in the national energy mix were further shifted in 2019 in comparison to the previous year. By and large, fossil energy sources experienced a decline, meaning that the energy supply in Germany was able to further reduce its carbon intensity. However, it continues to be distinguished by a broad mix of energy. Oil and gas accounted for around 60 % of inland energy consumption, while coal and lignite combined covered around 18 % of consumption. The share of renewable energy increased to almost 15 %.
(AGEB/Si.)

Energy consumption in Germany will fall again this year. Based on the current figures for energy consumption in the first nine months, the Working Group on Energy Balances (AG Energiebilanzen), Berlin and Bergheim, expects a decline in energy consumption in Germany of a good 2 % to roughly 12,810 PJ (437 M t of coal) for the entire year (Figure 1). As the consumption of coal was rapidly declining and renewable energies continue to increase, the AG Energiebilanzen assumes a noticeable decline in CO₂ emissions.

According to preliminary calculations by the AG Energiebilanzen, energy consumption in Germany dropped by 2.3 % to 9,258 PJ or 315.9 M t of coal in the first nine months. The AG Energiebilanzen attributes the lower consumption to improvements in energy efficiency, substitution in the energy mix, the decline in energy consumption due to the economic situation in the energy-intensive industry sectors, as well as the continuing structural transformation. The slightly cooler weather conditions, the increase in the population, as well as slightly growing economic output, pushed up consumption. Overall, the factors contributing to higher consumption were significantly below those leading to lower consumption. Adjusted for the impact of weather conditions, the decline is expected to be a good 3 % according to calculations by the AG Energiebilanzen.

During the first nine months of this year, mineral oil consumption was a total of 1.9 % above that of the previous year‘s figure. While the consumption of diesel and petrol remained at the level of the previous year, there was an increase in aviation fuel of 4 % and the use of light heating oils saw a rise of around 25 %. In contrast, the supplies of petroleum to the chemicals industry reduced by around 11 % due to the economic situation.

Gas consumption rose by 3.9 %. Apart from the high heating requirements in the cooler spring months, the increased use of gas in power plants also contributed to this increase.

Coal consumption registered substantial falls and in the first nine months decreased by more than 18 % overall compared to the same period last year. In the power and heat generation sector there were declines of over 30 %, as more electricity was generated from renewable energies and gas. The steel industry reduced its use by a good 3 %.

The consumption of lignite was also in the minus in the first nine months and reduced by 21.7 %. The supplies to the lignite-fired power stations also fell considerably due to the safety preparedness of other power plant blocks, the reduced handling in the surface mine, a higher number of power plant upgrades compared to the previous year, as well as the increase in electricity generation from renewable energies.

Compared with the previous year, nuclear energy saw a decrease of power production by a good 3 %. At the end of this year another nuclear power plant (Philippsburg) will be decommissioned.

Renewable energies increased their contribution to the overall energy consumption in the first nine months of the year by 4 %. Wind power increased its contribution by 17 %. For hydropower there was an increase of 8 %. Solar energy only increased slightly by 1 % and biomass remained at the level of the previous year. The percentage of renewable energies in the overall primary energy consumption increased to 14.8 %. (AGEB/Si.)

In Germany macroeconomic energy efficiency has improved significantly. In 2018 the development – adjusted for temperature and inventory effects – registered an increase of 3.1 % compared with the previous year. In order to produce goods and services worth 1,000 €, in Germany only 4.5 GJ of primary energy is used, according to provisional estimates by the Working Group on Energy Balances (AG Energiebilanzen), Berlin and Bergheim. This is an exemplary value and corresponds to an improvement of over 40 % compared with 1990.

In 2018 efficiency gains in electricity generation, as well as in other sectors of energy conversion, had a significant influence on the development of macro-economic energy efficiency. In the area of electricity generation modern power plants with high efficiency, the departure from nuclear energy and the expansion of renewable energies, ensure significant energy improvements. Energy use per generated kilowatt hour of electricity fell from 7.30 MJ to 7.18 MJ, whereby the efficiency in electricity generation improved by 1.6 %. The average efficiency of all electricity generation plants exceeded the 50 % mark for the first time in 2018. For power consumption the efficiency was up 2 % compared with the previous year. The reasons are a falling number of electricity-intensive economic sectors, technical improvements to machines and systems, as well as the stock of durable consumer goods. The per capita electricity consumption fell by 0.8 % to 7,174 kWh compared with the previous year.

The energy efficiency of private households deteriorated by 1.6 % in 2018 taking into effect the weather conditions. Based on the living space, the fuel usage for the heat supply increased 1.8 % and electricity consumption rose by 0.8 %. In the industry/trade/services sector energy efficiency improved in 2018 by 7.5 %, whereby the mild weather had a significant impact here. In industry energy efficiency improved by 0.6 % compared with 2017.

Since 1990 macroeconomic energy efficiency in Germany has improved by over 40 %. On average over the last 28 years the efficiency gain is now 1.9 %/a. Since 1990 energy use has fallen by 9.8 MJ/kWh to approximately 7.2 MJ/kWh in electricity generation. Since 1990 the average efficiency of all electricity production plants has increased from 36.6 % to currently more than 50 %. Since 1991 energy efficiency in private households has improved by just under 29 % (temperature adjusted). However, the long-term average of a good 1 %/a is significantly behind the efficiency gains of other consumption sectors and indicates there is still efficiency potential in this sector. Since 1991 the industry/trade/services sector improved its energy efficiency by almost 2.5 %/a on average. In the entire sector energy use has dropped by almost half since 1991 for every 1,000 € value added. In the long-term average the industry records efficiency gains of just under 1.3 %/a compared to the initial value in 1991. The transport sector made efficiency improvements of roughly 1.5 %/a in the long-term average.

For the adjusted cross-sector final energy consumption – based on the real gross domestic product – there is an improvement of energy intensity of 1.9 % for 2018. From 1990 to 2018 an improvement of on average 1.6 %/a can be observed for this indicator. This development is well below the objective of the federal government, which aims at an improvement of energy productivity of 2.1 %/a for the period up to 2050.

The AG Energiebilanzen regularly calculates current macroeconomic and sector-based statistics on the energy efficiency trend in Germany. The systematic monitoring of energy efficiency is an important contribution to the monitoring of the energy revolution and is done on the basis of methods which have been developed on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy. (AGEB/Si.)

The German Working Group on Energy Balances (AG Energiebilanzen), Berlin/Germany, said farewell to Hans-Joachim Ziesing after many years on the board of executives and in the management team. Ziesing joined the working group shortly after it was founded in 1971 and has been a member of the association‘s management since 1994. Ziesing will be succeeded on the board of executives and in the management team by Hans Georg Buttermann, an economist working in Münster.

Energy consumption in Germany reached 6,771 PJ or 230.9 mt ce by the middle of 2018 (Figure 1), constituting a solid 1 % decrease on the previous year. Following the first three months, growth amounted to more than 5 % on account of the cool weather conditions in February and March.

According to preliminary calculations by the German Working Group on Energy Balances (AG Energiebilanzen), the use of both natural gas and renewable energy sources increased, whereas the consumption of mineral oil and coal and lignite decreased. Were it not for the cool weather, the energy consumption calculated for the entire half year would have increased by approximately 1.5 %. According to AG Energiebilanzen estimations, the increased use of natural gas and renewable energy sources as well as the decline in oil and coal will have reduced energy-related CO₂ emissions by around 3 %.

During the first six months of this year, mineral oil consumption sank by just under 3 % in total. With a 12 % slump in sales, consumption of light heating oil dropped the most significantly. The decline in the various fuels amounted to between 1 and 4 %. The main reason for this development may have been the increase in prices.

Natural gas consumption increased by just under 3 % in comparison to the first half of the previous year. As a result of the cooler temperatures, consumption increased significantly in February and March, whereas consumption in the second quarter was considerably lower than the previous year.

The consumption of coal decreased significantly and was more than 14 % lower than the previous year due to the fact that less coal was used in power stations to generate electricity and heat. The use of coke and coal in the steel industry also declined.

In the first six months of the year, lignite consumption also dropped by around 3 %, as it was used less frequently to generate electricity.

Nuclear energy was used to generate around 9 % more electricity in the first half of the year compared with the previous year. In 2017, a surge of revisions resulted in a significant reduction in electricity generation.

Renewable energies’ contribution to overall energy consumption in the first half of 2018 rose by more than 4 %. All types of renewable energy contributed to this development. Wind power increased by 15 % and biomass by 1 %. Solar energy also increased by 8 % and the contribution made by hydroelectric power rose by 9 %. (AG Energiebilanzen/Si.)

Energy consumption in Germany increased by 1.6 % in the first six months of this year compared with the same period the previous year. A total of 6,821 PJ or 232.6 mt of coal equivalent (SKE) were consumed in the first half of the year. The increase in consumption has been attributed to the cooler weather conditions at the beginning of the year, the 2016 leap day, continued economic growth and population increase. According to provisional calculations by the Working Group on Energy Balances (AG Energiebilanzen), the increase was attenuated by additional energy-efficient improvements. Increases in oil and natural gas consumption and in renewable energies were accompanied by a decline in coal, lignite and nuclear power consumption (Figure 1).

Mineral oil consumption increased by around 4 % in total in the first half of the year. Diesel fuel and petrol consumption were up by 8 % and just under 1 % respectively and consumption of aviation fuel rose by just under 4 %. Sales of light heating oil grew by 9 % compared with the first six months of the previous year.

Natural gas consumption increased by just under 7 %. This impressive rate of growth was caused mainly by the increased use in electricity production and the cooler weather conditions in January, March and April. Industrial consumption of natural gas was roughly the same as the previous year.

Consumption of coal in the first half of 2016 was just under 2 % lower than in the same period the previous year. Although its use in electricity production fell by roughly 3 % in favour of renewable energies, consumption in the steel industry remained virtually unchanged. Consumption of lignite fell by 1.6 % compared with the first six months of the previous year. Electricity produced from lignite abated by a similar magnitude as a result of reduced power station availability.

Nuclear energy saw a decline of around 15 %. Renewable energies’ contribution to overall energy consumption in the first half of 2016 rose by 2.8 %. Wind energy increased by 8 %, whereas solar energy registered a decline of 4 %. Biomass saw an increase of 2 %. (AGEB/Si)