German energy use down in early 2026, as energy-intensive industries cut output

Primary energy consumption in Germany in the first three months of 2026 has declined two percent compared to the previous year, which was mainly due to persisting economic difficulties, energy statistics working group AG Energiebilanzen (AGEB) has said.

“Although total GDP grew by 0.5 percent in the first quarter, production in particularly energy-intensive sectors once again dropped significantly,” the group said in a press release.

The energy crisis fuelled by the war against Ukraine and the halt of Russian pipeline gas deliveries in 2022 has hit energy-intensive industries like chemicals, metals, glass, ceramics and paper particularly hard. The sector has been hovering at around 80 to 85 percent of pre-crisis production levels for about two years, according to the 2025 annual report by energy industry association BDEW. 

Renewable energy consumption increased almost seven percent compared to the same period last year, driven by a much higher (plus 28%) wind power output. Gas use fell slightly, as higher demand for heating was offset by lower industry production. Energy-related CO₂ emissions decreased around 2.5 percent (4.5 million tonnes) compared to the first quarter of 2025.

Germany's energy demand largely stagnated in 2025, when cold temperatures let heating demand go up and balance out decreasing demand in other sectors. Despite progress on integrating renewable energy sources, the country remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with oil dominating transport and natural gas widely used for heating and industry. 

Germany has made slower progress in cutting overall energy demand than in expanding renewable power generation. Improving energy efficiency is widely seen as a central pillar of the energy transition and essential to meeting the country's target of climate neutrality by 2045.