Cold winter pushes up energy use in Germany as natural gas demand soars

Germany’s primary energy consumption rose strongly at the start of the year, mainly due to icy temperatures, according to energy research group AG Energiebilanzen (AGEB). The booming economy and population growth also pushed up energy use, which went up 5.7 percent year-on-year in the first quarter. Without the influence of the weather, consumption would have only risen 3 percent, according to the group’s estimates. Natural gas use soared almost 20 percent, reflecting its central role for heating in Germany, AGEB writes. Renewables production increased about 9 percent in the first quarter, because strong winds boosted turbine output, and more water in the country’s rivers pushed hydropower. Hard coal use dropped 12 percent, while lignite use decreased 1.5 percent.

Find the press release in German here.

For background, read the article Energy sector drives slight drop in German emissions in 2017.