Germans use less energy in 2026 - there is a reason

Energy consumption in Germany is expected to fall by almost three percent in 2026, mainly because high energy prices and weak economic activity are making households and businesses cut back.

Heating oil shows the clearest drop. Between January and September, consumption fell by over 38 percent, as households used up their stocks and bought only small amounts. According to the comparison portal Fastenergy, heating oil prices rose by almost 80 percent after the US and Israeli attack on Iran, while the exchange-traded crude oil price rose about 48 percent.

Overall mineral oil sales fell by more than 12 percent in the first nine months, with diesel down over nine percent. Natural gas and hard coal consumption rose, and Germany exported more electricity than it imported, with a net balance of 1.9 terawatt hours. The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Energiebilanzen (AGEB) reported these figures in Berlin.

Renewables covered 22.5 percent of total energy consumption in the first nine months, up from 20.5 percent a year earlier. Fossil fuels still supplied 75.5 percent of the energy used.

Key points

• Energy consumption in Germany is forecast to drop by almost 3% in 2026 compared with the previous year.
• Heating oil consumption fell over 38% from January to September.
• Heating oil prices rose nearly 80% after the attack on Iran, according to Fastenergy.
• Renewables' share of total energy consumption rose to 22.5% in the first nine months.
• Energy-related CO2 emissions are expected to fall by almost 4% this year.