Achieving climate neutrality in Germany will require an almost complete phase-out of fossil fuels ("decarbonization") such as coal, natural gas and crude oil, as the options for CO₂ capture and storage in Germany are severely limited.
All sectors have to contribute: In the energy sector, this means a rapid and comprehensive reduction in electricity generation from coal, oil and gas-fired power plants; in the transport sector, a switch to electric vehicles and a higher use of local public transport and rail traffic. In the buildings sector, better insulation will lead to reduced energy consumption, and oil and gas heating systems will need to be replaced. In the industrial sector, the consumption of fossil fuels must be reduced, including fossil energy as feedstocks in the chemical industry.
In this context, the phase-out of fossil fuels must go hand in hand with electrification in the sectors - fed by electricity from renewable sources.
Annual demand for natural gas as a primary energy source in Germany, particularly for power generation, heating, and process heat in industry.
In contrast to other conventional primary energy sources, especially coal and mineral oil, demand for natural gas has not declined from 2015 to 2021, but increased. While the phasing-out of coal use by 2038 at the latest is regulated by law, natural gas is still the preferred energy source for heating and is used extensively to generate heat in industry. Natural gas is also seen as a "bridge" to CO₂-neutral processes based on green hydrogen. Nevertheless, climate neutrality can only be achieved by phasing out natural gas use as well.
Annual primary energy demand for lignite and hard coal in Germany, e.g. as an energy source as well as feedstocks in industry or for power generation in power plants.
In Germany, lignite is used almost exclusively for power generation, while the share of hard coal was around 60% in 2018. Most of the remaining hard coal is used in steel production.
Annual demand for oil in Germany, primarily for the production of fuels, for use as heating oil and in the petrochemical industry.
In terms of demand in 2018, the most important mineral oil products in Germany are diesel and gasoline used in transport, followed by petroleum gasoline in the petrochemical industry, light heating oil for heat generation, kerosene as aircraft fuel, and heavy heating oil used in industry.
Annual demand for fossil fuels in Germany, i.e. natural gas, lignite, hard coal and crude oil.
To achieve climate neutrality in 2045, CO₂ emissions have to be almost completely stopped a few years earlier, as opportunities for CO₂ extraction and storage in Germany are severely limited. Due to CO₂ emissions generated in particular by the conversion of fossil energy into electricity, heat and fuels, this is tantamount to almost completely phasing out fossil fuels.
Annual net electricity generation from lignite, hard coal, gas, and oil-fired power plants (not including internal demand of plants).
CO₂ emissions from the energy industry are largely determined by electricity generation from fossil fuels - hard coal and lignite, natural gas and oil. In parallel with the expansion of renewables, also the phase-out of fossil-based power generation has to be pushed forward quickly.
The indicator shows the annual demand for gasoline and diesel fuel in the transport sector. These fuels are consumed in particular in road transport, but also in small quantities in rail and inland waterway transport.
The transport sector has always been heavily dependent on gasoline and diesel fuel, with cars, trucks and buses in particular being powered almost exclusively by these fuels today. Small amounts of diesel fuel are also consumed in the part of rail transport, which has not yet been electrified, as well as in inland waterway transport. The goal of rapidly reducing GHG emissions is accompanied by the gradual replacement of gasoline and diesel with electricity and renewable energy.
This indicator describes the annual new installations of oil and gas heating systems for the provision of space heating and hot water in the building sector.
Sales of oil and gas heating systems have increased significantly in recent years, with more gas heating systems being sold in particular. In contrast, a transformation of the building sector requires a rapid switch from fossil-fuelled heating systems to heat pumps and district heating.
Annual demand for the fossil energy sources natural gas, oil and coal in the building sector only includes direct use in the building. If gas, oil and coal are used to generate electricity or district heating, this is accounted for in the energy sector.
The absolute demand for the fossil energy carriers natural gas, oil and coal has remained constant in the buildings sector over the past years, although a rapid reduction would be necessary for a successful transformation: In the Ariadne scenarios, the use of fossil energy is already reduced to about 50% by 2030 compared to 2021.
This indicator describes the annual demand for the most important fossil energy carriers in industry. Only energetic use is taken into account, not the use as feedstocks in the chemical industry.
The three most important fossil energy sources, oil, coal (lignite and hard coal) and natural gas, serve the majority of industrial energy demand in 2020. At 220 TWh, natural gas is the most (and broadest) fossil energy source used. Coals (88 TWh) are used predominantly (~⅔) in steel production. Oils (28 TWh) are used marginally but across all subsectors, with a focus on the chemical industry.