Current Energy Mix

Germany's energy landscape is characterized by a significant reliance on imports, particularly oil and natural gas, which constitute 86.4% of the country's imports. The production of energy within Germany amounts to 104,171 ktoe, while imports are at 247,505 ktoe, and exports stand at 30,886 ktoe. Despite this, Germany's electricity generation is less dependent on imports. The consumption of 220,192 ktoe is distributed across industry, transport, and residential sectors, each consuming about 25%, with the remainder used by agriculture, commercial, public services, and non-energy purposes. Renewable energies, mainly wind and solar, play a significant role, with wind power being predominant in the north and solar in the south.

Projected 2030 Energy Requirements

From analysing historical data, it is forecast that Germany's energy requirement will remain stable at around 223,000 ktoe by 2030, despite a temporary dip due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The total final consumption (TFC) has varied minimally over the past decade, indicating a consistent energy demand. Within the residential and services sectors, heating energy consumption has decreased, but fluctuations due to weather conditions are evident. The industry sector's consumption rebounded quickly after the 2009 financial crisis, suggesting a similar post-COVID-19 recovery. The transport sector's consumption has risen, primarily due to passenger transport. Overall, the energy requirement is expected to remain steady.

Figure 1. Segmentation of energy consumption

Proposed Scheme

The proposal aims to phase out nuclear power in alignment with Germany's 'Energiewende' scheme, replacing it with renewable energy sources. The strategy includes installing additional onshore and offshore wind turbines and solar panels on buildings and solar farms. It will also be paramount to establish HVDC lines to transfer excess energy from the north to the industrial south and also installing batteries in homes to increase backup energy supply. These measures are projected to compensate for the energy previously generated by nuclear power and ensure a dependable energy supply for Germany's future.