BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. Germany saw a modest increase in natural gas consumption in 2024, reversing part of the downward trend recorded in recent years, according to the latest annual outlook by the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Trend reports.
Total gas demand rose by 1.5% to 76 bcm, with a notable shift in consumption patterns across sectors.
The residential and commercial sectors registered a slight decline, with gas usage falling by 1.3% to 30 bcm. The decrease was largely attributed to unseasonably mild weather during the first half of the year, which curbed heating demand. However, this reduction was more than offset by a 6% rise in industrial gas consumption, driven by lower market prices and improved economic activity. The power sector also contributed to the uptick, with gas-fired electricity generation increasing by 2% to 79 TWh.
Several developments in Germany’s power mix influenced the higher reliance on gas for electricity generation. Coal-fired generation dropped by 21 TWh to 104 TWh, as environmental policies continued to steer the country away from high-emission sources. At the same time, the complete phase-out of nuclear power, prompted by safety concerns, led to a 7 TWh decline in nuclear output. Compounding the supply gap, wind generation fell by 4 TWh to 133 TWh, partly due to reduced wind availability during so-called Dunkelflaute periods — times of low wind and solar output — underscoring the challenges of intermittent renewables.
These combined losses of 32 TWh were only partially compensated by gains in solar and hydroelectric generation. As a result, natural gas played a crucial balancing role in meeting electricity demand.
Germany’s total electricity consumption in 2024 reached 502 TWh. Non-hydro renewables accounted for the largest share of the energy mix at 55%, including wind (30%), solar (16%), and bioenergy (9%). Coal remained the second-largest source at 23%, while natural gas contributed 17%, highlighting its continued role as a flexible and dispatchable energy source amid the country’s ongoing energy transition.
