Germany's energy demand falls 1.9% in the first half of 2026 as oil product use drops 8%

Preliminary data from Germany's Working Group on Energy Balances (AGEB), published on Tuesday 4 August 2026, show the country's energy demand fell 1.9% in the first half of 2026 as oil and gas prices surged.

Oil product consumption dropped 8% over the period. The decline was sharpest in light heating oil, down more than 30%, and diesel, down close to 6%, while gasoline consumption fell only 0.6% and jet fuel 1%. Coal consumption rose 7% and natural gas consumption rose 1.3%. In total, hydrocarbons accounted for 75.9% of German energy consumption in the half year.

Wind and solar together made up 22.2% of overall energy consumption, up from 20.9% a year earlier. In electricity generation, hydropower, wind and solar reached an all time high combined share of 58% in the first half, against 55.8% a year earlier, with most of the increase coming from wind while hydropower fell 7.7%.