German Gas Demand up, Energy Demand Down

German gas demand rose 3.6% this year compared with last year, according to the AG Energiebilanzen (Ageb) in a statement December 18. It accounted for 25% of the primary energy mix, up from 23.6% in 2018. However, renewable energy consumption rose 4%, and its share of the primary energy supply rose from 13.8% to 14.7%.

Energy efficiency and lower economic output were the reasons given for  2.3% overall lower energy demand, but on the positive side, the weather was colder in spring, pushing up gas demand. 

Adjusted for the influence of the weather and changes in stocks, energy consumption would have  dropped by more than 3%, according to calculations by Ageb.

Gas burn was also higher in the power sector, owing to rising CO2 prices and lower gas prices, which hit coal. German demand for the two types of coal, anthracite and lignite, both fell sharply, by about 20.5%, leaving both with under a tenth of the total energy supply.