Fossil Energy Sources
Natural Gas
Natural gas is a fossil fuel. The gas is extracted through drilling or fracking. During extraction, transport, and combustion, large amounts of greenhouse gases are emitted, sometimes uncontrollably. The gas mixture consists largely of methane, which is a highly effective greenhouse gas. Therefore, even minor leaks in the gas infrastructure are highly damaging to the climate.
Natural gas is used for building heating, electricity generation, in industry (as a heat supplier or reaction partner e.g. in the Haber-Bosch process for the production of nitrogen fertilizers, ore reduction), as fuel for ships and motor vehicles, and for the production of "grey hydrogen". In the conversion of fossil hydrocarbons, usually natural gas, into hydrogen, approximately 20% of the energy expended is lost (Federal Environment Agency, 2023).
EN: Gas consumption per calendar week
How much gas do we consume per week?
Gas consumption in Germany has decreased after 2021 due to war-related price increases and conservation efforts. It is also interesting to see how the heat transition will affect gas consumption. Currently, coal-fired power plants are being replaced by gas-fired power plants, which will increase consumption until a later switch to hydrogen.
Federal Network Agency (2023)
Data set:
Weekly gas consumption in Germany
EN: Gas Imports
Where do we import our gas from?
About 5.5% of the gas consumed in Germany is produced in Germany. The rest is imported via pipelines (or by ship for LNG). Parts of the imported gas are also further exported to neighboring countries, creating a dynamic gas exchange between nations. Following the decrease in gas imports from Russia, the largest quantities are currently supplied from Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The current contribution of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) to Germany's total natural gas imports has been low so far. However, this share is expected to increase once more LNG terminals are put into operation (see below).
LNG
LNG stands for Liquefied Natural Gas, which is natural gas in a liquid state. For this, natural gas is cooled to about -162 °C until it condenses. This leads to a reduction in volume by 600 times. This allows it to be transported in special tanks on ships. At an LNG terminal, the LNG is converted back into a gaseous state.
The expansion of the LNG infrastructure is problematic for successful climate protection, as it favors a gas lock-in. Investments in fossil fuels make it more difficult to transition to renewable energies.
EN: LNG Map
Germany is significantly expanding its LNG import capacities.
Since the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Germany has also increasingly relied on LNG imports instead of the traditional natural gas transport via pipelines. For this purpose, Germany has chartered floating LNG import terminals. In addition, stationary LNG terminals are being built in Wilhelmshaven, Brunsbüttel, and Stade. The map shows the locations as well as operators and capacities of the facilities. With the LNG Acceleration Act, the German government has significantly simplified the expansion - for example, no environmental impact assessments need to be carried out.
DIW Berlin (2024)
Bukold, S. (2023) LNG-Boom in Deutschland. EnergyComment
The positions of the planned terminals are only approximate.
Data set:
LNG Terminals
LNG Imports
How much LNG do the German terminals import?
Most LNG is currently being injected in Wilhelmshaven, with quantities in Lubmin and Brunsbüttel still being lower at the moment.
European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG; 2023)
NDR (2023)
Coal
EN: Coal Map
Where are the coal power plants located and how long are they expected to remain in operation?
The coal phase-out in Germany is planned until 2038, in the Rhenish lignite mining area until 2030 (Coal Combustion Termination Act, 2020; Federal Government, 2022). This map shows the locations of lignite and hard coal power plants with a capacity greater than 200 MW as well as their planned decommissioning dates. Germany imports hard coal, while lignite is mined locally in open-cast mines. Europe's largest lignite mine, Hambach, is located in the Rhenish lignite mining area. The map also depicts the open-cast mines in the Lusatian and Central German lignite mining areas. To meet the 1.5°C limit, around 3000 coal power plants worldwide would need to be shut down by 2030, which means closing nearly one power plant per day from now until the end of the decade. (TransitionZero, 2021)
Federal Network Agency (2023)
Dataset:
Lignite and Hard Coal Power Plants
Crude Oil
Crude oil is primarily used for the production of fuel (gasoline, diesel). In doing so, we import about 98% of the required crude oil from other countries. Before the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia was the main supplier, but now the majority of crude oil comes from Norway, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, the USA, and the United Arab Emirates. Only 2% of the required crude oil is produced domestically, mainly in Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony.
When we drive a car that runs on gasoline, or heat our house with an oil heater, harmful CO₂ is produced. Therefore, in order to achieve climate neutrality, it is necessary to refrain from using crude oil.
EN: Crude Oil Imports
Germany's crude oil imports are decreasing slowly. An exit from petroleum is necessary to achieve climate neutrality.
Federal Statistical Office (2023)
Data Set:
Annual Crude Oil Imports