German Gas, and Coal, Use Both Rise in 1Q

Germany’s total primary energy consumption declined by 1.4% year on year in 1Q2017. But gas use increased by 1% while coal and lignite (brown coal) were 2.6% and 0.4% higher respectively, industry-academic think tank AG Energiebilanzen (AGEB) said May 22.

Gas and coal ensured stable power generation in Germany, said AGEB, given the intermittency of renewables and a sharp 33.5% year on year decline in German nuclear power production.

France’s 9 GW of nuclear outages in early 2017 meant that its neighbours, including Germany, were net power exporters to France in January; normally many are net importers from France.

AGEB also noted that Germany’s oil consumption declined by 1.9%, while that of renewables was 5.5% higher. Oil and gas remained the No.1 and 2 types of energy consumed in Germany. AGEB noted a slight decline in year on year sales of light heating oil, still widely used in German space heating.

Above figures are nominal figures; however AGEB noted that if the effects of cooler weather and the 2016 leap day are stripped out, then gas consumption trended 6% higher year on year in 1Q2017.

Mark Smedley