Natural gas consumption in Germany 2005-2023
Between 2005 and 2014, Germany saw a gradual reduction in its natural gas consumption, with levels falling to 73.9 billion cubic meters. Over the following years, the country’s consumption experienced a mostly increasing trend, reaching 75.7 billion cubic meters in 2023. In comparison, domestic production has been in annual decline since 2003. Demand is expected to increase in the future because of a move away from coal and nuclear power. These energy sources made up around 40 percent of Germany’s energy mix in 2021.
Dependence on energy imports
Due to increased demand and falling production, Germany is heavily reliant on energy imports, with its dependency rate increasing to 63.6 percent in 2018. In 2021, Germany imported 102 billion cubic meters of natural gas, by far the highest rate throughout Europe. Imports are expected to increase further as coal and nuclear power is phased out.
Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline
In 2018, Germany granted permission for the construction of a 746-mile gas pipeline expansion to the Nord Stream pipeline. It will connect Russia with Germany through the Baltic sea and will have a capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year. This plan has not been without controversies, however. There are fears it will increase German reliance on Russian energy. Ukraine, which the pipeline bypasses, filed a lawsuit against its construction, and 10 European countries officially stated that the project was not in the EU’s best interests. Nonetheless, as of July 2021, U.S. and Germany's representatives agreed on the completion of Nord Stream 2.
