Energy Consumption In Industry Declined
Due to high prices, consumption in 2022 decreased by 9.1 percent, particularly in natural gas consumption
Ethan Lewis (EL)May 8, 2025
In 2022, the German industry significantly reduced its energy consumption. Compared to the previous year, consumption decreased by 9.1 percent. This decline is mainly due to the high energy prices caused by Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine and the resulting market reactions. The total energy consumption of the industry amounted to 3,562 petajoules, with the largest part, namely 89 percent, being used for electricity and heat generation. The remaining 11 percent of the energy was used as raw materials in the production of chemicals, fertilizers, and plastics.
Production in energy-intensive industrial sectors was also reduced due to increased energy costs and was 7.1 percent lower in 2022 than in the previous year. The decline in natural gas consumption, which fell by over 17 percent, is particularly noticeable. Despite this decrease, natural gas remains the most commonly used energy source in the German industry, with 28 percent, followed by electricity with 21 percent, mineral oils and mineral oil products with 18 percent, and coal with 15 percent.
In 2022, the chemical industry was still the largest energy consumer in the German industry, accounting for 28 percent of total energy consumption. Metal production and processing followed with about 23 percent, and coking or mineral oil processing with 10 percent. Interestingly, in the chemical industry, a third of the energy sources were used not for energy but as raw materials for chemical products. The metal industry had the largest share of purely energetic use, with around one-quarter.
These data were collected by the Federal Statistical Office, which examined 47,000 companies in the manufacturing sector, mining, and the extraction of stones and earths with more than 20 employees. The results show how German industrial companies are responding to the challenges of increased energy costs and highlight the impact of global political and economic events on German industry. The significant decrease in energy consumption not only reflects efforts to use energy more efficiently but also points to a possible slowdown in industrial production, which could have long-term effects on the German economy.
