Where Does Germany Get Its Energy?
Petroleum
Energy is required to heat homes and provide electricity. It is what keeps cars and trains running. Oil, coal and gas provide for most of Germany's energy needs. Germany is most reliant on petroleum, which made up 34.7 percent of the country's energy consumption in 2008.
Natural Gas
In 2008, the use of natural gas declined somewhat in Germany. Conservation measures as well as high gas prices caused a 5-percent decrease compared to the previous year. But natural gas still provides just under a quarter of Germany's energy needs.
Nuclear Power
Nuclear power provides about 13 percent of Germany's energy needs. Increasing Germany's reliance on nuclear energy remains a political hot potato. But that hasn't stopped German companies from being actively involved in the nuclear energy sector. Siemens recently entered into a joint venture with the Russian firm Rosatom with the hopes of becoming the "world market leader" in nuclear technology. Siemens expects 400 new nuclear power plants to be built around the world by 2030.
Hard Coal
Hard coal currently provides about 12 percent of Germany's total energy demand. The country's hard coal-burning power plants are 30 years old and have a reputation as polluters. But the coal industry says new power plant technology will drastically cut down on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the upcoming decades. Several new coal plants are currently under construction in Germany.
Brown Coal
Brown coal provides some 11 percent of Germany's energy and it remains the country's most important domestically-produced energy source. A total of 175 million metric tons of brown coal was mined in Germany in 2008. Since brown coal lies just beneath the earth's surface, it is easy to mine and is expected to remain a major energy source for years to come.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy continued to make inroads in 2008, providing about 7 percent of Germany's total energy needs. About half of Germany's renewable energy comes from wind. While solar energy currently doesn't provide a big portion of the total renewable energy, that could change with the construction of Waldpolenz Solar Park in eastern Germany. Once it goes on line at the end of 2009, Waldpolenz will be the largest thin-film photovoltaic (PV) power system in the world.