Central European countries increase electricity consumption, Germany up 1.6%

Electricity consumption in Germany rose by 1.6% year on year. The main factors supporting the increase in consumption were lower temperatures in the first months of the year and growth in the German economy. Natural gas consumption also increased significantly, mainly due to its use in power generation. 

Electricity consumption is rising in the Central European region. In addition to the Czech Republic, where consumption reached a ten-year high, electricity consumption also increased in neighbouring Germany. Earlier, oEnergetice.cz also reported that electricity consumption in Slovakia rose last year.

The increase in electricity consumption in Germany is also important from the Czech Republic's perspective, as electricity prices on the Prague-based PXE exchange and Leipzig's EEX generally follow almost identical trends.

German electricity consumption increased by 1.6% year on year in the first half of the year, reaching 282 TWh, according to BDEW data. This marks another increase in a series, as consumption had already risen by 0.4% in 2016. Germany aims to reduce electricity consumption, with consumption expected to be only 472 TWh in 2020.

However, with the gradual uptake of electric mobility, which the German government supports through subsidies, reducing electricity consumption will be very difficult.

The increase in natural gas consumption in Germany's energy sector is also noteworthy. Its consumption rose by 3% year on year in the first half of the year. This would be understandable given the colder weather and low-wind start to the year, but natural gas consumption had already risen by 11% in the first half of last year.

This significant increase in natural gas consumption is primarily due to new legislation governing combined heat and power generation, which has been in force in Germany since the beginning of 2016. Germany expects support for cogeneration to reduce emissions released into the atmosphere during electricity generation.

Growth in electricity consumption is also evident in the Czech Republic. According to published annual reports by the Energy Regulatory Office, consumption in the Czech Republic reached a ten-year high and exceeded 72 TWh. Czech households contributed the most to the growth in consumption, using 3% more electricity year on year.

Further growth in electricity consumption is also expected in studies by the European Union and by the Czech electricity market operator. According to these studies, the main factors will be the electrification of transport and heating.