Brief overview
- The Gross electricity consumption According to the Federal Environment Agency, Germany's [figure/value] in 2025 was around 526 TWh - almost at the previous year's level.
- The share of renewable energies in the BSV reached in 2025 with 55,1 % a new record high (2024: 54.4 %; 2023: 52.5 %).
- Compared to the historical peak in 2007 (625 TWh), the BSV is currently around 16 % lower – at the same time, according to the federal government, it is supposed to rise again in the medium term due to the electrification of heat, transport, and industry.
- The EEG 2023 prescribes that by 2030 at least 80 % that the substitute building materials are to come from renewable energies.
What is gross electricity consumption?
The gross electricity consumption refers to all the electrical work used within a country – specifically before Deduction of the power plants' own consumption (e.g., for pumps, cooling, flue gas cleaning) as well as transmission and grid losses. It is therefore greater than the so-called net or final consumption, which only records the amount of electricity actually reaching the end customers.
Gross electricity consumption is therefore the central reference figure for German and European energy and climate policy. Both the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and EU-wide reporting obligations define their expansion targets as a percentage of gross electricity consumption rather than gross electricity generation. This enables cross-border comparisons regardless of how much electricity a country imports or exports.
Distinction from PEV, BEEV, and BSE
| Key figure | Designation | Reference |
| PEV | primary energy consumption | Total energy input before transformation, all sectors and energy carriers |
| BEEV | gross final energy consumption | Energy that actually reaches consumers, incl. energy-related self-consumption |
| BSV | gross electricity consumption | Exclusively the electricity sector: total generated and imported electricity before grid and conversion losses |
| BSE | gross electricity generation | Electricity sector only: domestically generated electricity volume, before own consumption of the power plants |
The BSV and BSE are linked through cross-border electricity trade. Through 2022, gross electricity generation in Germany consistently exceeded gross electricity consumption. Germany was a net exporter, with the export surplus peaking in 2017 at 52.5 TWh (about 8 % of generation). Since 2023, however, the situation has reversed, and Germany is once again a net importer. In 2025, net imports of approximately 19 TWh covered about 4 % of domestic electricity consumption. More information on the generation side can be found in the article on the German energy balance and a detailed breakdown of all four key figures in the Review article on the German energy balance.
Development of gross electricity consumption in Germany
| Year | BSV in TWh | Note |
| 2007 | 625 | All-time high |
| 2008 | 615 | Base year for the energy plan target (-10 % by 2020) |
| 2020 | 550 | 2020 target of -10.5 % exceeded, largely due to the pandemic |
| 2023 | 522 | Lowest value since reunification, consequences of the Ukraine war (energy saving, decline in industrial production) |
| 2024 | 529 | Renewable Energy Share 54.4 % |
| 2025 | 526 | Renewable energy share hits a new record high of 55.1 % |
The long-term decline since 2007 is primarily due to improvements in energy efficiency and structural shifts in industry. The years 2022 and 2023 were additionally characterized by special effects. High energy prices resulting from the war in Ukraine, general conservation efforts, and a noticeable decline in industrial production pushed consumption down to a historic low. Since 2024, primary energy consumption has been stabilizing at this lower level.
However, looking ahead, the federal government expects an increase. With increasing sector coupling – meaning the electrification of heat (heat pumps), transport (e-mobility) and industrial processes – the share of electricity in the overall energy system will grow structurally. All forecasts reflect this trend, even if the primary energy consumption continues to fall overall.
Regulatory framework: The 80 percent target of the 2023 Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG 2023)
Section 1 of the EEG 2023 stipulates that the share of renewable energies in gross electricity consumption to at least 80 % by 2030 is expected to rise. This is nearly double the 2021 figure, when the share was still 41%. Since electricity consumption in absolute terms is also expected to rise due to sector coupling, the challenge is even greater in absolute terms. Up to 600 TWh of electricity is to be generated annually from renewable energy sources by 2030. The Federal Environment Agency generally considers this target achievable, provided the planned expansion paths for photovoltaic and wind power are consistently implemented.
Classification: Why the BSV is relevant for BESS and PV operators
The BESS utilization rate is more than just a statistical figure – it directly describes the market environment in which battery storage systems and PV plants operate. Two developments are particularly relevant here:
- Increasing share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption simultaneously means increasing volatility of feed-in. The closer Germany gets to the 80 percent target, the more important flexibility becomes to compensate for generation peaks and gaps – a central task of Battery storage.
- The expected rebound of the BSV through Sector coupling increases the demand for locally available, dispatchable electricity. This applies in particular to industrial and commercial customers with high consumption.
How this dynamic translates to the generation side—particularly in the ratio of conventional to renewable gross electricity generation—is covered in the article on Gross electricity generation.
FAQ
What is the difference between gross electricity consumption and net electricity consumption?
Gross electricity consumption comprises the total electrical work utilized, including grid losses and the power plants' own consumption. Net electricity consumption (or final consumption), on the other hand, only reflects the amount of electricity that actually reaches the end customers and is therefore lower.
What was the gross electricity consumption in Germany in 2025?
According to the German Environment Agency, gross electricity consumption in 2025 was around 526 TWh, almost at the previous year's level.
Why does the EEG expansion target refer to gross electricity consumption and not gross electricity generation?
Gross electricity consumption enables international comparisons independent of a country's foreign trade balance. Since Germany is at times a net exporter and at times a net importer of electricity, a target based on generation would be less meaningful regarding the actual supply situation for consumers.
Will gross electricity consumption in Germany rise or fall in the future?
In the short term, the BSV has stabilized following the sharp decline in 2022/2023. In the medium to long term, the federal government expects a renewed increase, as heat pumps, e-mobility, and the electrification of industrial processes will structurally raise electricity demand.
Is Germany currently a net electricity importer or exporter?
Since 2023, Germany has once again been a net importer of electricity. In 2025, net imports of approximately 19 TWh covered about 4 % of gross domestic electricity consumption—previously, Germany had been a net exporter throughout the period from 2003 to 2022.
Sources
Sources: German Environment Agency (UBA), Working Group on Renewable Energy Statistics (AGEE-Stat), Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), Federal Network Agency.