Full Breakdown
Germany Sets 2045 Target to Phase Out Coal, Oil and Gas
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Announcement
On Wednesday the German government released a roadmap committing to eliminate coal, oil and gas use by 2045. The plan, presented by Environment Minister Carsten Schneider of the Social Democratic Party, frames the deadline as “feasible” and positions the move as an international example. The roadmap marks the first explicit German pledge to “transition away” from fossil fuels, extending earlier carbon-neutrality goals.
Background & Context
Germany’s fossil-fuel share stood at 65 % of total energy consumption in 2024, with 98 % of oil and 95 % of natural gas imported at a cost of €76 billion. The plan follows commitments made at the 2023 COP28 conference in Dubai, where nearly 200 nations agreed to phase out fossil fuels. It also aligns with a broader European trend, joining France and the Netherlands as the third major economy to publish a full phaseout roadmap.
Official Statements & Responses
Energy Minister Katherina Reiche (Christian Democrats) advocated building new gas-fired power plants to stabilise the grid, arguing that renewables’ intermittency requires backup. Former climate envoy Jennifer Morgan urged faster electrification of transport and heating, warning that the roadmap is only a “starting line.”
Data & Statistics
- Fossil fuels: 65 % of energy use (2024).
- Imported oil: 98 % of total; imported gas: 95 % of total.
- Import cost: €76 billion ($86.5 billion).
- Renewable electricity target: 80 % by 2030 (up from 55 %).
- On-shore wind addition: 12 GW; solar target: 215 GW by 2030.
- Methane emissions reduction: 30 % by 2030, per the 2021 global methane pledge.
The roadmap sets a 19-year horizon for Germany’s energy transition, aiming to demonstrate feasibility for other nations while navigating domestic political tensions over gas reliance and vehicle-fuel policies.