Energy Resources
Renewable energies, including geothermal energy and hydrogen, as well as conventional energy sources such as natural gas, crude oil, nuclear fuels, and coal are used for electricity and heat supply and for mobility, and are used as raw materials in the chemical industry.
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Energy Sources
The energy sector is responsible for a large portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. This makes this field key to the energy transition in order to meet climate goals through a fundamental restructuring while also ensuring supply security.
As a highly developed industrial nation, Germany is one of the largest energy consumers in the world. In the context of implementing the energy transition, Germany is continuing to expand the generation of primary energy from renewable sources. While the share of renewable energies in electricity consumption is steadily increasing, in 2024 around three-quarters of primary energy consumption was still provided by fossil energy sources, most of which were imported.
By providing data and facts on energy supply in Germany and worldwide, and based on this, conducting its own scientific research and analyses, BGR contributes to the environmentally friendly and secure energy supply of the Federal Republic of Germany. BGR regularly reports on energy sources in the form of the annually published BGR Energy Data, as well as the BGR Energy Study - Data and Developments in German and Global Energy Supplies, which is published every two years.
BGR is a member of the editorial group ‘Energy for Germany’ of the World Energy Council Germany (WEC).
BGR Energy Study
Even though global energy consumption fell during the Corona crisis, the long-term global trend shows increasing demand for energy. Like in the years prior to the Corona pandemic, global energy consumption continued to rise in 2022. The growing world population and the increase in the general standard of living are expected to result in a rising energy demand in the long term, despite greater energy efficiency.
The great challenge of the coming decades lies in the transformation of the energy systems towards renewable energies. In Germany, important steps have been set on the way towards a low-emission energy supply; for example, a gradual reduction in the energetic use of coal has been agreed upon. A visible testament of the energy transition is the steadily growing share of renewable energies in the energy supply. In 2022, the share of electricity generation was around 46 %. Renewable energies have thus become the most important source of electricity. In addition to the further expansion of biomass, wind power and photovoltaics, and building a hydrogen economy, natural gas will have to fill the supply gap until primary energy supply becomes climate-neutral by mid-century. Among all fossil fuels, natural gas has the lowest specific CO2 emissions during combustion.
With its biannual BGR Energy Study, BGR presents data on the global supply of energy resources and trade in the fossil fuels such as natural gas, crude oil, nuclear fuels and coal. The study also provides information on global production of renewable energies, including geothermal energy and hydrogen. With the researched data, BGR offers an important basis for a fact-based discussion on the multifaceted and complex topic of sustainable energy supply.
BGR Energy Data
The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) publishes data and facts on the global availability, production, as well as import and export of energy resources. This includes data on fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. The data tables (BGR energy data) are published annually and can be downloaded free of charge.
The published data sets on the situation regarding renewable energy sources, including geothermal energy and hydrogen, as well as energy resources natural gas, crude oil, nuclear fuels and coal as of the end of 2023, are a classified and validated extract from energy database of BGR. The data was compiled from trade journals, scientific publications, reports from industry, professional organisations, political bodies, internet sources, and own surveys of BGR. Data that do not originate from BGR's database is explicitly marked as such. In addition to estimating the geological inventory of energy resources with reliable statements on reserves and resources, energy markets are examined with regard to global developments of production, exports, imports, and consumption.
The energy data is used to advise the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), German industry and science, and the general public on matters relating to energy resources.
BGR Figures on Energy Supplies
With the publication of new BGR energy data, updated figures are also made available for download. These figures are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC-BY) licence. A copy of this license can be found here.