03/05/2026

Impact on the climate from the German electricity mix declining

ifeu calculates the environmental impact of German and European electricity consumption on an annual basis.

The climate impact of the German electricity mix will have fallen significantly by 2024. This is shown by current calculations by ifeu Heidelberg based on newly published electricity generation data from Eurostat. According to these calculations, the German generation mix in 2024 will cause an average of 425 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt hour (g CO₂e/kWh). In 2023, the figure was still 456 g CO₂e/kWh. By importing comparatively low-carbon electricity from neighbouring countries, the climate impact of the electricity actually consumed in Germany in 2024 was further reduced to 383 g CO₂e/kWh.

Only preliminary statistical data is available for 2025 at this stage. Based on this, the climate impact of the generation mix is 416 g CO₂e/kWh – the improvements are therefore more moderate. All figures already take into account the average losses during electricity distribution in the grid.

The calculations are based on the institute's own ELMO electricity model. This model combines the latest statistical data on electricity generation with detailed life cycle assessment data on an annual basis. Fossil fuels such as lignite and hard coal, natural gas and mineral oil are taken into account, as are waste incineration, biomass and biogas, renewable energies from wind power, photovoltaics and hydropower, and nuclear energy.

The composition of the electricity mix is particularly decisive for the climate balance. However, environmental impacts from the provision of fuels are also taken into account, such as methane emissions from natural gas extraction or from biogas production or combustion. Although renewable energy sources have a significantly lower carbon footprint, they still have an environmental impact, for example through the cultivation of energy crops or the manufacture of wind turbines and photovoltaic systems.

By updating more than 70 technical parameters annually, ifeu ensures that the calculations reflect real developments as accurately as possible. In addition to climate impact, ELMO also determines other environmental impacts, including acidification, eutrophication, summer smog formation, particulate matter emissions and the consumption of metals and other raw materials. The results are published every year in March for all EU Member States, followed in September by other countries and regions based on global data. Emission factors are also available differentiated according to the scopes of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

The complete results and further analyses for all European countries are available from the project team.

To the official press release (in German)