Accounting for 34% of primary energy consumption in 2016, i. e. the quantity of energy that is used every year in a country in sum total, petroleum continues to be the most important primary energy source. While petroleum still accounted for more than half (1970: 53.1%, 1975: 52.1%) of primary energy consumption in the 1970s, its share in the 1980s dropped above all due to the greater use of natural gas for heating (1980: 40.6 %, 1985: 33.9 %). After that, it was above all a surge in transport-related consumption that led to a temporary resurgence of petroleum's share of primary energy (1990: 35.0%, 1995: 39.9%, 2000: 38.2%, 2005: 35.5%, 2010: 32.9%).
The Federal Government has set out the objective of reducing primary energy consumption by 20% from 2008 to 2020 and by 50% by 2050. To achieve this, it is necessary for petroleum products and other energy sources to be used much more efficiently.
Domestic sales of petroleum products totalled 104 million tonnes in 2016. .In quantitative terms, the main oil products were diesel fuel (38.4 million tonnes), gasoline (18.3 million tonnes), naphtha (16.5 million tonnes), which is used for petrochemicals, and light fuel oil (15.8 million tonnes). Other oil products include jet fuel (9.2 million tonnes) and heavy fuel oil (4.5 million tonnes); the latter is used in industry
According to the Working Group on Energy Balances, 94 % of final energy consumption in the transport sector was accounted for by mineral oil in 2015. In absolute terms, mineral oil consumption in transport was at the same level as it was in 2005. The Federal Government is pursuing the goal of reducing final energy consumption in the transport sector by 10% by 2020 and by 40% by 2050 compared with 2005 levels. The sector should thus also contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This will require a wide range of measures, from the increased use of biogenic and alternative fuels such as natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, to reducing vehicle fuel consumption and expanding electromobility. In 2015, final energy consumption in transport was 1.3% higher than in 2005.
In terms of passenger and freight transport performance, specific energy consumption (in megajoules/100 passenger-kilometres) fell by around 10% between 2005 and 2014, and by just under 38% between 1990 and 2014 (average 1.97% per year).
The Federal Government is currently using a broad-based and technology-oriented Mobility and Fuel Strategy (in German) that takes into account all alternative technologies and energy sources in order to advance the energy transition in mobility. The mobility and fuel strategy is being further developed.
The market development of electric, hydrogen and natural gas vehicles will only succeed if there are enough charging points or filling stations. The Federal Government is therefore working to implement the EU Directive on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure (AFID) (in German). A National Strategy Framework sets out how a network of fuelling and charging stations for alternative propulsion systems in road and maritime transport is to be developed..
