Germany Unveils Roadmap To End Fossil Fuel Dependence By 2045

Germany has unveiled a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels by 2045, aiming to reduce its dependence on imported oil, gas and coal while expanding renewable energy. Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said the plan would improve energy security and protect the climate, particularly as conflicts such as the Iran war expose the risks of relying on global fossil-fuel supplies. Environmental groups welcomed the roadmap but criticised the government's continued support for gas-fired power and some policies they say could slow the transition. Germany also plans for 100% of new passenger-car registrations to be electric by 2035.

GERMANY SETS 2045 TARGET FOR FOSSIL FUEL EXIT

Germany has unveiled a national roadmap aimed at ending its dependence on fossil fuels by 2045 as part of its wider plan to become climate neutral.
Environment Minister Carsten Schneider presented the roadmap at the United Nations in New York on Wednesday, describing the strategy as a way of combining energy independence, affordability and climate protection.
The German government says the roadmap provides a framework for reducing the use of coal, oil and natural gas across electricity generation, transport, heating and industry.
Germany is the third country, after France and the Netherlands, to present a detailed national plan following the international commitment made at the 2023 COP28 climate conference to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.

FOSSIL FUELS STILL DOMINATE GERMANY'S ENERGY USE

Despite Germany's large investment in renewable energy, fossil fuels accounted for about 65 per cent of its total energy consumption in 2024.
Oil accounted for 36 per cent, natural gas 24 per cent and coal 5 per cent.
The government's roadmap says Germany imported 98 per cent of its oil and 95 per cent of its natural gas in 2024, while also importing all of its hard coal.
The combined cost of those fossil-fuel imports was about €76 billion that year.
Schneider argued that Germany's dependence on imported fossil fuels leaves the country exposed to international conflicts and sudden increases in energy prices.

IRAN WAR ADDS TO ENERGY SECURITY CONCERNS

The German government has linked the urgency of reducing fossil-fuel dependence to the current disruption in global energy markets caused by the Iran war.
Schneider said Germany should not be in a position where events around the Strait of Hormuz can determine whether people can afford to travel to work.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important oil and gas shipping routes. Any prolonged disruption can affect global fuel supplies and prices.
Berlin therefore sees the transition away from imported fossil fuels not only as a climate policy but also as an energy-security strategy.

RENEWABLE ENERGY TO PLAY A BIGGER ROLE

Germany plans to increase the contribution of renewable energy to electricity generation while expanding its electricity grid.
Renewables already provide around 55 per cent of Germany's gross electricity consumption, according to the environment ministry.
The government wants that figure to reach at least 80 per cent by 2030.
Germany also remains committed to ending coal-fired power generation by no later than 2038.
The roadmap envisages gas-fired power plants being designed or adapted so they can eventually operate using green hydrogen rather than fossil gas.
The objective is to have a climate-neutral electricity system without fossil fuels by 2045.

ELECTRIC CARS TO REPLACE PETROL AND DIESEL VEHICLES

Transport is another major part of the plan.
Germany's roadmap places strong emphasis on electric vehicles and the expansion of charging infrastructure.
The government says fully electric cars already represented about one-third of new passenger-car registrations in August 2026.
Under the roadmap, battery-electric vehicles are expected to account for 100 per cent of new passenger-car registrations by 2035.
This represents a major shift for Germany's automobile industry, which remains one of the country's most important industrial sectors.
HEATING SYSTEMS WILL ALSO CHANGE
Germany also plans to reduce the use of oil and gas for heating homes and buildings.
Heat pumps and district heating systems are expected to replace many fossil-fuel heating systems.
The environment ministry says heat pumps outsold gas heating systems for the first time in Germany in 2025.
The government is also offering financial support designed to make the transition more affordable for households.

INDUSTRY FACES A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION

Germany's industrial sector will also have to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.
The government says industries will be encouraged to electrify production processes and invest in technologies that produce fewer greenhouse-gas emissions.
Financial support will be provided for some decarbonisation investments, while the European Union's carbon-pricing system will create additional pressure to reduce fossil-fuel use.
Germany is particularly concerned about ensuring that its industrial base remains competitive while energy systems are transformed.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS WELCOME THE PLAN BUT RAISE QUESTIONS

Environmental organisations have welcomed the announcement but have also questioned whether the government is doing enough to achieve the target.
Greenpeace energy expert Mira Jäger described the roadmap as an important signal for international climate policy.
However, environmental groups have criticised other government policies that they say could slow the transition to renewable energy.
They have pointed to plans involving gas-fired power generation and changes to Germany's heating policies as examples of what they consider conflicting approaches.
These criticisms highlight the difficulty of reducing fossil-fuel use while maintaining affordable and reliable energy supplies.

GOVERNMENT FACES DEBATE OVER GAS POWER

Germany's Energy Minister Katherina Reiche has supported the construction of new gas-fired power plants, arguing that they could help stabilise the electricity system when renewable sources such as wind and solar are not producing enough power.
The government says such plants can eventually be converted to run on green hydrogen.
This approach has created debate between those who prioritise energy reliability in the short term and those who want a faster reduction in fossil-fuel infrastructure.

GERMANY'S CAR INDUSTRY FACES PRESSURE

The transition is particularly important for Germany's automobile industry.
German manufacturers are facing strong international competition while the global market shifts towards electric vehicles.
The roadmap's target of eventually making new passenger-car registrations fully electric would accelerate that transformation.
The government will therefore have to balance climate objectives with the need to protect industrial jobs and maintain Germany's competitiveness.

A PLAN BUILT AROUND ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

Berlin says reducing fossil-fuel imports could eventually keep billions of euros within Germany rather than sending the money abroad to purchase oil and gas.
The government's roadmap argues that greater use of domestic renewable energy and electric technologies can reduce exposure to international energy shocks.
Germany's environment ministry describes the strategy as both a climate policy and an economic strategy.

GERMANY WANTS OTHER COUNTRIES TO FOLLOW

Schneider said Germany's roadmap was intended to provide an international example and encourage other countries to produce their own detailed plans.
The German government says international cooperation will be essential because the transition away from coal, oil and gas cannot be achieved by individual countries acting alone.
Germany is already working with countries including South Africa on energy-transition projects involving renewable power and electricity networks.

THE ROAD TO 2045 WILL NOT BE EASY

Germany has set an ambitious deadline, but achieving it will require major changes across the economy.
Power generation, transport, heating and industry will all have to move away from fossil fuels while electricity networks and renewable capacity expand.
The government will also have to manage concerns over energy prices, industrial competitiveness and the reliability of electricity supplies.
For Germany, the 2045 target is therefore not simply an environmental pledge. It represents a long-term transformation of how Europe's largest economy produces and consumes energy.