In purely arithmetical terms, 5 May 2026 is the last day of the year on which Germany's energy demand could still be covered by domestic energy production. From that point on, the country is entirely dependent on energy imports. The German Corporate Initiative for Energy Efficiency (DENEFF) uses this symbolic "Energy Dependency Day" to draw attention to the structural risks associated with the country's high import ratio.
According to final figures from the AG Energiebilanzen (Working Group on Energy Balances), Germany's import dependency stood at 66.1 % in 2024. For 2025, an early estimate puts the figure at 65.6 %. However, the slight decline does not represent a structural improvement in energy efficiency or competitiveness – it is primarily driven by the economic downturn.
"A declining import dependency would only be a positive signal if it were the result of rising energy efficiency and lower energy demand," says Christian Noll, Managing Director of DENEFF. "The current drop in the import ratio is instead primarily an expression of weaker economic development."
If Germany were to achieve the efficiency targets set out in the Energy Efficiency Act, the Energy Dependency Day could shift in the long term from early May to approximately mid-August, which would significantly strengthen global competitiveness.
Germany in International Comparison
In a European comparison, Germany falls below the EU average import dependency of 57 %. The "Energy Dependency Day" for the EU as a whole would not occur until 5 June. An even greater structural competitive disadvantage exists relative to China, with an import dependency of 24 %, and the United States, which even records an energy export surplus of 9 % – although a large share of US energy exports consists of fossil fuels. Germany thus becomes energy-dependent roughly five months earlier than China.
Energy Efficiency as an Economic and Security Policy Strategy
Particularly against the backdrop of increasing geopolitical tensions and volatile energy prices, high import dependency remains a significant risk for the economy and society. The war against Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East demonstrate how strongly international crises can affect energy prices and security of supply. DENEFF therefore recommends consistently strengthening energy efficiency as an economic and security policy strategy. Greater efficiency structurally reduces energy demand and thereby permanently lowers import dependency.
Political Signals Heading in the Wrong Direction
Current political discussions about weakening key efficiency regulations, such as the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) or the Building Energy Act (GEG), are sending the wrong signal from DENEFF's perspective.
"Whoever weakens efficiency standards ultimately prolongs Germany's structural energy dependency," says Noll. "Especially in a phase of geopolitical uncertainty, it would be sensible to systematically tap the available efficiency potential."
Import Dependency Could Rise Further in the Future
The slight decline in the import ratio is unlikely to be a lasting trend. As domestic energy production continues to decrease, Germany will tend to become even more dependent on energy imports in the future, unless energy consumption falls significantly.
