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ENERGY

Germany will use less energy this year

Germany's energy use has fallen by almost seven percent in 2014 so far compared with the previous year, taking it to lows not seen since 1990.

Germany will use less energy this year
A nuclear power plant in Grohnde, Lower Saxony. Photo: DPA

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An estimate prepared by study group Energiebilanzen and seen by Bild newspaper revealed that use of the biggest energy sources, such as nuclear power, fell by 6.7 percent between January and September this year.

The experts estimate that over the whole year Germany might use five percent less energy than in 2013.

A mild winter meant that almost 20 percent less natural gas was used in the first nine months of the year.

And there were reductions in energy used generated from oil, coal and nuclear power.

Germans pay one of the highest prices in the world for their energy.

Consumers also used 1.6 percent more energy generated from renewable sources.

A recent study by the Emnid Institute found that four out of five Germans want the government to do more to encourage the switch to renewable sources of energy.

Among respondents, 81 percent thought that Chancellor Angela Merkel should do more at the EU level to encourage construction of renewables and introduce binding energy saving targets.

Around 47 percent thought that the government was currently doing enough to protect the climate – roughly the same number as thought more could be done.

SEE ALSO: Germany produces half of energy with solar

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