Germany Sees Renewed Household Interest in Energy Transition Technologies

Germany sees renewed household interest in energy transition technologies

Germany: Households in Germany are showing increased willingness to invest in climate protection, according to the KfW Energy Transition Barometer. The proportion of households willing to take action rose from 59% in 2025 to 66% in 2026, while 84% said climate protection was important or very important. The survey, conducted among more than 4,300 households between December 2025 and April 2026, found that 34% of households now use at least one energy transition technology, equivalent to around 14 million households. This represents an increase of approximately 1.1 million households compared with the previous year. Demand for electric vehicles and rooftop photovoltaic systems has also increased, with electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles present in 10% of households and rooftop PV systems in 18%.

A significant gap remains between homeowners and tenants. Around 59% of households living in their own single-family or two-family homes use at least one energy transition technology, compared with 15% of households in rented apartments. Income also influences adoption, with higher-income households more likely to use such technologies. Gas or oil remains the main heating source for 63% of households, while heat pumps are used by 9%. KfW Chief Economist Dr Dirk Schumacher said: “Households in the lower income bracket often lack the resources to invest in climate-friendly technologies. Due to rising CO2 pricing, these households will be disproportionately burdened in the coming years. To achieve widespread adoption of the energy transition, it is crucial to attract lower-income households to energy transition technologies through targeted support measures.”

Source: STROBEL VERLAG GmbH & Co. KG