STUDY HIGHLIGHTS GRID INVESTMENT NEEDS FOR THE ELECTRIFICATION OF GERMAN TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS
A study by RWTH Aachen University has for the first time quantified the electricity needed to support the electrification of Germany’s transport and logistics sector. Commissioned by German freight forwarding and logistics association DSLV, the study estimates that the sector’s annual electricity demand should increase from around 22 TWh in 2025 to around 186 TWh by 2045 under its baseline scenario, underlining the need to accelerate grid expansion and ensure sufficient electricity capacity and logistics sites.
The study models the future electricity requirements of truck fleets, logistics buildings, and rail freight, alongside the potential contribution of rooftop solar generation. Road freight is expected to account for by far the largest share of additional demand as battery-electric trucks become more widely deployed. By 2045, road freight could require around 155.8 TWh annually, compared with 22.3 TWh for rail freight. Overall, the sector is estimated to around for around 14% percent of Germany’s 2045 electricity demand.
The findings highlight the importance of ensuring that electricity networks develop in step with the transition of commercial vehicle fleets and reinforce the need to treat grid infrastructure as a key enabling condition for the decarbonisation of freight transport. DSLV calls for future grid planning to systematically anticipate the electricity requirements of logistics locations, alongside faster grid connections and permitting procedures, competitive electricity prices, and incentives for grid-friendly charging. Ensuring that electricity grids, connections, and generation capacity are available where and when European transport and logistics need them will be essential to enabling the deployment of zero-emission trucks at the scale required for the EU’s decarbonisation objectives.
Source: RWTH Aachen University