This is according to the Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft (Federal Association for the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW)). Its report states that Germany exported a total of 2.8 billion kilowatt hours (billion kWh) less electricity to neighboring countries in the first six months of 2019 than in the same period last year: in the first half of 2018, a total of 23.9 billion kWh more electricity was exported abroad than imported, in the first half of 2019 that figure was just 21.1 billion kWh. In addition, Germany imported more electricity than it exported for the first time in five years in the month of June 2019. The last time that happened was July 2014.

The industry association explains this result above all in terms of the price trends. The increase in price of CO2, in particular, made electricity production in coal-fired power stations more expensive, some were therefore put on back-up standby or shut down. In addition, the wholesale prices for natural gas in the first half of 2019 fell year-on-year, which reduced the price for short-term procurement of gas for industry and power stations.