Germany's limited air‑conditioning drives surge in heat‑wave energy demand

Only about 6 % of German households have fixed air‑conditioning and another 13 % rely on portable units, far below the roughly 90 % penetration in the United States. Between 2019 and 2024, demand for cooling equipment in Germany rose by 75 %, driven by increasingly frequent and intense heat waves.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes that extreme heat events are growing faster than models predicted, especially in Western Europe. A study by the European research group ClimaMeter warned that June 2026 temperatures could be 2‑4 °C above late‑20th‑century averages, prompting an immediate spike in electricity demand for cooling. “This situation leads to an immediate increase in electricity demand for cooling,” said Italian researcher Tommaso Alberti.

Industry association Eurovent reports a steady rise in sales, yet many Europeans still view air‑conditioning as a luxury. “In the advice on how to stay cool that circulates on social media, I still see recommendations not to use air‑conditioning,” said Eurovent deputy secretary‑general Stijn Renneboog. The lack of widespread cooling contributes to tens of thousands of heat‑related deaths across Europe each year.