Germany relies on a mix of domestic materials and international imports to fuel its vast manufacturing sector. Historically, the country’s industrial growth was built upon rich domestic deposits, but modern economic realities have shifted its focus to high-value extraction and a substantial energy transition. This blend of geological inheritance and progressive environmental policy defines the current landscape of German resource utilization.
Industrial Minerals and Underground Raw Materials
Germany possesses significant domestic reserves of non-metallic industrial minerals that are foundational to its chemical and construction industries. Among the most important underground raw materials are potash (Kaliumsalze) and rock salt, which are mined from extensive deposits, particularly those ringing the Harz mountains and in the Werra-Fulda region. The Werra potash mine, for instance, represents the country’s largest active underground mining area, producing millions of tonnes of potash and salt products annually. Germany’s salt production is substantial enough to cover 100% of its domestic requirements.
These salts are processed into industrial chemicals, de-icing agents, and agricultural fertilizers. Construction materials, which form the largest volume of extracted minerals, are also sourced almost entirely within the country, including vast quantities of sand, gravel, limestone, and broken stone used for infrastructure projects. While Germany was historically rich in metal ores like iron and copper, mining largely ceased in the late 20th century due to high operating costs. Consequently, the German industrial base now relies heavily on imports for base metals, though domestic minerals like kaolin and fluorspar continue to be mined for specialized industrial applications.
Energy Resources and the Transition to Renewables
The trajectory of Germany’s energy landscape is defined by the Energiewende, or energy transition, a national policy aimed at phasing out fossil fuels and nuclear power. Historically, the country’s most significant domestic fossil fuel resource has been lignite, or brown coal, which is extracted through immense open-pit mines, primarily west of Cologne and in the Lusatia region. Lignite is a dense, low-grade fuel that once made Germany the world’s largest producer, but its high carbon emissions have slated it for a complete phase-out.
While small reserves of hard coal, oil, and natural gas exist, they are minor in comparison to the country’s energy demand, necessitating heavy reliance on imports for these fuels. The core of the Energiewende is the rapid expansion of renewable resources, which currently generate over 40% of the national power supply. Wind power, both onshore and offshore in the North and Baltic Seas, is a major component of this strategy.
Solar photovoltaic capacity has also seen massive deployment, capitalizing on advanced technology and feed-in tariff policies to decentralize energy production. The government aims to have renewable sources constitute 80% of the country’s electric power generation by 2050. This shift involves improving energy efficiency across all sectors to secure a sustainable, low-carbon future.
Ecological and Surface Resources: Forestry and Water
Surface resources, particularly forests and water, provide essential ecosystem services and economic inputs across the country. Forests cover nearly one-third of Germany’s total land area, approximately 11.5 million hectares, making timber a continuously renewable resource. Sustainable forestry management provides wood for construction and paper while simultaneously offering important ecological functions.
Forest soils act as the largest natural freshwater reservoir in the country, filtering and storing water that eventually recharges groundwater supplies. This clean groundwater is a primary source for drinking water and agricultural irrigation. Furthermore, over half of the country’s territory is dedicated to agriculture, with about 11.8 million hectares used as arable land for growing crops.
The major river systems, including the Rhine, Elbe, and Danube, are fundamental hydrological assets. These rivers are used for industry and drinking water supply, and also serve as vital arteries for inland transport, connecting major industrial centers to seaports.