Deutsche Bahn is one of the largest consumers of green electricity in Germany and aims to further increase the share of renewable energy in its traction current mix. This share is already at 69.8% (as of 2024). The goal is to reach 80% by 2030, it should be and 100% by 2038.
A significant proportion of the renewable energy used by DB comes from hydropower. Deutsche Bahn sources electricity from numerous hydroelectric power plants in Germany, one of which the company even operates itself. The Saalach power plant in Bad Reichenhall was commissioned in 1914 to generate traction power and is now operated by DB Energie GmbH. This means that Deutsche Bahn trains were already running on climate-friendly renewable power over 100 years ago.
Since the beginning of 2023, DB has been generating additional renewable power from the Egglfing-Obernberg run-of-river power plant on the border between Lower Bavaria and Austria. The contract with Verbund AG runs for five years. Since 2023, electricity has also been supplied from the natural inflow of various reservoirs in the Black Forest as part of a ten-year contract with RWE.
In addition, Deutsche Bahn has also been using hydropower from Statkraft's Norwegian power plant in Mågeli since 2023. This supply is delivered via the Nordlink North Sea cable, which connects the German and Norwegian power grids. This will increase the share of renewable energy sources in the traction current mix for ten years.
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