Deutsche Bahn has set itself an ambitious goal: by 2040, DB aims to be climate neutral and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero across the entire value chain. Since the beginning of 2018, passengers on all electrified routes in DB Fernverkehr's ICE, IC, and EC trains within Germany have been traveling on 100 percent renewable power. The origin of the electricity from renewable energy sources is certified annually by TÜV SÜD. This makes Deutsche Bahn one of the largest consumers of renewable power in Germany.
Renewable energies account for 69.8 percent of DB's traction power mix (as of 2024). The aim is to increase this to 80 percent renewable energy by 2030 – and to 100 percent by 2038.
Passengers can also travel in an environmentally friendly way on local transport. Whether on the Hamburg S-Bahn, on electrified regional lines in Baden-Württemberg or on regional and local transport in Schleswig Holstein, as long as rail transport is operated in electric traction: Here, Deutsche Bahn customers are already traveling with renewable energy.
More renewable electricity and less CO2e – this is also the aim behind DB Cargo's Climate+ product. With Climate+, DB logistics customers can have their goods transported on electrified routes using renewable power. The amount of electricity from renewable energies required for this is determined using the independent EcoTransIT World tool. The corresponding amount of renewable power from renewable energy sources is purchased by DB and fed it into its grid. In Germany, the use of renewable power is audited by TÜV Süd. DB customers can obtain a certificate confirming the CO2e savings achieved.
