Strommix

Strommix is a term used in German-speaking contexts to describe the electricity mix, i.e., the composition of generation sources that supply electric power to consumers over a given period. It is usually presented as the shares of total electricity production by source, such as coal, lignite, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, wind, solar, biomass, and imports. The mix can be reported for specific hours, days, months, or an entire year and is used to assess environmental impact, fossil dependence, and energy security.

The Strommix is shaped by resource availability, weather conditions, market prices, generation capacity, and grid constraints. Renewable sources such as wind and solar are intermittent, which creates the need for balancing power from dispatchable sources like hydro, gas, or imports. The roles of nuclear and coal vary with policy, economics, and demand; in some regions they have declined due to decarbonization efforts, while in others they remain significant components of the mix.

Data on the Strommix are published by national energy agencies and grid operators, typically in standard energy units and often including carbon intensity as a separate metric. Trends over time generally show a move toward greater decarbonization and higher shares of renewables, though progress differs by region and is influenced by policy, technology, and market dynamics.

The term is used by media, researchers, and policymakers to discuss energy transition, climate impact, and electricity pricing. See also energy mix, decarbonization, and carbon intensity.