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Steam & Air Conditioning Supply in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Melanie Katz Melanie Katz Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: July 2024 WZ D35.30DE

Revenue

€8.3bn

2024

€8.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

11,557

Businesses

82

Wages

€X.Xbn

Steam & Air Conditioning Supply in Germany industry analysis

The heating and cooling supply sector is one of the infrastructure sectors in Germany and comprises the production and distribution of local and district heating and cooling to private, public and commercial customers. While private households primarily use heating and cooling for indoor heating and air conditioning, commercial customers also use steam, hot and chilled water and cooled air to support production processes and as input factors. Accordingly, industry turnover is largely determined by the supply requirements of private and commercial customers, which in turn depend on weather conditions, the order situation in the manufacturing industry, the degree of urbanisation and the number of homes connected to the heating and cooling supply network.Between 2019 and 2024, the turnover generated by heating and cooling suppliers increased by an average of 6.5% per year and is expected to amount to 8.3 billion euros in 2024. Above all, the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the associated rise in the price of natural gas accelerated sales growth. Industry turnover in 2024 is expected to fall by 2.2% compared to the previous year due to the improvement in the supply of gas to Germany and the easing on the commodity markets.Over the next five years, IBISWorld expects sales to grow by an average of 1.8% per year, which means they are likely to reach 9.1 billion euros in 2029. Ongoing urbanisation is likely to have a positive impact on the industry. The industry is likely to benefit from Germany's energy policy targets in the future. Hot water and steam are usually generated as by-products of electricity generation, meaning that more energy is efficiently obtained for end consumption. This makes this type of energy supply particularly worthy of support from a government perspective. The Heat Planning Act, which came into force in January 2024, obliges the federal states to draw up heat plans for all municipal areas, which should promote the expansion of the district heating supply in the coming years.

Trends and Insights

  • Combined heat and power plants play a central role in the heat transition. These power plants produce electricity and heat at the same time and utilise primary energy particularly efficiently.
  • Natural gas is by far the most important energy source for heat supply in Germany. As part of the energy transition, hard coal and lignite are becoming less important, while biomass is gaining in relevance.
  • The Süd region is home to by far the most companies in the sector. Due to the low population density in Bavaria, there are many smaller combined heat and power plants that operate the heat supply to the municipalities on a decentralised basis. A single provider with a large district heating network is out of the question there.
  • In the heat and cold supply sector, there is hardly any competition within the industry. In most cities, the operators of district heating networks are also the producers of the energy and therefore have a monopoly position in their areas.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 6.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €8.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The weaker regulation of the sector compared to other energy industries facilitates supply activities

  • Many regulations that apply to other energy supply sectors do not exist in the heating and cooling supply sector. For example, electricity and gas suppliers must comply with rules regarding the unbundling of energy suppliers and grid operators, as the independence of the grid business from energy generation is a legal requirement for energy companies.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Steam & Air Conditioning Supply in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The Heat Planning and Decarbonisation of Heating Networks Act accelerates the heating transition

  • The Heat Planning Act came into force on 1 January 2024 together with the amendment to the Building Energy Act. The aim is to achieve the goal of climate-neutral heating in Germany by 2045 more quickly.

Biggest companies in the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
BEW Berliner Energie und Wärme AG
969.1
Stadtwerke München GmbH
668.9
Hamburger Gesellschaft für Vermögens- und Beteiligungsmanagement mbH
398.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Steam & Air Conditioning Supply in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Net heat generated with natural gas, Net heat generated by waste incineration and Net heat generated with hard coal. Net heat generated with natural gas is the largest segment of the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply in Germany.

Trends and Insights

The falling purchase prices for natural gas reduce the turnover generated by the combustion of natural gas

  • This product segment comprises the generation of net heat by burning natural gas.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The companies in this sector supply customers with heat and/or cold. To this end, the industry players generate and distribute hot or cold water, for example, which is used for heating or cooling, energy generation and other purposes. The industry includes district heating and district cooling producers as well as network operators.

What's included in this industry?

Net heat generated with natural gasNet heat generated by waste incinerationNet heat generated with hard coalNet heat generated with biomassNet heat generated with ligniteNet heat generated by waste heat

Companies

BEW Berliner Energie und Wärme AGStadtwerke München GmbHHamburger Gesellschaft für Vermögens- und Beteiligungsmanagement mbH

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

COMBINED HEAT AND POWER PLANTCOMBINED HEAT AND POWER (CHP)NET HEAT GENERATIONPRIMARY ENERGY

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 35.30 - Steam & Air Conditioning Supply in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Combined heat and power plants play a central role in the heat transition. These power plants produce electricity and heat at the same time and utilise primary energy particu...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Natural gas is by far the most important energy source for heat supply in Germany. As part of the energy transition, hard coal and lignite are becoming less important, while ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The Süd region is home to by far the most companies in the sector. Due to the low population density in Bavaria, there are many smaller combined heat and power plants that op...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

In the heat and cold supply sector, there is hardly any competition within the industry. In most cities, the operators of district heating networks are also the producers of ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Vattenfall AB is the largest player in the industry. Vattenfall Wärme Berlin wants to decarbonise the city's heat supply with the help of heat pumps, heat storage and power-t...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of BEW Berliner Energie und Wärme AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Stadtwerke München GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Hamburger Gesellschaft für Vermögens- und Beteiligungsmanagement mbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for BEW Berliner Energie und Wärme AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Stadtwerke München GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Hamburger Gesellschaft für Vermögens- und Beteiligungsmanagement mbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The industry players are affected by the Building Energy Act, which regulates the energy requirements for all buildings that are heated or cooled in terms of the installed hea...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Thanks to their monopoly-like position in many areas, the companies can generate relatively high profit margins. Most recently, the heat and cooling utilities were able to in...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply industry in Germany is €8.3bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 82 businesses in the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 6.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply market in Germany are BEW Berliner Energie und Wärme AG, Stadtwerke München GmbH and Hamburger Gesellschaft für Vermögens- und Beteiligungsmanagement mbH

What does the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply in Germany include?

Net heat generated with natural gas and Net heat generated by waste incineration are part of the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is BEW Berliner Energie und Wärme AG.

How competitive is the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply industry in Germany?

The level of competition is low and steady in the Steam & Air Conditioning Supply industry in Germany.

Related Industries

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Complementors

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View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.