EU shows record-low energy use amid efficiency gains and renewables surge

Published on 29/05/2025 - 17:58 GMT+2

Total power successful nan EU, what Eurostat calls gross disposable energy, fell by 4.1 % successful 2023, nan balanced of astir 380 cardinal barrels of oil, marking a grounds low.

Long-running ratio policies person reduced discarded crossed each sectors, while milder winters person decreased heating demand. The spike successful fossil substance prices caused by Russia's full-scale penetration of Ukraine has prompted further conservation efforts.

Put simply, Europe is managing to do much pinch less.

The EU is still heavy reliant connected fossil fuels (67%), but renewables now proviso 19.5% of each power successful nan EU, up 31% since 2013 and conscionable 1 percent constituent awkward of earthy gas.

Nordic countries, specified arsenic Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, lead nan greenish transition, pinch renewables accounting for 40–50% of their power mix.

Poland and nan Czech Republic stay coal-reliant, pinch coagulated fuels still supplying astir a 3rd of their demand.

Energy imports and depletion trends

The EU only produces astir 40% of nan power it consumes.

Domestic superior accumulation is down astir 20% since 2013. Almost each of its lipid (95%) and state (90%) must beryllium shipped aliases piped in.

This leaves EU power dependency astatine 58.4%, down from nan 2022 record, but still higher than nan mean of nan 2010s.

Norway (not an EU member), nan United States, Algeria, Qatar and a reduced flow from Russia stay nan superior sources of lipid and gas.

Examining nan breakdown of power consumption, proscription is nan largest consumer, accounting for 32% of demand.

Households travel pinch 26.3%, while manufacture absorbs 24.6%. Services and agriculture together usage 9.1%, and nan remaining 8% is directed to non-energy purposes specified arsenic feedstocks and lubricants.

Transport's power has grown complete nan past 3 decades, chiefly owed to an summation successful cars connected nan roadworthy and a thriving aviation industry.

Road-fuel request rebounded betwixt 2021 and 2023 but is still beneath its 2019 peak, and world aviation remains 8% awkward of pre-COVID levels.