EU directive 2023/2413 of 18 October 2023 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources requires EU countries to increase their annual average share of renewables in heating and cooling by at least 0.8 percentage points (pp) from 2021 to 2025 and by at least 1.1 pp from 2026 to 2030.

The EU's renewable energy share for heating and cooling reached 26.2% in 2023, up from 25% in 2022. This increase is largely driven by biomass and heat pumps. Sweden leads the pack with 67.1%, followed by Estonia and Latvia. Meanwhile, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Belgium have the lowest shares.

Most EU countries have seen an increase in their renewable energy shares, with Austria, Malta, and Greece making significant progress. On the other hand, countries like Sweden and Poland experienced a slight dip.

The EU directive is indeed pushing for an annual increase in renewable energy use, aiming for a greener future. Despite some fluctuations, the overall trend is upward, reflecting the EU's commitment to sustainability and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.