This report discusses the latest status of energy consumption trends in the EU, in the four main energy-consuming sectors: residential, tertiary, transport and industry. During the last years, there have been notable efforts by the European Union to cut down on energy consumption and improve energy efficiency in the framework of the EU energy consumption targets within the Europe 2020 and 2030 strategies.
The report explores the energy consumption progress from 2000 to 2020 in the four main sectors of the economy. Particular focus is drawn on changes in the use of electricity and natural gas, as well as the penetration of renewable energy sources in the energy mix. Energy indicators such as energy intensity and energy consumption per capita are also analysed. The report includes an analysis of the most important factors influencing energy consumption trends such as economic growth, population, heating demand, household characteristics and energy prices.
This report presents the analysis of energy consumption trends in four main energy-consuming sectors (i.e. residential, tertiary, transport and industry) in the EU for the period from 2000 to 2020. When 2020 data are not available, the most recent data (usually 2019) are instead discussed. The year 2010 was selected to divide the whole studied period in two equal sub-periods (2000-2010, 2010-2020). During these sub-periods, energy consumption experienced diverse trends possibly due to various factors (economic crisis, implemented energy efficiency policies etc.) which are studied in this report.
During the last years, there have been efforts by the European Union to reduce energy consumption and improve energy efficiency. However, the effect of COVID-19 pandemic and the measures imposed to restrict it affected significantly the energy consumption trends in 2020. Despite this, this analysis is needed in order to evaluate whether and how the collective policy actions have influenced energy consumption in the context of 2020 EU energy targets.
It is important to note that the main data sources used in this analysis are Eurostat, Odyssee, European Environmental Agency (EEA), and the Statistical Pocketbook of DG MOVE. In 2019, a change in the methodology of Eurostat energy balances was implemented. However, in some cases, the indicators established prior to the new Eurostat methodology continue to be updated to permit the comparison with 2020 targets (i.e. final and primary energy consumption 2030-2030 indicator).
In these cases, these indicators were selected for this report in order to enable the comparison with the EU 2020 targets. On the contrary, when the old methodology indicators are not updated anymore by Eurostat, the new methodology indicators were used for the purpose of this analysis.
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