Primary and final energy consumption in the European Union are 4.9% and 3.2% behind the EU’s 2020 energy reduction targets, respectively, according to the latest figures from the EU’s statistical office (Eurostat) for the year 2018, published on Tuesday 4 February (these are the figures and targets for the Twenty-Seven, i.e., without the UK).
Primary energy consumption measures total energy demand at the national level, while final energy consumption refers to what end users actually consume.
Specifically, primary energy consumption reached 1,376 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) and final energy consumption 990 Mtoe. However, in order to reduce energy consumption by 20% by 2020, as the EU is aiming for, primary and final energy consumption should not exceed 1,312 Mtoe and 959 Mtoe respectively in 2020.
The deviations from the EU 2030 targets are 22% for primary energy consumption and 17% for final energy consumption.
While energy consumption in the EU (both primary and final) had been steadily increasing between 2013 and 2017, the 2018 figures nevertheless show a decrease in primary consumption (0.71% less than in 2017) and a near stagnation in final consumption (0.02% more than in 2017).
Significant disparities between Member States
Compared to 2017, primary energy consumption increased particularly in Estonia (+9%), Latvia (+5%) and Luxembourg (+4%). Among the 11 Member States where primary energy consumption fell, the largest decrease was recorded in Belgium (-5%), followed by Greece and Austria (both -3%).
For final energy consumption, the highest increases were recorded in Malta (+6%), Ireland (+5%), Latvia and Luxembourg (both +4%). In contrast, the largest falls were recorded in Greece (-5%), Austria (-3%) and Germany (-1%).
For Eurostat news release: http://bit.ly/2vI7ils (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)