The European Union has made significant progress in reducing its energy consumption in 2022, bringing it closer to the ambitious energy efficiency targets set for 2030.
According to the latest statistics published by Eurostat on 21 December 2023, the EU’s primary energy consumption in 2022 reached 1,257 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe), down 4.1% compared to the previous year. This reduction is part of an underlying trend that began with a peak of 1,511 Mtoe (megatonnes of oil equivalent) in 2006.
In 2022, the EU was at 26.7% of the target of 992.5 Mtoe for 2030, compared with 31.2% in 2021.
Final energy consumption has also fallen, to 940 Mtoe, or 2.8% less than in 2021, a level corresponding to that of 1995. Compared with the target of 763 Mtoe set for 2030, final energy consumption in 2022 was 23.3% of this target, compared with 26.8% in 2021.
These results are encouraging the EU in its strategy followed since the 2023 revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive (see EUROPE 13229/21). This revision increased the targets for 2030, setting a maximum of 763 Mtoe for final energy consumption and 992.5 Mtoe for primary energy consumption, compared with the 846 Mtoe and 1,128 Mtoe respectively set in 2018.
To see the data published by Eurostat: https://aeur.eu/f/aa6 (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)