Indicators

Energy efficiency and energy consumption in the household sector (ENER 022) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Carsten Iversen — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:17:44 +0200

Over the period 1990-2009, energy efficiency in the household sector increased by 24% in EU-27 countries at an annual average rate of 1.4%/year, driven by the diffusion of more efficient buildings, space heating technologies and electrical appliances. Over the same period, the final energy consumption of households increased by about 8%, at an annual average rate of 0.4%. Electricity consumption grew much faster at an annual growth rate of 1.7%. During the years 2005-2009 energy efficiency increased by 5%, or 1.3%/year.

Renewable primary energy consumption (CSI 030/ENER 029) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Cinzia Pastorello — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:07:32 +0200

The share of renewable energy sources in gross inland energy consumption (GIEC) increased in the EU-27 from 4.2% in 1990 to 9% in 2009. The main contributor is biomass and wastes (6.1% of the GIEC in 2009), followed by hydro (1.7%) and wind (0.7%). The gross inland energy consumption from renewable increased by 4.1%/year on average over the period 1990-2009 and by 7.1%/year from 2005 to 2009 (+5.8% in 2009). Despite the decrease of the gross energy inland consumption during the last years, the share of renewable continues to grow. In 2009, the share of renewable energy in total gross inland energy consumption in EU-15 was 9%, hence a significant effort will be needed to meet the indicative target of 12 % share of renewables by 2010. In non EU EEA countries the share of renewable in gross inland energy consumption reached 19.7% in 2009. The gross inland energy consumption increased by 2.5%/year since 1990, of which 1.1%/year for the renewable consumption. For the most recent years the gross inland energy consumption increased by 3%/year, of which 1.6%/year for the renewable consumption

Renewable gross final energy consumption (ENER 028) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Cinzia Pastorello — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:06:18 +0200

In 2009, the share of renewable energy in final gross energy consumption (with normalised hydro and wind) [1] in the EU-27 was 11.7 % up from 6% in 1990, representing nearly 60 % of the 20 % target set in the EU directive on renewable energy for 2020. Renewable energies represented in 2009, 13.1% of total final heat consumption (6.6% in 1990), 19.6% of electricity consumption (up from 11.8% in 1990) and 4.1% of transport fuels consumption (up from 0.02% in 1993) [2] . [1] Gross final consumption of energy is defined in Directive 2009/28/EC on renewable sources as energy commodities delivered for energy purposes to final consumers (industry, transport, households, services, agriculture, forestry and fisheries), including the consumption of electricity and heat by the energy branch for electricity and heat production and including losses of electricity and heat in distribution and transmission. [2] The gross final consumption of energy from renewable sources is calculated as the sum of: (a) gross final consumption of electricity from renewable energy sources; (b) gross final consumption of energy from renewable sources for heating and cooling; and (c) final consumption of energy from renewable sources in transport.

Renewable electricity consumption (CSI 031/ENER 030) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Cinzia Pastorello — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:22:51 +0200

In 2009, the share of renewable electricity in gross electricity consumption in the EU-27 was 19.8 % compared to 13% in 1990. Renewable electricity grew by 3.3%/year since 1990 Hydropower accounts for 62% in renewable electricity production, following by wind 20.9%, biomass and wastes 14.3%,2.2% for photovoltaic and 1% geothermal. Despite good progress, only four countries have already met the indicative national target for the renewable electricity directive and three are very close, meaning that much more needs to be done in individual countries to achieve their targets by 2010. As a whole however, the EU is close to meeting its target. A simple forecast based on the trend to date would mean the EU would reach 20% energy generation from renewable by 2020, just 1% short of target. Given an increasing trend in more recent years, there is reason to be positive about this target being met.

Electricity production by fuel (ENER 027) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Cinzia Pastorello — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:20:06 +0200

Key message Fossil fuels and nuclear energy continue to dominate the fuel mix for electricity production in EU-27. In 2009, the share in total gross electricity production of the electricity generated from fossil fuels was 51.3 %, and the share of nuclear 27.5 %. The share of electricity generated from renewable sources is in rapid progression and reached 19.6% in 2009. The total electricity production in EU-27 increased by around 25 % between 1990 and 2009, thus offsetting some of the emissions reductions achieved due to fuel switching from solid fuels to natural gas and from the increase share of renewables. However, in 2009, the electricity production decreased significantly for the first time (-4.6% compared to 2008), because of the economic crisis. In non-EU EEA countries, electricity production increased by 2.7%/year since 2009, with a fall in 2009 (-3.3%), mainly driven by gas (+12.7%year) and coal (+5.3%/year). Rationale Electricity production can have negative impacts on the environment and human health. The fuel mix used for in electricity production provides a broad indication of whether these effects are likely to diminish or will be enhanced. The type and the extent of pressures on the environment and human health stemming from electricity production depend upon the type and the amount of fuels used for electricity generation as well as the use of abatement technologies. See also ENER 02, ENER 18 and ENER 27

Energy intensity in the service sector (ENER 024) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Cinzia Pastorello — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:09:31 +0200

Over the period 2000-2009, the energy intensity (energy consumption at normal climate [1] per unit of value added) in the service sector decreased in the EU-27 by 1 %/year on average, showing a relative decoupling between energy consumption and activity (value added). Over the period 2005-2009 this intensity decreased by 1.8%/year, with a reverse trend in 2009 (+0.3%). In the same time energy consumption decreased by 0.3%/year (-1.9% in 2009) reaching 143 Mtoe in 2009 (117 Mtoe in 1990, 145 Mtoe in 2005). Electricity consumption per employee in EU-27 increased by 12%, at an annual growth rate of 1.3%, due to increased use of air conditioning in southern countries and of IT and other electrical equipment. This led to an increase in the electricity intensity of the service sector in EU-27 (electricity consumption per unit of value added) of 8% over the period 2000-2009 at an annual growth rate of 0.8% (same annual changes from 2005-2009). From 2005 to 2009 the electricity consumption per employee increased quite more rapidly (+1.1%/year and +3.2% in 2009). The electricity consumption per employee reached 4850 kWh/employee in 2009 (4645 kWh/employee in 2005, 4328 kWh/employee in 1990). [1] Energy intensity at normal climate (i.e. corrected for climatic variations)

Energy efficiency and energy consumption in the transport sector (ENER 023) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Carsten Iversen — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:08:46 +0200

In the EU-27 countries, energy efficiency in the transport sector increased by 16% between 1990 and 2009, at an annual average rate of 0.9% due to increased efficiency particularly for passenger cars and airplanes. Over the same period, energy consumption in transport in EU-27 countries increased by 28% at an annual average rate of 1.3% - slower than GDP (1.8%/year). Trends in transport are mainly due to an increasing consumption of air transport (+2.9%/year since 1990) followed by trucks and light vehicles (1.6%/year) and cars (+0.9%/year). On the contrary energy consumption of rail tends to decrease over the period (-0.8%/year).Growth in passengers and freight traffic, together with an observed modal shift from public transport to road transport, contributed to increase the energy consumption in transport, offsetting part of the energy efficiency gains.

Final energy consumption intensity (ENER 021) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Cinzia Pastorello — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:06:36 +0200

Over the period 1990-2009, the EU-27 final energy intensity has decreased by 26% at an annual average rate of 1.6%/year. From 2005 to 2009, decoupling of economic growth from final energy consumption was more rapid and resulted in a faster energy intensity reduction of 2.2%/year: since 2005, decoupling was the most successful in the agriculture and industrial sectors where the energy intensity has decreased by respectively 3.3%/year and 3.1%/year. In the tertiary and transport sectors the final energy consumption intensities have decreased by 2.4%/y and 0.5%/y since 2005. In the households sector, the final energy consumption per capita decreased slightly (-1%/year over 2005-2009), due to counterbalancing effects: larger and more numerous dwellings, greater ownership of electrical appliances on the one hand, energy efficiency improvements on the other hand. In non EU-EEA countries, the final energy intensity has decreased by 8.3% or 0.5%/year over the period 1990-2009.

Combined heat and power (CHP) (ENER 020) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Cinzia Pastorello — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:05:17 +0200

In 2009, the share of electricity produced from combined heat and power (CHP) in the EU-27 was 11.4% a modest growth from 2008 (11.0%), but it has changed little from earlier years, where in 2005 11.1%, despite strong policy support to promote the technology in many Member States. High gas prices, inconsistent energy policies and relatively low electricity prices have kept the competitiveness of gas-fired CHP-plants marginal in many Member States, though there are signs that this is changing. CHP is also a significant contributor to the heat supply in Europe, supplying 15.2%. However, the EU-15 indicative target of 18% of CHP electricity in gross electricity production by 2010 will be missed (currently 11.0% of total gross electricity production in EU-15).

Efficiency of conventional thermal electricity generation (ENER 019) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Cinzia Pastorello — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:04:35 +0200

The efficiency of electricity and heat production from conventional thermal power plants improved between 1990 and 2009 by 5.5 percentage points (from 45.4% in 1990 to 50.9% in 2009). Between 1990 and 2005, the improvement was even greater at 7.0 percentage points (from 45.4% in 1990 to 52.4% in 2005). The improvement until 2005 was due to the closure of old inefficient plants, improvements in existing technologies, often combined with a switch from coal power plants to more efficient combined cycle gas-turbines. Between 2005 and 2009, there was a decline in efficiency of electricity and heat production from conventional thermal power plants of 1.5 percentage points (from 52.4% in 2005 to 50.9% in 2009) because of lower heat production.

Final electricity consumption by sector (ENER 018) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Cinzia Pastorello — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:03:52 +0200

Over the period 1990-2009 final electricity consumption increased by 26.4% in the EU-27 countries at an average annual growth of around 1.2% per year. In non-EU EEA countries, the electricity consumption increased by 68.3% over the same period, at a much higher annual growth rate of 2.8%. In the EU-27, the strongest growth was observed in the services sector (including agriculture) (66.8%), followed by households (39.0%) and the transport sector (13.2%). The observed increase is the consequence of the attractiveness of electricity as an energy carrier. However, the industrial sector has seen a decrease in electricity consumption compared to 1990 levels (-0.7%). Between 2008 and 2009, however, final electricity consumption decreased by 5.0% in the EU-27 countries and 3.8% in the non-EU EEA countries due to the economic recession.

Total primary energy intensity (CSI 028/ENER 017) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Cinzia Pastorello — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:03:10 +0200

Total energy intensity decreased by 1.6% from 1990 to 2009 in the EU-27. Since 2005 the intensity decrease more rapidly, by 2.2%/year on average. In 2009, the global economic crisis led to a significant drop in total energy consumption (-5.5%) in the EU-27 with the GDP decreasing by 4.3%: this resulted in a 1.3% decrease in the total primary intensity In non EU EEA countries the primary energy intensity has been on average quite stable over the period 1990-2009; it however increased in the recent years, by 1.4%/year over 2005-2009 (+1.4%/year).

Nuclear energy and waste production (ENER 013) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Cinzia Pastorello — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:00:02 +0200

The amount of high level nuclear waste from nuclear electricity production continues to accumulate. In 2009, 34,824 tonnes of heavy metals contained in high level nuclear waste was in storage, up 4.7% since 2008. The annual quantity of spent fuel was approximately 1,828 tonnes of heavy metals in 2009. However, there is a decreasing trend in the annual quantity of spent fuel arisings since 1990. On the other hand, the amount of electricity produced from nuclear power has increased by 12.5% over the period 1990 to 2009 (see ENER27). This decoupling between electricity production and generation of radioactive waste can be explained by the fact that fuel rods are replaced gradually as well as by improvements in fuel burnup and plant efficiency [1] . [1] Energy efficiency is calculated using an efficiney coefficient of 33% for all reactors (the efficiency of a particular reactor type – CANDU) since all reactors types are slightly different. However overtime there is a trend towards more efficient reactors in Europe, such as those with breeder reactors/fuel enrichment. However, once a reactor is built, the efficiency assumed is fixed at 33%.

Net Energy Import Dependency (ENER 012) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Cinzia Pastorello — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:58:57 +0200

Total net imports (imports minus exports) of natural gas, solid fuels and oil (including petroleum products) as a share of primary energy consumption rose from 54.2 % in 2005 to 55.5% in 2009. The increased use of gas, primarily replacing domestic coal, has had a positive environmental benefit within the EU (for example via reduced emissions of greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions), but has also increased some risks associated with security of energy supply. In 2009, 11.7% of net imports were solid fuels, 59.8% were oil and 28.5% were gas.

Energy-related emissions of acidifying substances (ENER 006) - Assessment published Apr 2012

Carsten Iversen — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:55:02 +0200

Energy-related emissions account for only 2% of NH 3 emissions but 96% of NO x and 94% of SO 2 emissions in the EEA-32 in 2009. They fell by 17%, 13% and 21% respectively between 2005 and 2009 in EEA-32 countries. Since 1990, these energy related emissions declined by 40% and 78% for NO x and SO 2 respectively but increased by 88% for NH 3 in the EU-27 and declined by 37% (NO x ) and 74% (SO 2 ) and increased by 92% (NH 3 ) in EEA-32 member countries. However as noted earlier the percentage of energy related NH 3 emissions are insignificant compare do the non-energy related NH 3 emissions. Most of the total reduction in pollutants contributing to acid deposition since 1990 is accounted for by lower SO 2 emissions from the energy-producing sector and lower NO x emissions from the transport sector. The EU-27 is broadly on track to meet its overall targets set under the NEC Directive (NECD) [1] , however further reductions are needed to improve remaining local and transboundary air pollution issues, and for ensuring that individual countries meet emissions ceiling targets under the NECD and the UNECE Gothenburg Protocol. [1] See Pollutant Specific Factsheet NOx