Transport final energy consumption by mode

Assessment versions

Published (reviewed and quality assured)

• Transport final energy consumption by mode (TERM 001) - Assessment published Jan 2013
• Transport final energy consumption by mode (TERM 001) - Assessment published Jan 2011
• Transport final energy consumption by mode (TERM 001) - Assessment published Oct 2010
• Transport final energy consumption by mode (TERM 001) - Assessment published Apr 2009

Justification for indicator selection

Energy consumption is an important driver of environmental pressure, most notably climate change. The growth of energy consumption in the transport sector is hampering efforts to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions and thus far measures to reduce energy consumption from transport have not had the desired effect. Emission reduction measures continue to be outbalanced by increased transport growth. Additional policy which combines different measures to reduce energy consumption is essential.

Scientific references:

• No rationale references available.

Indicator definition

The total energy consumption in transport in Mtoe from 1990 onwards. Transport modes included are bunkers (sea), air transport (domestic and international), inland navigation, rail transport and road transport (split by passenger and freight).

Units

Million terajoules, and 1000 Tonnes of Oil Equivalent (The tonne of oil equivalent is a conventional standardised unit for measuring energy, defined on the basis of a tonne of oil with a net calorific value of 41 868 kilojoules/kg).

Policy context and targets

Context description

Reduction in fuel consumption by the transport sector and/or of its impacts may be achieved through three primary means:

-          Avoid: reducing transport demand by limiting the number and length of trips;

-          Shift: shift to more fuel efficient transport modes;

-          Improve: increase the energy efficiency of vehicles and their energy sources or improving transport management; includes fuel switching – i.e. changing to renewable or low carbon fuels such as sustainable biofuels or using renewable generation technologies for electric/fuel cell vehicles.

Although climate policy and theKyotoprotocol are important drivers in reducing fossil fuel consumption (and air quality policy to a lesser extent), this indicator is primarily concerned with energy policy. Other related issues are addressed in TERM02 (Transport Emissions of Greenhouse Gases), TERM03 (Transport Emissions of Air Pollutants) and TERM 31 (Uptake of Cleaner and Alternative Fuels).

 

A Green Paper on Energy Efficiency was published in 2005 (COM(2005)265 "Doing more with less") outlining a number of options for transport in terms of increasing energy efficiency. Subsequently in 2006, an Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (COM(2006)545) based on the Green Paper consultation was produced (2007-2012). The Action Plan proposed a number of measures for transport including:

• Reaffirming the Commission's commitment to addressing the issue of fuel efficiency and CO₂ emissions from cars by proposing legislation (if necessary) to ensure that the 120g CO₂/km target is achieved by 2012 (set in the Regulation No.443/2009). A strategy has since been agreed in which improvements in motor technology will have to reduce average emissions to no more than 130g/km, while complementary measures would contribute a further 10g/km reduction. These complementary measures relate to air conditioning systems, tyre pressure monitoring systems, standards for the rolling resistance of tyres, gear shift indicators, fuel efficiency progress in light commercial vehicles and use of biofuels (COM(2007)19).
• Strengthening EU-wide real time traffic and travel information systems and traffic management.
• Working towards minimum efficiency requirements for automobile air-conditioning systems (COM(2008)11).
• Development of a proposed labelling scheme for tyres, facilitating voluntary agreements and other measures on accurate tyre pressure monitoring schemes and considering compulsory fitting of tyre pressure monitoring systems on new vehicles.
• Proposing legislation to harmonise requirements to promote fuel efficiency in driver education curricula and support projects.
• Promoting energy efficiency in the aviation sector through the ongoing development of SESAR (Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research project). In March 2009 the European Parliament approved the second 'Single European Sky' (SES II) package consisting of two regulations aimed at improving the performance of the European aviation system in key areas such as safety, capacity, flight, cost efficiency and environmental sustainability, by coordinating and supervising member states' air traffic control systems and implementing common rules and performance targets.
• Exploiting the potential for optimising hull cleaning of ships, realising the benefits of shore-side electricity for harboured ships by proposing legislation and promoting short sea shipping and the motorways of the sea.

A new package of measures aimed at implementing some of the above actions on climate change and energy was adopted in April 2009 and includes:

• Decision No. 406/2009/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the effort of Member States to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Community’s greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments up to 2030.
• Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC (Renewable Energy Directive – RED).
• Directive 2009/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to improve and extend the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme of the Community
• Directive 2009/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 amending Directive 98/70/EC as regards the specification of petrol, diesel and gas-oil and introducing a mechanism to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and amending Council Directive 1999/32/EC as regards the specification of fuel used by inland waterway vessels and repealing Directive 93/12/EEC (Fuel Quality Directive - FQD);
• Regulation (EC) No. 443/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the Community’s integrated approach to reduce CO₂ emissions from light-duty vehicles (Regulations for passenger car CO₂). This regulation sets the average CO₂ emissions for new passenger cars at 130g CO₂/km, by means of improvement in vehicle motor technology, as measured in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and its implementing measures and innovative technologies. This limit will be implemented in stages from 2012 when 65 % of newly manufactured vehicles must comply, to 100 % by 2015. From 2020 onwards, this Regulation sets a target of 95g CO₂/km as average emissions for the new car fleet, in accordance with Article 13(5).

Other policies of note include:

• Directive 2009/33/EC: Clean and Energy-efficient road transport, which is concerned with the requirement for public bodies to take into account energy and environmental impacts of road transport vehicles they are purchasing and operating

In April 2010, the European Commission presented a strategy which builds upon the 2007 strategy to increase uptake of clean and energy efficient vehicles. The European strategy on clean and energy efficient vehicles (COM(2010) 186) aims to reduce CO₂ emissions from road transport by promoting energy efficient vehicles based on conventional internal combustion engines as well as facilitating the deployment of breakthrough technologies in ultra-low carbon vehicles.

The European Commission is also working towards the development of proposals for whole vehicle test cycles for Heavy Duty Vehicles that would facilitate potential future regulation of efficiency and/or tailpipe emissions from these vehicles. However, the first proposals are not expected until 2013.

Targets

The Community has committed itself to a 30 % reduction in GHG emissions in the context of a global agreement and a 20 % reduction unilaterally by 2020 (from 1990 levels). The EU also called for the GHG reduction between 60 and 80 % by 2050 as a global action to prevent climate change (Decision No 406/2009/EC).

Two key documents published by the European Commission in 2011 outline possible strategies for the transport sector, compatible with this 2050 target. These are the ‘Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050’ and the third decennial transport White Paper, ‘Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system’. Both documents also support delivery of the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, and of the Commissions resource-efficient Europe flagship. The Roadmap has subsequently received endorsement from the European Parliament, which has also called upon the Commission to set additional interim greenhouse gas emission reduction for 2030 and 2040, including concrete objectives for each sector. The 2050 Roadmap proposes a greenhouse gas emission reduction target of 54-67 % for transport (including international aviation but excluding maritime shipping). This level of reduction (60% on 1990 GHG emissions by 2050) is also envisages in the 2011 Transport White Paper strategy, plus an intermediate target of 20 % reduction on 2008 GHG emissions by 2030. An additional objective to reduce CO₂ emissions from maritime bunker fuels by at least 40 %  on 2005 levels was also included

Related policy documents

• 406/2009/EC
  Decision on the effort of Member States to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Community's greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments up to 2030
• 443/2009
  Regulation (ec) no 443/2009 of the European parliament and of the Council setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the community's integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles.
• 2009/29/ec
  Directive 2009/29/ec of the European parliament and of the Council amending directive 2003/87/ec so as to improve and extend the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme of the community.
• COM (2008) 11
  First assessment of national energy efficiency plans as required by Directive 2006/32/EC on energy end-use efficiency and energy services – Moving towards together on energy efficiency
• COM (2011) 112 - A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050
  With its "Roadmap for moving to a competitive low-carbon economy in 2050" the European Commission is looking beyond these 2020 objectives and setting out a plan to meet the long-term target of reducing domestic emissions by 80 to 95% by mid-century as agreed by European Heads of State and governments. It shows how the sectors responsible for Europe's emissions - power generation, industry, transport, buildings and construction, as well as agriculture - can make the transition to a low-carbon economy over the coming decades.
• COM(2005) 265 final. Green paper on energy efficiency or doing more with less. European Commission.
• COM(2006) 545
  Action Plan for Energy Efficiency
• COM(2007) 19
  Results of the review of the Community Strategy to reduce CO2 emissions from passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles.
• COM(2010) 2020, Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
  European Commission, 2010. Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. COM(2010) 2020. 
• COM(2011) 21
  A resource-efficient Europe – Flagship initiative under the Europe 2020 Strategy
• COM(2011) 144 Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system
  PREPARING THE EUROPEAN TRANSPORT AREA FOR THE FUTURE
• Decision No 406/2009/EC (Effort Sharing Decision)
  Decision No 406/2009/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the effort of Member States to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Community’s greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments up to 2020
• DIRECTIVE 2009/28/EC
  DIRECTIVE 2009/28/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC
• DIRECTIVE 2009/30/EC
  DIRECTIVE 2009/30/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 April 2009 amending Directive 98/70/EC as regards the specification of petrol, diesel and gas-oil and introducing a mechanism to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and amending Council Directive 1999/32/EC as regards the specification of fuel used by inland waterway vessels and repealing Directive 93/12/EEC
• REGULATION (EC) No 661/2009
  REGULATION (EC) No 661/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate technical units intended therefor
• REGULATION (EU) No 510/2011
  REGULATION (EU) No 510/2011 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL setting emission performance standards for new light commercial vehicles as part of the Union's integrated approach to reduce CO 2 emissions from light-duty vehicles

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

Energy statistics for transport are collected from Member States and collated by Eurostat. To assess whether the total energy from consumption from transport is growing, time series data for energy consumed was obtained from Eurostat. Data for various fuels was downloaded for ‘bunkers’ (sea), air (domestic and international), inland navigation, road transport and rail transport. Data for bunkers covers the quantities of fuel delivered to sea going vessels of all countries. Data for inland and coastal water is not included in bunkers (sea). Data for air covers quantities of fuel consumed in national and international air traffic. Energy consumed by electric and diesel trains is included within the rail data. 

Since Eurostat data is being used to process statistics, the Eurostat methodology is to be referred to for data collection and specification (see Eurostat, ITF and UNECE, 2009).

Methodology for gap filling

No gap-filling is applied for this indicator.

Methodology for extrapolation

The final energy consumption time series contains an extrapolation to the latest available year (2010). The primary Eurostat dataset does not extend to 2010, so an extrapolation was made based on Eurostat monthly data on supply and transformation of oil-based products. The following assumptions were used:

 

• Maritime bunker final energy consumption was assumed to correlate with internal market deliveries of maritime bunker fuels;
• Road transport final energy consumption was assumed to correlate with an energy-weighted combination of internal market deliveries of motor gasoline and transport diesel;
• Aviation final energy consumption was assumed to correlate with internal market deliveries of kerosene – jet fuel.

 

Example calculation for 2012 TERM report: using these assumptions, final energy consumption in 2011 is extrapolated by the formula:

[Final energy consumption 2011] = [Final energy consumption 2010] * [Internal market deliveries 2011] / [Internal market deliveries 2010]

For other modes, final energy consumption was assumed to remain a constant in proportion to the sum of the above three modes. It is recognised that this is a very crude assumption, however the remaining modes account for less than 5 % of the total final energy consumption in all recent years.

Methodology references

• Eurostat, ITF and UNECE, 2009. Illustrated glossary for transport statistics. 4th Edition.

Data specifications

EEA data references

• No datasets have been specified here.

External data references

• Energy statistics (Eurostat)

Data sources in latest figures

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Data trends within the individual countries are difficult to ascertain as energy consumption data often shows unexpected volatility from year to year. Energy consumption is calculated based on fuel sales, and reported on through a common questionnaire. It is the responsibility of National Authorities to collect the relevant basic energy data required for filling in the questionnaires and report them to Eurostat following the prescribed methodology.

Maritime transport (i.e. bunkers) covers fuels delivered to sea-going ships, except those navigating in coastal and inland waters. This category includes mainly international freight transport. Much of this fuel is tanked in countries such as the Netherlands that serve as international hubs. The energy consumption is allocated to countries based on the amount of fuel (energy) tanked in a specific country.

Data on aviation covers quantities delivered to aircraft in national and international air traffic.  The domestic/international split for each country should be determined on the basis of departure and landing locations and not by the nationality of the airline.

Data sets uncertainty

National data varies significantly from country to country and depending on the fuel type and production/consumption sector. Da[ASV1] ta is lacking for oil pipelines for the majority of countries, making it less reliable. Occasionally, data used in older time-series may change due to revisions in the methodology used. Such changes have resulted in small alterations of a few percent.

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Rationale uncertainty

No uncertainty has been specified.

Work description

Further work could be undertaken to improve the methodology for the allocation of energy consumption from bunkers and aviation. In particular, for bunkers a more appropriate method for recording energy consumption may be to make sure that consumption is allocated to the appropriate member country transporting the freight and not the country providing the bunkers.   Detailed information on biofuels by product (classified as ‘5545 Biofuels’, ‘5546 Bio gasoline’, ‘5547 Biodiesel’, ‘5548 Other Liquid Biofuels’) has been separated as of 2005. Currently fuel type products 5546, 5547 and 5548 are aggregated to make up 5545. For other years from 1990 to 2004 only the aggregated product 5545 is available, but in the future, analysis of bio energy produced by specific type could be analyzed.

Resource needs

No resource needs have been specified

Status

In progress

Deadline

2015/12/31 00:00:00 GMT+1