Overview of electricity production and use in Europe

Assessment versions

Published (reviewed and quality assured)

• No published assessments

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

Electricity generation gives rise to negative impacts on the environment and human health throughout all stages of its life-cycle, from resource extraction to electricity use. The fuel mix used in electricity production provides a broad indication of the type and magnitude of pressures on the environment and human health. Impacts stemming from electricity production depend on the (fossil) fuel employed, how it was extracted and processed, the actual technology (and its efficiency) used to produce electricity, as well as the use of abatement technologies. Electricity generated from renewable energy sources generally has a lower environmental impact (e.g. emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants) over its life-cycle than electricity generated from fossil fuels. A higher share of renewable electricity thus helps to diminish the environmental pressures stemming from electricity generation.

An almost full decarbonisation of the electricity sector will be needed in order to meet the EU’s objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95 % by 2050.

Increasing electricity generation and use throughout Europe — without reforming the current energy system — will lead to higher overall health and environmental impacts. Nevertheless, an increase in electricity consumption in the transport sector might signal a positive modal shift towards rail transport or a higher penetration of electric vehicles.

Scientific references

• Annual European Union greenhouse gas inventory report
• Electricity information - IEA statistics
• EEA - Greenhouse gas data viewer

Indicator definition

Total gross electricity generation covers gross electricity generation in all types of power plants. Gross electricity generation at plant level is defined as the electricity measured at the outlet of the main transformers, i.e. the consumption of electricity in the plant auxiliaries and in transformers is included.

Electricity production by fuel is the gross electricity generation from plants using the following fuels: coal and lignite, oil, nuclear, natural and derived gas, renewables (wind, hydro, biomass and waste, solar photovoltaics and geothermal) and other fuels. The latter include electricity produced from power plants not accounted for elsewhere such as those fuelled by certain types of industrial wastes, which are not classed as renewable. Other fuels also include the electricity produced as a result of pumping in hydro power stations.

The share of each fuel in electricity production is taken as the ratio of electricity production from the relevant category against total gross electricity generation. It should be noted that the share of renewable electricity in this indicator, based on production, is not directly comparable with the share required under Directive 2001/77/EC, which is based on the share of renewables in electricity consumption. The difference between both shares is accounted for by the net balance between imports and exports of electricity and by how much domestic electricity generation is increased or reduced as a result.

Final electricity consumption covers electricity supplied to the final consumer's door for all energy uses. It does not include the electricity producer's own use or transmission and distribution losses. It is calculated as the sum of final electricity consumption from all sectors. These are disaggregated to cover industry, transport, households and services (including agriculture and other sectors).

Units

• Electricity generation is measured in either gigawatt hours (GWh) or terawatt hours (TWh) (1 TWh = 1 000 GWh).
• Final electricity consumption is measured in terawatt hours (TWh).
• CO₂ emissions are measured in teragrams (Tg; 1 Tg = 1 megatonne).

Policy context and targets

Context description

Environmental context

This indicator describes the trends observed in electricity generation and use in Europe. Electricity generation has a number of negative impacts on the environment and human health. These arise at all stages of the electricity life-cycle, for instance:

• impacts on climate change and air quality due to the emission of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases and air pollutants (e.g. SO₂, NO_x and PM) arise from combustion processes;
• impacts on water quality and quantity as a result of dam construction for hydropower, water retention for energy and crops, and water use for the cooling of power plants;
• direct and indirect impacts on land resources, including natural habitats and ecosystems, as a result of further deforestation in the tropics for the production of bioenergy, as well as the fragmentation of habitats due to resource extraction and the construction of pipelines, grids and infrastructures needed for power generation.
• a broad range of specific social and environmental impacts due to the extraction of conventional and unconventional fossil fuels.

Most of these impacts tend to be fuel-specific. For instance, nuclear power produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric pollution throughout its life-cycle, compared with conventional sources, but carries a certain risk of accidental radioactive release. Moreover, the management and disposal of spent fuel and radioactive waste is problematic. While electricity from natural gas gives rise to approximately 40 % fewer carbon dioxide emissions per unit than coal and 25 % fewer carbon dioxide emissions than oil, and contains only marginal quantities of sulphur (see ENER 036), increasing the use of unconventional gas resources (such as shale gas and coal-bed methane) would lead to other specific environmental pressures.

In total gross electricity production, the shares of electricity generation from different fuels aim to indicate to what extent the decarbonisation of electricity generation in Europe has occurred. Pressure exerted on the environment and human health due to energy consumption can be diminished by decreasing electricity consumption through efficiency improvements and energy conservation, and switching to those sources and technologies that have a lower impact on the environment and human health.

Policy context

• Conclusions of the 2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework, European Council, 23 and 24 October 2014, SN 79/14.
• A policy framework for climate and energy between 2020 and 2030 (COM(2014) 15 final) presents an integrated policy framework with binding EU-wide targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions and the development of renewable energy sources, and includes objectives for energy efficiency improvements up to 2030.
• A roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050 (COM(2011) 112 final) presents plans for action in line with an 80-95 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
• Energy 2020 — A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy (COM(2010) 639 final) — presents the five priorities of the new energy strategy defined by the Commission.
• On 6 April, the Council adopted the climate-energy legislative package, known as the climate action and renewable energy (CARE) package, containing measures to fight climate change and promote renewable energy. This package is designed to achieve the EU's overall environmental target of a 20 % reduction in greenhouse gases and a 20 % share of renewable energy in the EU's total energy consumption by 2020.
• 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 emissions allowance trading scheme of the community.
• Directive 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the geological storage of carbon dioxide.
• Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.
• Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework to set eco-design requirements for energy-related products.
• Directive 2010/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on indications of the consumption of energy and other resources by energy-related products via labelling and standard product information.
• Community guidelines on state aid for environmental protection (2008/c 82/01).
• Directive 2008/101/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emissions allowance trading within the Community.
• 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 reducing CO₂ emissions from light-duty vehicles.
• Second Strategic Energy Review; COM(2008) 781 final. Strategic review on short, medium and long term targets for EU energy security.

Targets

No targets have been specified

Related policy documents

• 2008/c 82/01
  Community guidelines on state aid for environmental protection (2008/c 82/01)
• 2009/31/EC
  Directive 2009/31/ec of the European parliament and of the Council on the geological storage of carbon dioxide.
• 2009/125/EC - Ecodesign Directive
  The Ecodesign Directive is a framework Directive: it does not set binding requirements on products by itself, but through  implementing measures  adopted on a case by case basis for each product group. All guiding principles for developing implementing measures are set in the  framework Directive 2009/125/EC . The list of product groups to be addressed through implementing measures is established in the periodic  Working Plan .  Standardisation  supports the implementation of the Ecodesign Directive (notably through harmonised standards giving presumption of conformity with all or some Ecodesign legal requirements).
• COM(2008) 16 final
  Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to improve and extend the greenhouse gasemission allowance trading system of the Community
• COM(2008) 781
  COM(2008) 781 final - Second Strategic Energy Review
• COM(2010) 639 final: Energy 2020 – A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy
  A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy
• 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(2014) 15 final A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030
  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions "A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030". 22 January 2014, COM(2014) 15 final; {SWD(2014) 15 final}, {SWD(2014) 16 final}.  This Communication p resents an integrated policy framework with binding EU-wide targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions and the development of renewable energy sources and with objectives for energy efficiency improvements for the period up to 2030.
• 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 2008/101/EC
  DIRECTIVE 2008/101/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 19 November 2008 amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community
• 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 2009/29/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.
• Directive 2010/30/EU Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 2010 on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other resources by energy-related products
  Energy labeling directive
• EEA greenhouse gas - data viewer
  The EEA GHG viewer provides easy access and analysis of the data contained in the Annual European Union greenhouse gas inventory and inventory report. The EEA GHG data viewer can show emission trends for the main sectors and allows for comparisons of emissions between different countries and activities.
• EU Council Conclusion SN79/14 on 2030 Climate and Energy Framework
  EU Council conclusions of 23 October 2014 on 2030 Climate and Energy Framework
• Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
  Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; adopted at COP3 in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997
• REGULATION (EC) No 443/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 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.
• The EU climate and energy (CARE) Package
  The climate and energy package is a set of binding legislation which aims to ensure the European Union meets its ambitious climate and energy targets for 2020. These targets, known as the "20-20-20" targets, set three key objectives for 2020: A 20% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels; Raising the share of EU energy consumption produced from renewable resources to 20%; A 20% improvement in the EU's energy efficiency.

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

Methodology for gap filling

Population data for France, for the year 1990, were missing in the data sets shown by ESTAT. Therefore, when calculating the electricity consumption per capita, the data point for population in France in 1991 was applied as proxy for 1990.

Methodology references

No methodology references available.

Data specifications

EEA data references

• National emissions reported to the UNFCCC and to the EU Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Mechanism provided by European Environment Agency (EEA)

External data references

• Electricity Consumption (dataset URL is not available)
• Energy statistics (Eurostat)

Data sources in latest figures

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Care is needed when using estimates for the CO₂ emission intensity of total electricity production. Assumptions are used to estimate these intensities, given that the CO₂ emissions data from the EEA greenhouse gas data viewer (category 1A1a, Public Electricity and Heat production) include both the emissions from power and heat generation. Specifically, for the allocation of CO₂ emissions from combined heat and power (CHP) plants, the EEA has chosen a proportionality approach based on the electricity and heat output data from Eurostat. This implies an equal average efficiency for both heat and electricity generation, which is likely to overstate the electricity efficiency and to understate heat efficiency for CHP plants.  

Data sets uncertainty

Data have been traditionally compiled by Eurostat using the annual joint questionnaires, which are shared by Eurostat and the International Energy Agency, following a well established and harmonised methodology. Methodological information on the annual joint questionnaires and data compilation can be found on the Eurostat web page for metadata on energy statistics: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/energy/methodology.

Rationale uncertainty

Biomass and wastes, as defined by Eurostat, cover organic, non-fossil material of biological origin, which may be used for heat production or electricity generation. They comprise wood and wood waste, biogas, municipal solid waste (MSW) and biofuels. MSW comprises biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes produced by different sectors. Non-biodegradable municipal and solid wastes are not considered to be renewable, but current data availability does not allow the non-biodegradable content of wastes to be identified separately, except for that from industry.

Also, electricity data (unlike that for overall energy consumption) for 1990 refer to the western part of Germany only.

Electricity consumption within the national territory includes imports of electricity from neighbouring countries. It also excludes electricity produced nationally but exported abroad. In some countries, the contribution of electricity trade to total electricity consumption and the changes observed from year to year need to be looked at carefully when analysing trends in electricity production by fuel. Impacts on the (national) environment are also affected, since emissions are counted where electricity is produced, whereas consumption is counted where electricity is consumed.