Emissions and energy use in large combustion plants in Europe

Emissions from large combustion plants in the EU have decreased since 2004: sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and dust by 94% and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) by 73%. Declines in emissions and improvements in environmental performance were largely driven by European policy, setting legally binding emission limit values. Fossil fuel usage decreased by 41% as energy production shifted to climate-friendly sources and coal no longer the primary fuel in large combustion plants. Stricter emission limit values and policies aimed at increasing the use of renewable or cleaner fuels are expected to drive further declines in combustion plant emissions in coming years.

Lead Image No image
Lead Image Caption
Metadata
DPSIR Pressure
Typology Descriptive indicator (Type A - What is happening to the environment and to humans?)
UN SDGs SDG9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Topics Energy, Industry, Air pollution
Temporal coverage { "readOnly": true, "temporal": [ { "label": "2004", "value": "2004" }, { "label": "2005", "value": "2005" }, { "label": "2006", "value": "2006" }, { "label": "2007", "value": "2007" }, { "label": "2008", "value": "2008" }, { "label": "2009", "value": "2009" }, { "label": "2010", "value": "2010" }, { "label": "2011", "value": "2011" }, { "label": "2012", "value": "2012" }, { "label": "2013", "value": "2013" }, { "label": "2014", "value": "2014" }, { "label": "2015", "value": "2015" }, { "label": "2016", "value": "2016" }, { "label": "2017", "value": "2017" }, { "label": "2018", "value": "2018" }, { "label": "2019", "value": "2019" }, { "label": "2020", "value": "2020" }, { "label": "2021", "value": "2021" }, { "label": "2022", "value": "2022" }, { "label": "2023", "value": "2023" } ] }
Geographic coverage { "readOnly": true, "geolocation": [ { "label": "Austria", "value": "geo-2782113" }, { "label": "Belgium", "value": "geo-2802361" }, { "label": "Bulgaria", "value": "geo-732800" }, { "label": "Croatia", "value": "geo-3202326" }, { "label": "Cyprus", "value": "geo-146669" }, { "label": "Czechia", "value": "geo-3077311" }, { "label": "Denmark", "value": "geo-2623032" }, { "label": "Estonia", "value": "geo-453733" }, { "label": "Finland", "value": "geo-660013" }, { "label": "France", "value": "geo-3017382" }, { "label": "Germany", "value": "geo-2921044" }, { "label": "Greece", "value": "geo-390903" }, { "label": "Hungary", "value": "geo-719819" }, { "label": "Ireland", "value": "geo-2963597" }, { "label": "Italy", "value": "geo-3175395" }, { "label": "Latvia", "value": "geo-458258" }, { "label": "Lithuania", "value": "geo-597427" }, { "label": "Luxembourg", "value": "geo-2960313" }, { "label": "Malta", "value": "geo-2562770" }, { "label": "Netherlands", "value": "geo-2750405" }, { "label": "Poland", "value": "geo-798544" }, { "label": "Portugal", "value": "geo-2264397" }, { "label": "Romania", "value": "geo-798549" }, { "label": "Slovakia", "value": "geo-3057568" }, { "label": "Slovenia", "value": "geo-3190538" }, { "label": "Spain", "value": "geo-2510769" }, { "label": "Sweden", "value": "geo-2661886" } ] }
Workflow
Content responsible Head of Group Ian Marnane
Layout
Blocks { "09e6d000-96b5-46cf-bf0d-b187f4c4ccab": { "@layout": "8cb090c3-7071-40b8-9c7b-aca2ca3d0ad9", "@type": "accordion", "allowedBlocks": [ "columnsBlock", "slateFootnotes", "metadataSection" ], "block": "09f79d62-2435-468a-96ae-ffb75014ca3f", "collapsed": true, "data": { "blocks": { "309c5ef9-de09-4759-bc02-802370dfa366": { "@type": "accordionPanel", "blocks": { "e047340c-c02e-4247-89ab-5fec73aeb5d3": { "@type": "columnsBlock", "data": { "blocks": { "a8a2323e-32af-426e-9ede-1f17affd664c": { "blocks": { "fe145094-71e0-4b3d-82f3-e4d79ac13533": { "@type": "metadataSection", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fields": [ { "@id": "94d638f1-89e1-4f97-aa59-b89b565f60fb", "field": { "id": "taxonomy_typology", "title": "Typology", "widget": "choices" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "ec261e45-f97d-465c-b5a3-0e4aa5187114", "field": { "id": "taxonomy_un_sdgs", "title": "UN SDGs", "widget": "array" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "eaef9ff4-0f8d-4360-9d19-5c6a2fd2dd00", "field": { "id": "unit_of_measure", "title": "Unit of measure", "widget": "slate" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "089cd1a1-92d4-47e2-8f6e-4bdb358600fe", "field": { "id": "frequency_of_dissemination", "title": "Frequency of dissemination", "widget": "integer" }, "showLabel": true } ], "fixed": true, "fixedLayout": true, "readOnly": false, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Right column", "variation": "default" } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "fe145094-71e0-4b3d-82f3-e4d79ac13533" ] }, "readOnlySettings": true }, "d9b41958-c17c-45f8-bae1-4140b537a033": { "blocks": { "2a56568a-10af-4a5b-8c73-22aa8cb734fe": { "@type": "metadataSection", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fields": [ { "@id": "48a20e0b-d3bd-41ac-aa06-e97c61071bd2", "field": { "id": "taxonomy_dpsir", "title": "DPSIR", "widget": "choices" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "34ceb93f-b405-4afd-aeae-a05abd44d355", "field": { "id": "topics", "title": "Topics", "widget": "array" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "fd2cdb9e-5ddd-4b46-8382-0d687ce2883e", "field": { "id": "subjects", "title": "Tags", "widget": "tags" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "0e842d87-c9f4-438e-b234-f83141d25ff3", "field": { "id": "temporal_coverage", "title": "Temporal coverage", "widget": "temporal" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "0b8ee8c2-046b-4243-9f11-116df6e0a524", "field": { "id": "geo_coverage", "title": "Geographic coverage", "widget": "geolocation" }, "showLabel": true } ], "fixed": true, "fixedLayout": true, "readOnly": false, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Left column", "variation": "default" } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "2a56568a-10af-4a5b-8c73-22aa8cb734fe" ] }, "readOnlySettings": true } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "d9b41958-c17c-45f8-bae1-4140b537a033", "a8a2323e-32af-426e-9ede-1f17affd664c" ] } }, "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "fixedLayout": true, "gridCols": [ "halfWidth", "halfWidth" ], "gridSize": 12, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "readOnly": false, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Metadata" } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "e047340c-c02e-4247-89ab-5fec73aeb5d3" ] }, "readOnlySettings": true, "title": "Metadata" }, "546a7c35-9188-4d23-94ee-005d97c26f2b": { "@type": "accordionPanel", "blocks": { "b5381428-5cae-4199-9ca8-b2e5fa4677d9": { "@type": "metadataSection", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fields": [ { "@id": "62c471fc-128f-4eff-98f9-9e83d9643fc7", "field": { "id": "data_description", "title": "Definition", "widget": "slate" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "ee67688d-3170-447a-a235-87b4e4ff0928", "field": { "id": "methodology", "title": "Methodology", "widget": "slate" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "b8a8f01c-0669-48e3-955d-d5d62da1b555", "field": { "id": "policy_relevance", "title": "Policy/environmental relevance", "widget": "slate" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "d71a80d1-0e65-46d9-8bd4-45aca22bc5dc", "field": { "id": "accuracy_and_reliability", "title": "Accuracy and uncertainties", "widget": "slate" }, "showLabel": true }, { "@id": "97ed11f5-4d31-4462-b3b0-2756a6880d31", "field": { "id": "data_provenance", "title": "Data sources and providers", "widget": "data_provenance" }, "showLabel": true } ], "fixed": true, "fixedLayout": true, "readOnly": false, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Supporting information", "variation": "default" } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "b5381428-5cae-4199-9ca8-b2e5fa4677d9" ] }, "readOnlySettings": true, "title": "Supporting information" }, "ecdb3bcf-bbe9-4978-b5cf-0b136399d9f8": { "@type": "accordionPanel", "blocks": { "d9aa8ed3-1c8a-4134-a324-663489a04473": { "@type": "slateFootnotes", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "global": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "placeholder": "References and footnotes will appear here", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "d9aa8ed3-1c8a-4134-a324-663489a04473" ] }, "readOnlySettings": true, "selected": "b142c252-337d-4f6e-8ed2-ff4c43601e2f", "title": "References and footnotes" } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "546a7c35-9188-4d23-94ee-005d97c26f2b", "309c5ef9-de09-4759-bc02-802370dfa366", "ecdb3bcf-bbe9-4978-b5cf-0b136399d9f8" ] } }, "disableInnerButtons": true, "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "fixedLayout": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "non_exclusive": false, "readOnly": false, "readOnlySettings": true, "readOnlyTitles": true, "required": true, "title": "Additional information", "title_size": "h3" }, "1bccfce8-ec0a-4f96-b6a6-a93ce5190899": { "@layout": "1bc4379d-cddb-4120-84ad-5ab025533b12", "@type": "group", "allowedBlocks": [ "slate" ], "as": "section", "block": "cd6ab65d-0d6f-40dd-a72b-4dcab3ded276", "data": { "blocks": { "0cd80202-aea4-4884-812e-6431071bdfc8": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "The fuel mix significantly impacts emissions, with coal and liquid fuels being major polluters . Shifting away from fossil fuels is crucial for climate mitigation . Emission reductions have been influenced by changes in the fuel mix, economic and societal shifts, international fuel prices, and industry initiatives.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "The fuel mix significantly impacts emissions, with coal and liquid fuels being " }, { "children": [ { "text": "major polluters" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ". Shifting away from fossil fuels is crucial for " }, { "children": [ { "text": "climate mitigation" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ". Emission reductions have been influenced by changes in the fuel mix, economic and societal shifts, international fuel prices, and industry initiatives." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "3c1bd1c7-b441-4ac5-abbf-2497933265cd": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "In 2023, consumption of natural gas was higher than coal by 2% (based on energy input). The two fossil fuels combined are still very significant in the overall mix, covering almost 75% of the total fuel input of the combustion sector. Further emission reductions are expected in the coming years as a result of new, stricter IED permits, and energy and climate change mitigation policies, driving the use of renewable or cleaner fuels and aimed at achieving the EU\u2019s ambition of becoming climate neutral by 2050 .", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "In 2023, consumption of natural gas was higher than coal by 2% (based on energy input). The two fossil fuels combined are still very significant in the overall mix, covering almost 75% of the total fuel input of the combustion sector. Further " }, { "children": [ { "text": "emission reductions" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " are expected in the coming years as a result of new, stricter IED permits, and energy and climate change mitigation policies, driving the use of renewable or cleaner fuels and aimed at achieving the EU\u2019s ambition of becoming climate neutral by 2050" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "data": { "extra": [ { "footnote": "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<div class=\"csl-bib-body\" style=\"line-height: 1.35; \">\n <div class=\"csl-entry\">EC 2021, (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52021DC0550) accessed March 27, 2023.</div>\n</div>\n", "footnoteTitle": " EC 2021", "zoteroId": "JTQLTSBK" } ], "footnote": "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<div class=\"csl-bib-body\" style=\"line-height: 1.35; \">\n <div class=\"csl-entry\">EEA, 2019, <i>Greening the power sector: benefits of an ambitious implementation of Europe&#x2019;s environment and climate policies</i>, EEA Briefing, European Environment Agency.</div>\n</div>\n", "footnoteTitle": "EEA, 2019, Greening the power sector: benefits of a", "uid": "qr9Gm", "zoteroId": "3J3D5E22" }, "type": "zotero" }, { "text": "." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881d": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fitted": false, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "section": false, "short": true, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "4512152a-07c7-4b64-94a0-554b955d8787": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "In 2023, 3,263 LCPs, were covered by the scope of the IED. European countries rely to different degrees on combustion plants to meet their energy demands . However, generally, the number of plants in a given country is proportional to its size and population. Czechia and Slovakia did not report 2023 administrative data, and therefore the number of plants in Europe is estimated to be 3,406, taking into account the latest reported number from these two countries.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "In 2023, 3,263 LCPs, were covered by the scope of the IED. European countries rely to different degrees on combustion plants to meet their " }, { "children": [ { "text": "energy demands" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ". However, generally, the number of plants in a given country is proportional to its size and population. Czechia and Slovakia did not report 2023 administrative data, and therefore the number of plants in Europe is estimated to be 3,406, taking into account the latest reported number from these two countries. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "58698ae3-86a1-4351-99d8-6fbd300db416": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Emissions from large combustion plants (LCPs) decreased significantly in the EU during 2004-2023: SO 2 and dust by 94% and NO x by 73% . This decrease is linked to two main influencing factors ; 1) over the period 2007-2009, LCP operators had the combined impact of adapting their plants to new emission limit values from the LCP Directive and the financial crisis that started at the end of 2008, and 2) from 2015/2016 operators were required to comply with stricter limits set by the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) , which entered into force.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Emissions from large combustion plants (LCPs) decreased significantly in the EU during 2004-2023: SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and dust by 94% and NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " by 73%" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ". This decrease is linked to " }, { "children": [ { "text": "two main influencing factors" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": "; 1) over the period 2007-2009, LCP operators had the combined impact of adapting their plants to new emission limit values from the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "LCP Directive" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32001L0080" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " and the financial crisis that started at the end of 2008, and 2) from 2015/2016 operators were required to comply with stricter limits set by the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Industrial Emissions Directive (IED)" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02010L0075-20110106" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ", which entered into force." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "8e324692-d12a-47f7-9171-2607f4275ba1": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Declines in emissions correspond to a significant improvement in environmental performance across all LCP sizes, particularly among the very large ones, which, although including only 21% of LCPs, accounts for 70% of installed capacity. These reductions demonstrate the value of European policy in driving improvements in the environmental performance of LCPs. LCP operators are adopting pollution reduction measures, more efficient operating processes and end-of-pipe pollution abatement techniques to comply with legislation .", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Declines in emissions correspond to a " }, { "children": [ { "text": "significant improvement" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " in environmental performance across all LCP sizes, particularly among the very large ones, which, although including only 21% of LCPs, accounts for 70% of installed capacity. These reductions demonstrate the value of European policy in driving improvements in the environmental performance of LCPs. LCP operators are adopting pollution reduction measures, more efficient operating processes and end-of-pipe pollution abatement techniques" }, { "children": [ { "text": "to comply with legislation" } ], "data": { "footnote": "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<div class=\"csl-bib-body\" style=\"line-height: 1.35; \">\n <div class=\"csl-entry\">EEA, 2019, <i>Greening the power sector: benefits of an ambitious implementation of Europe&#x2019;s environment and climate policies</i>, EEA Briefing, European Environment Agency.</div>\n</div>\n", "footnoteTitle": "EEA, 2019, Greening the power sector: benefits of a", "uid": "_r2fU", "zoteroId": "3J3D5E22" }, "type": "zotero" }, { "text": "." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c": { "@type": "embed_content", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p>figure instructions goes here</p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "url": "../../../../resolveuid/6799a91e63b54a5d9b336b93a6495aab" }, "d6a76105-24d5-4527-990a-58e8be10e9cf": { "@type": "group", "className": "figure-metadata", "data": { "blocks": { "e896f2e8-420e-4bb6-84dc-77de901d4571": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Figure 1. Emission of dust, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide from large combustion plants in the EU-27", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Figure 1. Emission of dust, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide from large combustion plants in the EU-27" } ], "type": "h3-light" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "e896f2e8-420e-4bb6-84dc-77de901d4571" ] } }, "id": "figure-metadata-b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c", "styles": {} }, "deb7e84d-d2c8-4491-90fa-3dc65fe02143": { "@type": "slate", "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "plaintext": "", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "d6a76105-24d5-4527-990a-58e8be10e9cf", "b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c", "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881d", "58698ae3-86a1-4351-99d8-6fbd300db416", "8e324692-d12a-47f7-9171-2607f4275ba1", "4512152a-07c7-4b64-94a0-554b955d8787", "0cd80202-aea4-4884-812e-6431071bdfc8", "3c1bd1c7-b441-4ac5-abbf-2497933265cd" ] } }, "disableInnerButtons": true, "disableNewBlocks": false, "fixed": true, "ignoreSpaces": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><strong>Assessment text remains at</strong> <strong>the relevant</strong> <strong>aggregate level</strong> <strong>(i.e.</strong> <strong>global, EU, sectoral)</strong> <strong>and addresses the following: </strong></p><ol keys=\"dkvn8,e367c,f4lpb,9j981,7ai6k,3g3pd\" depth=\"0\"><li>Explains in one or two sentences on the environmental rationale of the indicator, i.e. why it matters to the environment that we see an increase/decrease in the value measured.</li><li>Explains in one or two sentences the associated policy objective, which can be either quantitative or directional. More information on the policy objective and related references will be included in the supporting information section. Where there is no policy objective associated with the indicator, i.e. where the indicator addresses an issue that is important for future policy formulation, this text should explain instead why this issue is important.</li><li>IF NECESSARY - Explains any mismatch between what the indicator tracks and what the policy objective/issue is.</li><li>Qualifies the historical trend (e.g. steady increase) and explains the key reasons (e.g. policies) behind it. If there is a quantitative target it explains if we are on track to meet it.</li><li>IF NECESSARY - Explains any recent changes to the trend and why.</li><li>IF NECESSARY - Describes what needs to happen to see adequate progress in future, for instance in order to remain on track to meet targets.</li></ol><p><strong>Please cite your work if</strong> <strong>necessary</strong> <strong>using the EEA citation style (i.e.</strong> <strong>EEA, 2020). A full reference list appears in the supporting information section.</strong></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "maxChars": "2000", "placeholder": "Aggregate level assessment e.g. progress at global, EU level..", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Aggregate level assessment" }, "2dc79b22-b2c8-450a-8044-ef04bfd044cf": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "required": true, "section": false, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "2ec8ba1c-769d-41fd-98c3-1e72b9c1d736": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "required": true, "section": false, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "54a061fb-4e4a-4891-9263-5084c4ae1b51": { "@layout": "d060487d-88fc-4f7b-8ea4-003f14e0fb0c", "@type": "group", "allowedBlocks": [ "slate" ], "as": "section", "block": "ab2ffdbd-0c39-4044-89ee-04ebcc0fe16c", "data": { "blocks": { "02ba4a04-fcfe-4968-806f-1dac3119cfef": { "@type": "embed_content", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "url": "../../../../resolveuid/7dc74fcd5f284b1698309aadc7dd05f3" }, "05e30c90-97f6-4a93-a7b2-b93079ac0aa3": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Overall, LCP fuel consumption decreased by 40% since 2004. This is largely attributed to a decrease in the consumption of fossil fuels, particularly coal (by 54%) and liquid fuels (by 40%), mostly occurring after 2010. It may reflect a shift in Europe\u2019s energy system from fossil fuels to renewable sources, with natural gas still playing a bridging role in this transition.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Overall, LCP fuel consumption " }, { "children": [ { "text": "decreased" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " by 40% since 2004. This is largely attributed to a decrease in the consumption of fossil fuels, particularly coal (by 54%) and liquid fuels (by 40%), mostly occurring after 2010. It may reflect a shift in Europe\u2019s energy system from fossil fuels to renewable sources, with natural gas still playing a bridging role in this transition. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "42a7a920-2347-453d-ae24-72d54a42687e": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "All EU countries reduced coal use over the reported period, although still accounts for more than 50% of fuel input in LCPs for four countries (Bulgaria, Estonia, Poland and Slovenia). Yet, there has been a steady increase in biomass consumption (58% since 2010). While this supports climate change mitigation goals, it results in releases of air pollutants , including particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds .", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "All EU countries reduced coal use over the reported period, although still accounts for more than 50% of fuel input in LCPs for four countries (Bulgaria, Estonia, Poland and Slovenia). Yet, there has been a steady increase in biomass consumption (58% since 2010). While this supports climate change mitigation goals, it results in releases of " }, { "children": [ { "text": "air pollutants" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ", including particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "data": { "extra": [], "footnote": "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<div class=\"csl-bib-body\" style=\"line-height: 1.35; \">\n <div class=\"csl-entry\">EEA, 2022, 'National emissions reported to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) &#x2014; European Environment Agency', (https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/national-emissions-reported-to-the-convention-on-long-range-transboundary-air-pollution-lrtap-convention-16) accessed November 18, 2022.</div>\n</div>\n", "footnoteTitle": "EEA, 2022, National emissions reported to the Conve", "uid": "AcUZF", "zoteroId": "ZJI4FMKA" }, "type": "zotero" }, { "text": "." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881e": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fitted": false, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "section": false, "short": true, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "547cecbc-bbaa-4006-bffe-317766a424f9": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "The impact of the war in Ukraine and a rise in natural gas prices in 2022 are reflected on the overall consumption for 2022 and 2023. The ratio between coal and natural gas consumption was 0.96 (from 1.03 in 2022 and almost 2.5 in 2015). The overall fuel consumption decreased by 10% from 2022 levels, the lowest reported since 2004 (about 6% less than the fuel consumption in 2020)", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "The impact of the war in Ukraine and a rise in natural gas prices in 2022 are reflected on the overall consumption for 2022 and 2023. The ratio between coal and natural gas consumption was 0.96 (from 1.03 in 2022 and almost 2.5 in 2015). The overall fuel consumption decreased by 10% from 2022 levels, the lowest reported since 2004 (about 6% less than the fuel consumption in 2020)" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "6a1dd3d0-77f3-4bee-b429-be7e7e95d406": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Despite this positive trend, the coal phase-out should be continuosly monitored as continous use of coal will have a negative impact on achieving the goals of the European Green Deal .", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Despite this positive trend, the coal phase-out should be continuosly monitored as continous use of coal will have a negative impact on achieving the goals of the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "European Green Deal" } ], "data": { "url": "https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ". " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "c6b86fe7-3301-4a21-b088-0c25ae25fa4b": { "@type": "group", "className": "figure-metadata", "data": { "blocks": { "f3fb0922-3df1-4f7f-ba84-d5c051bf1894": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Figure 2. Fuel consumption in the EU-27, per fuel type", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Figure 2. Fuel consumption in the EU-27, per fuel type" } ], "type": "h3-light" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "f3fb0922-3df1-4f7f-ba84-d5c051bf1894" ] } }, "id": "figure-metadata-02ba4a04-fcfe-4968-806f-1dac3119cfef", "styles": {} }, "d3d49723-14e5-4663-b346-37ee3572f28d": { "@type": "slate", "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "plaintext": "", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "c6b86fe7-3301-4a21-b088-0c25ae25fa4b", "02ba4a04-fcfe-4968-806f-1dac3119cfef", "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881e", "05e30c90-97f6-4a93-a7b2-b93079ac0aa3", "547cecbc-bbaa-4006-bffe-317766a424f9", "6a1dd3d0-77f3-4bee-b429-be7e7e95d406", "42a7a920-2347-453d-ae24-72d54a42687e" ] } }, "disableInnerButtons": true, "disableNewBlocks": false, "fixed": true, "ignoreSpaces": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<ol keys=\"9bbul,b1sa2,171og,1c1t5\" depth=\"0\"><li>Depending on the indicator context, this text can provide information at country level or, if this is not relevant, at some other level, e.g. sectoral, regional level.</li><li>This text interprets the data represented in the chart, rather than describing results, i.e. it provides explanations for some of the results.</li><li>The text related to progress at this level does not have to be comprehensive.</li><li>If there is no information that adds value to what is already visible there is no need to have any text.</li></ol>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "maxChars": "1000", "placeholder": "Disaggregate level assessment e.g. country, sectoral, regional level assessment", "readOnly": false, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Disaggregate level assessment" }, "677f7422-6da4-4c86-bca8-de732b7047b9": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "required": true, "section": false, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "b3ef8cde-83e8-4055-a859-4b5d8c4554c5": { "@layout": "794c9b24-5cd4-4b9f-a0cd-b796aadc86e8", "@type": "group", "allowedBlocks": [], "as": "section", "block": "b3ef8cde-83e8-4055-a859-4b5d8c4554c5", "data": { "blocks": { "12d8c532-f7ad-43fe-ada7-330b2d7a7a39": { "@type": "slate", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "plaintext": "Published: date \u2012 25min read", "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Published: " }, { "children": [ { "text": "date" } ], "data": { "id": "effective", "widget": "datetime" }, "type": "mention" }, { "text": " \u2012 25min read" } ], "type": "sup" }, { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "1c31c956-5086-476a-8694-9936cfa6c240": { "@type": "description", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p>The summary tells the reader about the indicator trend over the examined period and whether or not it helps to achieve the associated policy objective, which can be either quantitative or directional.</p><p>In the absence of a policy objective, it explains whether the trend is in the right or wrong direction in relation to the issue examined.</p><p>If there has been an important change over the most recent period of the time series, e.g. over the last year, this is indicated too.</p><p>Furthermore, if there is a quantitative target, it also indicates whether we are on track to meet it and if not what are the reasons preventing that, e.g. socio-economic drivers, implementation gap etc.</p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "placeholder": "Summary", "plaintext": "Emissions from large combustion plants in the EU have decreased since 2004: sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and dust by 94% and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) by 73%. Declines in emissions and improvements in environmental performance were largely driven by European policy, setting legally binding emission limit values. Fossil fuel usage decreased by 41% as energy production shifted to climate-friendly sources and coal no longer the primary fuel in large combustion plants. Stricter emission limit values and policies aimed at increasing the use of renewable or cleaner fuels are expected to drive further declines in combustion plant emissions in coming years.", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Emissions from large combustion plants in the EU have decreased since 2004: sulphur dioxide (SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ") and dust by 94% and nitrogen oxides (NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ") by 73%. Declines in emissions and improvements in environmental performance were largely driven by European policy, setting legally binding emission limit values. Fossil fuel usage decreased by 41% as energy production shifted to climate-friendly sources and coal no longer the primary fuel in large combustion plants. Stricter emission limit values and policies aimed at increasing the use of renewable or cleaner fuels are expected to drive further declines in combustion plant emissions in coming years." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "3cccc2bb-471a-44c7-b006-5595c4713ff2": { "@type": "layoutSettings", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "layout_size": "narrow_view", "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true }, "ddde07aa-4e48-4475-94bd-e1a517d26eab": { "copyrightIcon": "ri-copyright-line", "styles": {}, "variation": "default", "@type": "title", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "hideContentType": true, "hideCreationDate": true, "hideDownloadButton": true, "hideModificationDate": true, "placeholder": "Indicator title", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "ddde07aa-4e48-4475-94bd-e1a517d26eab", "1c31c956-5086-476a-8694-9936cfa6c240", "3cccc2bb-471a-44c7-b006-5595c4713ff2" ] } }, "disableInnerButtons": true, "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "fixedLayout": true, "ignoreSpaces": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p>The summary tells the reader about the indicator trend over the examined period and whether or not it helps to achieve the associated policy objective, which can be either quantitative or directional.</p><p>In the absence of a policy objective, it explains whether the trend is in the right or wrong direction in relation to the issue examined.</p><p>If there has been an important change over the most recent period of the time series, e.g. over the last year, this is indicated too.</p><p>Furthermore, if there is a quantitative target, it also indicates whether we are on track to meet it and if not what are the reasons preventing that, e.g. socio-economic drivers, implementation gap etc.</p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "maxChars": "500", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "styles": { "style_name": "environment-theme-bg" }, "title": "Content header" }, "e9736b7c-4902-48aa-aecd-b706409a576d": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "required": true, "section": false, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} } }
Blocks Layout { "items": [ "b3ef8cde-83e8-4055-a859-4b5d8c4554c5", "1bccfce8-ec0a-4f96-b6a6-a93ce5190899", "54a061fb-4e4a-4891-9263-5084c4ae1b51", "09e6d000-96b5-46cf-bf0d-b187f4c4ccab" ] }
Supporting information
Methodology [ { "children": [ { "text": "Methodology for indicator calculation" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Queries are applied to the Industrial Emissions Database to extract and aggregate emissions reported individually for each LCP in Europe to produce Figure 1. In a similar manner, queries extract and aggregate fuel use data to produce Figure 2." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Figure 1 : Emissions are indexed with reference to 2004 levels. The exact formula is: emissions of pollutant x for the current year/emissions for pollutant x in 2004) \u00d7 100." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Figure 2: Total fuel consumptions per type are summed and provided in the graph. As the data were not reported in the same way before and after 2016, the category 'coal' is the result of the sum of all solid fuels reported." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Methodology for gap filling" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Slovakia did not report any data from 2018, Malta did not report any data from 2019 and Czechia did not report data for 2022: in this cases the most recent data were used to gap-fill the trend. " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Methodology references" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "No methodology references available." } ], "type": "p" } ]
Data sources and providers { "readOnly": true, "data": [ { "@id": "dec6c87c-5e9a-4c9f-8469-9aa6d43e500f", "title": "Industrial Reporting under the Industrial Emissions Directive 2010/75/EU and European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 - ver. 14.0 Mar. 2025 (Tabular data)", "link": "https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/datahub/datahubitem-view/9405f714-8015-4b5b-a63c-280b82861b3d?activeAccordion=1095440", "organisation": "European Environment Agency (EEA)" } ] }
Definition [ { "children": [ { "text": "This indicator tracks trends for the so-called Large Combustion Plants' (LCPs) emissions of SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and dust, as well as the evolution of the energy mix used in these plants since 2004. LCPs comprise industrial combustion plants with a total rated thermal input equal to or greater than 50MW." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The geographical coverage comprises the 27 EU Member States (EU-27) (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden)." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The temporal coverage is 2004-2022. Data for the period 2004-2015 were reported under " }, { "type": "link", "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2001/80/oj/eng" }, "children": [ { "text": "Directive 2001/80/EC" } ] }, { "text": " on large combustion plants, while for 2016 onwards they were reported under " }, { "type": "link", "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2010/75/oj/eng" }, "children": [ { "text": "Directive 2010/75/EU" } ] }, { "text": " on industrial emissions. The requirements are not identical, and it is expected for data from 2016 onwards to have a slightly broader scope in terms of plants included." } ], "type": "p" } ]
Unit of measure [ { "children": [ { "text": "FIG1: Percentage reduction from 2004\nFIG2: Total consumption of fuel \u2014 Million terajoules (TJ)/year." } ], "type": "p" } ]
Policy / environmental relevance [ { "children": [ { "text": "Justification for indicator selection" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "No rationale has been identified for this indicator." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Scientific references" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "children": [ { "text": "No rationale references available." } ], "type": "li" } ], "type": "ul" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Context description" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Anthropogenic emissions of SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and dust all contribute to air quality problems in Europe. Excess deposition of sulphur and nitrogen compounds can lead to disturbances in the functioning and structure of ecosystems by, for example, causing the acidification of soils and waters as well as, in the case of nitrogen, the eutrophication of nutrient-poor ecosystems such as grasslands." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "LCPs use large amounts of fuels, mostly fossil fuels, to produce useful forms of energy. These plants inevitably generate a number of residues, waste products and emissions to all environmental media (air, water and soil). Emissions from LCPs constitute a significant proportion of total anthropogenic emissions and are considered one of the main environmental pressures from LCPs." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "In that context, policy has regulated these plants for decades now. Between 2004 and 2015, two pieces of EU law were in place: the LCP Directive and the IPPC Directive. This EU legislation imposed specific limit values on emissions of NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and dust from plants with a thermal rated input equal to or greater than 50MW. Since 1 January 2016, this legislation has been replaced by " }, { "children": [ { "text": "the IED" } ], "data": { "footnote": "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<div class=\"csl-bib-body\" style=\"line-height: 1.35; \">\n <div class=\"csl-entry\">EU, 2010, Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control), OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17-119.</div>\n</div>\n", "footnoteTitle": "EU, Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control)", "uid": "WV1pm", "zoteroId": "ITQ2ADXI" }, "type": "zotero" }, { "text": "." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "The aim of EU policy on LCPs is to reduce emissions to air, water and land, including measures related to waste, to achieve a high level of protection of the environment as a whole. The focus with regard to LCPs is to reduce emissions of acidifying pollutants, particles and ozone precursors while also covering other environmental concerns (e.g. mercury emissions)." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Targets" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "No targets have been specified." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Related policy documents" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "No related policy documents have been specified." } ], "type": "p" } ]
Frequency of dissemination 1
Accuracy and uncertainties [ { "children": [ { "text": "Methodology uncertainty" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "This indicator covers the EU-27 countries. However, there are no data for Croatia for 2004-2009. The data for Croatia have not been gap filled, and in the years of reporting Croatia contributed less than 1% of emissions and fuel consumption to the EU-27 total. This lack of data is thus considered a minor distortion of the overall trend." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "As indicated, reporting requirements were not identical before and after 2016, which is also considered a minor distortion of the trend." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Data sets uncertainty" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Although reporting requirements began in 2004, it is possible that the data for the first reported period (2004-2006) contain some gaps." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Rationale uncertainty" } ], "type": "h4" }, { "children": [ { "text": "No uncertainty has been specified." } ], "type": "p" } ]
Settings
Short name emissions-and-energy-use-in
Versioning enabled yes
Contents