Share of electricity production by fuel type, 1990-2008 (%), EU-27

The total electricity produced from natural gas increased by 592 TWh (274 %) between 1990 and 2008, at an annual average growth rate of 7.6 %. The primary motive for the switch to gas was economic, with low gas prices for much of the 1990s compared to coal and stricter environmental legislation. Because of this, significant investments were made in the transportation infrastructure for the delivery of gas from within and outside the EU-27. This rapid increased in gas demand also contributed to the increase in fossil fuels imports.