Between 2005 and 2016, final energy consumption decreased by 7.1% (0.7 % annually) in the EU and by 3.9 % (0.4 % annually) in the European Environment Agency (EEA) countries. Between 2015 and 2016, final energy consumption increased by 2.0 % in the EU and 2.2 % in the EEA countries. The difference in final energy consumption between the EEA countries and the EU was mainly caused by increased energy consumption in Turkey (53 % ) and Iceland (63 %). In Iceland, the increase was mainly due to increased production capacity in the aluminium industry. In Norway, final energy consumption increased slightly, by 1.9 %, between 2005 and 2016.
Between 2005 and 2016, final energy consumption decreased in the industry sector by 16.4 % in the EU (13.2 % in the EEA countries), in the households sector by 8.0 % in the EU (6.7 % in the EEA countries) and in the fishing, agriculture and forestry and non-specified sectors by 24.7 % in the EU (22.1 % in the EEA countries). In the transport sector, between 2005 and 2016, final energy consumption decreased in the EU by 0.5 % and increased in the EEA countries by 4.1 %. In the services sector, between 2005 and 2016, final energy consumption increased by 3.8 % in the EU and by 9.0 % in the EEA countries.
Preliminary data for 2017 suggest that, since 2005, final energy consumption has decreased by 6.1 % in the EU (0.5 % annually), with an increase of 1.1 % between 2016 and 2017. Preliminary sector data for the EU indicate that the increased final energy consumption between 2016 and 2017 is for 23% due to increased consumption (by 1.0%) in the industry sector, for 35 % due to the increased consumption (by 1.2 %) in the transport sector and for more than 40 %, due to increased consumption (1.1. %) in the other sectors.
Between 2005 and 2016:
- Energy consumption in the industry sector fell at an annual average rate of 1.6 %. This was largely the result of a shift towards less-energy-intensive manufacturing industries and the continuing transition to a more service-oriented European economy, combined with the effects of the economic recession in recent years. Energy consumption in industry is expected to continue to follow this trend because of ongoing industry reallocation, which could lead to a permanently smaller manufacturing sector in the EU.
- Energy consumption in the services sector increased annually by 0.3 %. The sector is growing in Europe and the energy demand for electrical appliances, in particular information and communication technology appliances such as computers, and also for other energy-intensive technologies such as heating and air conditioning, is increasing. Overall, however, energy consumption has been more or less stable.
- Energy consumption in the transport sector decreased slightly, with an annual decrease of less than 0.1 %. This decrease, observed since 2008, was due to energy savings in road transport. This is the result of improvements in fuel efficiency, as a result of vehicle emissions standards, offsetting increases in passenger and freight transport demand. Higher transport demand has resulted from the increased ownership of private cars, particularly in the new EU Member States, as well as growing settlements and urban sprawl, leading to longer distances travelled, and changes in lifestyle. For more details on trends in the transport sector, see also EEA (2016), EEA (2017a) and Final energy consumption by mode of transport indicator (TERM001). The transport sector accounted in 2016 for 33 % of total final energy consumption in the EU Member States, followed by the households sector (26 %), the industry sector (25 %) and the services sector (14 %).
The trend in final energy consumption observed differs significantly across the EEA member countries. Between 2005 and 2016, Iceland, Turkey and Malta experienced, by far, the largest increases in final energy consumption (63 %, 53 % and 26 %, respectively), whereas Greece and Spain experienced the largest decreases (20 % and 16 %, respectively). In addition, final energy consumption also decreased by 15 % in Italy and Portugal. Large increases in final energy consumption correlate with growing economies (Turkey) and growing industry (Iceland). The decreases in final energy consumption are mainly the result of less economic activity (Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain).
Between 2005 and 2016:
- The consumption of oil in EU Member States decreased by 13.2 % (1.3 % annually). The largest decrease, of 41.8 %, took place in the industry sector. The smallest decrease, of 4 %, occurred in the transport sector.
- Final energy consumption of electricity in the EU Member States stabilised. Since 2005, electricity consumption in the services sector and in the households sector continued to increase (14.5 % and 0.8 %), while over the same period electricity consumption in industry decreased by 10.4 %. Electricity consumption in industry decreased mainly because of less activity in the sector and increased energy savings. The consumption of electricity in the households sector is small and has been more or less stable since 2005. The increased number of dwellings is balanced by the increased energy efficiency of lighting, electrical appliances and electrical heating and cooling systems. The increased consumption of electricity in the services sector was due to the growth of the sector Europe wide.
- The consumption of natural gas decreased by 12.6 % (1.2 % annually). Natural gas consumption in the households sector shows on average a downwards trend because of the better thermal performance of buildings offset by an increase in the number of houses and buildings. Natural gas consumption decreased in the industry sector (22 %) and in the households sector (11 %). Natural gas consumption in the services sector increased by 5 %. In 2016, the households sector accounted for the largest share of final energy consumption for natural gas (44 %) for the EU. This was a result of the increase in the use of gas for residential heating and cooking. Consequently, the trend in natural gas consumption has relatively large year-to-year variations due to weather conditions: increased natural gas consumption in 2010 was due to cold winter conditions and decreased natural gas consumption in 2011 and 2014 was due to mild winter conditions.
- The consumption of solid fuels decreased by 16.2 % (1.6 % annually). In absolute terms, this reduction is mainly accounted for by the industry sector. There has been no decrease in solid fuel consumption in the households sector since 2000.
- Year-to-year variations due to weather conditions affect wood consumption in the households sector. Wood is solid biomass and is included in the 'Other fuels' category.
Supporting information
Indicator definition
Final energy consumption covers the energy supplied to the final consumer for all energy uses. It is calculated as the sum of the final energy consumption of all sectors. These sectors are disaggregated to cover industry, transport, households, services and agriculture.
The indicator can be presented in relative or absolute terms. The relative contribution of a specific sector is measured as the ratio of the final energy consumption of that sector to the total final energy consumption, calculated for each calendar year. It is a useful indicator that highlights a country's sectoral needs in terms of final energy demand.
Units
Final energy consumption is measured in million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe).
Policy context and targets
Context description
Environmental context
The trends in final energy consumption by fuel type and by sector provide a broad indication of progress towards reducing final energy consumption and associated environmental impacts by the different end-use sectors (the transport, industry, services and households sectors). The type and magnitude of energy-related pressures on the environment (greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, etc.) depends both on the sources of energy and on the total amount of energy consumed. One way of reducing energy-related pressures on the environment is to use less energy. This may result from reducing the demand for energy services (e.g. heat demand, passenger or freight transport) or by using energy in a more efficient way (thereby using less energy per unit of activity) or a combination of these.
Policy context
The 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive establishes a set of binding measures to help the EU reach its 20 % energy efficiency target by 2020. Under this directive, all EU countries are required to use energy more efficiently at all stages of the energy chain, from its production to its final consumption. To reach the EU's 20 % energy efficiency target by 2020, individual EU countries have set their own indicative national energy efficiency targets. Depending on country preferences, these targets are based on primary and/or final energy consumption, primary and/or final energy savings or energy intensity. New national measures have to ensure major energy savings for consumers and industry. To help officials in EU countries implement the Energy Efficiency Directive, the European Commission publishes guidance notes (COM(2013) 762).
On 19 June 2018, a political agreement on new rules for improving energy efficiency in Europe was reached between negotiators from the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council. The new regulatory framework includes an energy efficiency target for the EU for 2030 of 32.5 %, with an upwards revision clause by 2023. This update to the Energy Efficiency Directive, proposed by the Commission on 30 November 2016, includes a 30 % energy efficiency target for 2030.
- Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency — Analysis of the final compromise text with a view to agreement (ST 10309 2018 INIT);
- Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC;
- Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council 'Implementing the Energy Efficiency Directive — Commission Guidance' (COM(2013) 762 final);
- Council Directive 2013/12/EU of 13 May 2013 adapting Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy efficiency, by reason of the accession of the Republic of Croatia.
Earlier legislation
In 2009, the council adopted the climate-energy legislative package containing measures to fight climate change and promote the use of 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. The climate action and renewable energy (CARE) package includes the following main policy documents:
- 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 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;
- 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 emission 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;
- Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions 'Second Strategic Energy Review — An EU energy and solidarity action plan' (COM(2008) 781 final);
- Strategic review on short, medium and long term targets on EU energy security;
- Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions 'Sustainable consumption and production and sustainable industrial policy action plan' (COM(2008) 397 final).
The strategy is meant to further sustainable consumption and production and promote its sustainable industrial policy.
EEA references
Targets
- In accordance with the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU), the EU Member States have set up national indicative targets that, collectively, should help the EU to reach its 20 % energy efficiency target by 2020. In 2016, the cumulative final energy consumption for all Member States was 1 108 Mtoe (2 %) more than the EU-28 2020 target of 1 086 Mtoe. The approximated trend suggests that in 2017 final energy consumption increased further, to 1 120 Mtoe, which is 2.6 % higher than the EU-28 2020 target. Member States can update their targets in their national energy efficiency plans, although this is not specifically mentioned in the Energy Efficiency Directive. By 2014, 18 of the EU Member States reached their indicative national targets and this has continued up to 2016. In 2016, final energy consumption in Germany and France was 22 and 16 Mtoe, respectively, above these countries' indicative national targets. In 14 of the EU-28 countries, such as Greece, Latvia, Poland, Portugal and Romania, final energy consumption in 2016 was below their indicative national 2020 targets. For more information on progress towards the energy efficiency targets, see EEA (2017b) and forthcoming updates.
Related policy documents
Methodology
Methodology for indicator calculation
Technical information
- Data sources:
Final energy consumption: Eurostat (http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/energy/data).
Final energy consumption, non-EEA countries: International Energy Agency (IEA) (http://www.iea.org/statistics/topics/energybalances/).
Final energy consumption is one of the EEA’s core set of indicators. More information can be found at http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/about
- Description of data/indicator definition:
Final energy consumption covers energy supplied to the final consumer for all energy uses. It is calculated as the sum of final energy consumption of all sectors. These are disaggregated to cover the industry, transport, households, services and agriculture sectors.
The indicator can be presented in relative or absolute terms. The relative contribution of a specific sector is measured by the ratio of the final energy consumption of that sector to total final energy consumption calculated for a calendar year. It is a useful indicator that highlights a country's sectoral needs in terms of final energy demand.
- Geographical coverage:
The EEA had 33 member countries at the time of writing this indicator. These are the 28 EU Member States and Turkey, plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Note that no data are included for Switzerland or Liechtenstein because of a lack of Eurostat data. Table 1 also includes data for outside Europe, namely Africa, the Middle East, China, India, Russia and the United States.
- Methodology and frequency of data collection:
Data are collected annually.
Eurostat metadata: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/index.cfm?TargetUrl=DSP_PUB_WELC
- Methodology of data manipulation:
Average annual rate of growth is calculated using the following: [(last year/base year) ^ (1/number of years) - 1]*100.
- Coding (used in the Eurostat database) and specific components of indicator:
• Numerator: final energy consumption (101700) = final energy consumption industry (101800) + final energy consumption transport (101900) + final energy consumption households (102010) + final energy consumption services (102035) + agriculture calculated as (final energy consumption agriculture/forestry (102030) + final energy consumption fisheries (102020) + final energy consumption other sectors (102000).
• If needed for calculating share of total energy consumption, a denominator is used: (total) final energy consumption (101700).
This was done for 0000 — all products; 3000 — total petroleum products; 6000 — electrical energy; 4100 — natural gas; and 2000 — solid fuels.
- Coding (used in the IEA database) and specific components of indicator:
• Reports: Energy balances of Non-OECD countries and Energy balances of OECD countries.
• Name: Energy Balances.
• Products: Total; Flow; and Final Consumption — Flow.
• Memo: Feedstock use in the petrochemical industry.
- Early estimates of 2017 ('approximated' or 'proxy') data for final energy consumption were prepared by the EEA and its European Topic Centre for Air Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation (ETC/ACM), see https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/approximated-estimates-for-the-primary-1.
The estimated indicative national targets for 2020 are based on the national energy efficiency plans for 2017 or earlier when 2017 plans not available (see https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-directive/national-energy-efficiency-action-plans).
Methodology for gap filling
No gap filling was applied.
Methodology references
No methodology references available.
Uncertainties
Methodology uncertainty
Reliability, accuracy, robustness and uncertainty (at data level)
Any cross-country comparison of the distribution of final energy consumption among sectors will have to be accompanied by a relevant measure of the importance of the sector in the economy, as the sectoral share also depends on a country's economic circumstances. Because the focus is on the reduction of final energy consumption and not on the sectoral redistribution of such consumption, the trends in the absolute values (in thousand tonnes of oil equivalent) are preferred, as they are a more meaningful indicator of progress. However, even if the same sectors in two countries are equally important to the economy, the gross (primary) consumption of energy needed before it reaches the final user might draw from energy sources that pollute the environment in different ways. Therefore, from an environmental point of view, the final energy consumption of a sector should be analysed in that broader context.
The sectoral breakdown of final energy consumption includes the industry, transport, households, services, agriculture, fisheries and other sectors. The inclusion of the agriculture and fisheries sector together with the services sector is however questionable given their divergent trends. Separate assessments are therefore made where appropriate. It is worth noting that, according to Eurostat final energy consumption in agriculture is not very reliable and it is accounted for mainly by consumption from engines used for agricultural transportation. A new definition is now used in energy questionnaires to be more in line with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines.
Overall scoring — historic data (1 = no major problems, 3 = major reservations):
Relevance: 1
Accuracy: 1
Comparability over time: 1
Comparability over space: 1
Data sets uncertainty
Strengths and weaknesses (at data level)
Officially reported data, updated annually. No obvious weaknesses.
Data have traditionally been compiled by Eurostat through the annual joint questionnaires of Eurostat and the IEA, following a well-established and harmonised methodology. Methodological information on the annual joint questionnaires and data compilation can be found on Eurostat's web page for metadata on energy statistics (https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/de/nrg_quant_esms.htm).
Rationale uncertainty
No uncertainty has been specified
Data sources
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