Energy

Our quality of life depends on a reliable supply of energy at an affordable price. Industry, transportation, services, cooking, heating, cooling and lighting, all rely on this. A speedy transition from fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy will significantly reduce the climate, health and environmental impacts of energy production and consumption, while ensuring energy security.

Although renewable and clean energy accounts for a growing share of Europe’s energy needs, we still depend on fossil fuels to obtain most of the energy we use, and their combustion affects us all. It releases air pollutants that harm our health. It also releases greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

In 2020, energy supply accounted for more than 25% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions (including international aviation). In recent decades, the EU set ambitious climate and energy targets aimed at boosting the share of renewable energy sources in the overall energy mix and saving energy through conservation and efficiency improvement measures. If achieved, greenhouse gas emissions and their impacts can be significantly reduced.

Europe relies on imported energy. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine highlighted the impacts of this dependence in fossil fuel imports and price fluctuations, and the importance of saving energy and transitioning faster to more reliable and affordable renewable energy sources. The EU’s RePowerEU plan is one of the key initiatives that address these latest concerns.

Press releases and articles

Publications

Indicators

Maps and charts

Datahub

Country fact sheets

Projects

of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions

came from energy supply in 2020

of gross final energy consumption

came from renewables in 2021

of the total energy consumed in the EU

was imported in 2020

Can you become a prosumer?

Production of renewable energy by consumers — prosumption — can offer many benefits for individuals and society.

With high energy prices and energy insecurity currently affecting Europe, small-scale prosumption provides a pathway for citizens to increase their energy independence and scale up decarbonisation efforts. Prosumerism can also have social benefits, including a sense of community and empowerment.

Prosumers are now a key element of the recent REPowerEU proposal and its Solar Rooftop initiative. According to the EEA report, almost all EU citizens can contribute in one way or another and potentially become energy prosumers.

Read our report on prosumers

Is the European Union on track towards its climate and energy targets?

Visit the climate and energy portal

Image: Perry Wunderlich, NATURE@work /EEA

Energy consumption in Europe and lockdown effect?

Covid lockdowns have affected all aspects of our daily lives, including energy consumption in Europe.

In 2021, the EU’s primary energy consumption (which includes all energy uses) and final energy consumption (by end users) experienced a significant rebound from the extraordinary drop observed in 2020, according to EEA early estimates. Consumption increased across all sectors and energy sources, most notably for the transport sector and for solid fuels, respectively.

Despite this increase, both primary and final energy consumption remained below pre-pandemic levels. Europe has set targets to reduce energy consumption both at the EU level and at Member States level.

See data visualisation on energy efficiency

Source: Climate and energy in the EU website

Energy

Can you become a prosumer?

Is the European Union on track towards its climate and energy targets?

Energy consumption in Europe and lockdown effect?

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