FEC represents the energy used by final consumers (such as households, transport, industry etc) for all energy uses. It is the energy that reaches the final consumer’s door. PEC represents the total energy demand within a country, excluding the energy products consumed for purposes other than producing useful energy (non-energy uses, e.g. oil for plastics). For example, the electricity consumed by a household counts towards FEC; the fuel burned to generate that electricity counts towards PEC.
To ensure comparability with energy efficiency targets, this indicator follows the Eurostat methodology for final energy consumption (Europe 2020-2030) [FEC2020-2030] and primary energy consumption (Europe 2020-2030) [PEC2020-2030].
Primary energy consumption (Europe 2020-2030) = gross inland consumption (all products total) - gross inland consumption (ambient heat (heat pumps)) - final non-energy consumption (all products total).
Final energy consumption (Europe 2020-2030)=final energy consumption (all products total)-final energy consumption (ambient heat (heat pumps))+international aviation (all products total)+transformation input blast furnaces (all products total)-transformation output blast furnaces (all products total)+energy sector blast furnaces (solid fossil fuels)+energy sector blast furnaces (manufactured gases)+energy sector blast furnaces (peat and peat products)+energy sector blast furnaces (oil shale and oil sands)+energy sector blast furnaces (oil and petroleum products)+energy sector blast furnaces (Natural gas).
Data set used: 'Complete energy balances nrg_bal_c'
Codes:
- FEC2020-2030 Final energy consumption (Europe 2020-2030)/all products
- PEC2020-2030 Primary energy consumption (Europe 2020-2030)/all products
- GIC Gross inland consumption/all products
- NRG_BF_E Energy sector — blast furnaces — energy use/all products
- FC_NE Final non-energy consumption/all products
- FC_TRA_E Final consumption — transport sector — energy use/renewables and biofuels
- FC_E Final consumption — energy use/ambient heat
- PPRD Primary production/ambient heat
Details about this methodology are available from Eurostat at: ENERGY BALANCE GUIDE (Draft 31 January 2019) .
The time series for the EU-27 was made by summing the values for each year of the 27 countries that are currently Member States, regardless of whether they were members of the EU in any given year.
Directive 2012/27/EU established a set of binding measures to help the EU reach its target of decreasing energy consumption by 20% by 2020, compared with projected levels. This was amended by Directive (EU) 2018/2002, which provides a policy framework for 2030 and beyond. This regulatory framework includes an energy efficiency target for the EU for 2030 of a 32.5% reduction in energy consumption compared with projected levels, which is being revised.
The composition of the energy mix and the level of consumption provide an indication of the environmental pressures associated with energy consumption. The type and magnitude of the environmental impacts associated with energy consumption, such as resource depletion, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutant emissions, water pollution and the accumulation of radioactive waste, strongly depend on the types and amounts of fuels consumed, as well as on the abatement technologies applied.
This indicator is a headline indicator for monitoring progress towards achieving the aims of the Eighth Environment Action Programme (8th EAP). It contributes mainly to monitoring progress towards energy efficiency aspects of Article 2.f of the 8th EAP which requires: ‘promoting environmental aspects of sustainability and significantly reducing key environmental and climate pressures related to the Union’s production and consumption, in particular in the areas of energy, industry, buildings and infrastructure, mobility, tourism, international trade and the food system’ (EU, 2022). The European Commission Communication on the 8th EAP monitoring framework specifies that this indicator should monitor the achievement by 2030 of the recently agreed 2030 EU targets as detailed in the next paragraph (EC, 2022).
Targets
Energy efficiency target for 2020: The Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27/EU introduced a reduction target of 20% in energy consumption (compared to projections for expected energy use in 2020). In concrete terms, this meant lowering the EU’s final energy consumption to no more than 959 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) and primary energy consumption to no more than 1,312 Mtoe.
Energy efficiency target for 2030: On 10 March 2023, the Council presidency and the European Parliament negotiators reached a provisional political agreement to amend the directive and set a target for the reduction of final energy consumption (FEC) of at least 11.7% in 2030, compared with the energy consumption forecasts for 2030 made in 2020. This translates into a mandatory target of 763 Mtoe for FEC, and an indicative target of 993 Mtoe for primary energy consumption (PEC). Member states will benefit from flexibilities in reaching the target. The directive will need to be formally adopted.
For more information see the European Commission website on the Energy Efficiency Directive and the recent agreement.
Sources:
EEA, 2022. Trends and projections in Europe 2022. EEA Report No 10/2022. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/trends-and-projections-in-europe-2022
EC, 2022a, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the monitoring framework for the 8th Environment Action Programme: Measuring progress towards the attainment of the Programme’s 2030 and 2050 priority objectives, COM/2022/357 final, EUR-Lex - 52022DC0357 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)
Eurostat, 2023. Complete energy balances (NRG_BAL_C), PEC (2020-2030) and FEC (2020-2030). https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/bookmark/dea184ea-4883-453d-ba24-71e960a4f161?lang=en. Accessed May 2023.
Methodology uncertainty
No uncertainty has been specified.
Data sets uncertainty
No uncertainty has been specified.
Rationale uncertainty
No uncertainty has been specified.