Overview of energy consumption trends over the last decades in EU28

Primary Energy consumption

Primary energy consumption in the EU-28 in 2013 was 1566.5 Mtoe, i.e. 1% lower than in 2012. During the period 1990-2005 it increased by 8.9% and, as result of the undertaken policies and the financial and economic crisis, it decreased by 8.3% over the period 2005-2013. There was a recovery by 2010, when primary energy consumption increased by nearly 4%, followed by another decrease in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

In 2013, Luxembourg, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, and Estonia had primary energy consumption over 4 toe per capita. In Romania, Croatia, Malta and Lithuania consumption was under 2 toe per capita. The biggest increase in primary energy consumption per capita between 2005 and 2013 was observed in Estonia (+24%), followed by Latvia (+9%), while the biggest decrease (between -25% and -20%) was observed in Cyprus, Malta, Luxembourg, Spain, Greece and Ireland. In many countries, primary energy consumption per capita increased between 1990 and 2005 and then decreased between 2005 and 2015 (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and UK). The biggest difference was seen in Malta and Spain, where the consumption per capita increased by 45-46% between 1990 and 2005, then decreased by 23-24% in the period up until 2013. In other countries, the picture was reversed: there was a decrease in consumption per capita from 1990 to 2005, then rose until 2013 in Estonia, Latvia and Poland. The biggest difference in absolute terms was seen in Estonia, where the consumption per capita decreased by 36% between 1990 and 2005, then rose by 24% in the period up until 2013. In Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia, primary energy consumption per capita decreased in both periods.

Final Energy consumption

Final energy consumption in EU-28 in 2013 was 1104.6 Mtoe, slightly higher than in 2012. Final energy consumption has increased slowly since 1994, reaching its highest value, 1187.2 Mtoe, in 2006. After that, the level remained relatively steady, until the first strong decrease, by 6 % (respect to the previous year), in 2009. The sharpest decrease was in the use of solid fuels, by 19%, followed by gas (7%), petroleum products (6%) and electricity (5%). Overall, there was a recovery in 2010, when final energy consumption increased by 5%, though in 2011, there was a decrease of nearly 5% while in 2012 and 2013 it remained almost at the same level, so final energy consumption in 2013 was slightly below the 2009 level.

The structure of final energy consumption in 2013 by sector shows that transport accounted for the biggest share (32%),  followed by residential (27%) and industry (25%). The service sector accounted for 14 % whilst the other sectors were responsible for the remaining 3%.

The decrease in 2009 was sharpest in industry (-15%), which was partially recovered in 2010 (+8%). After the decrease in 2011 (-1%) and in 2012 (-2%), the final energy consumption slightly increased in 2013 (+1%). On the other hand, consumption in both residential and services sectors decreased only slightly in 2009, increased by nearly 7% in 2010, then decreased substantially in 2011 (in the residential sector by 11% and in services by 7%). In 2012 and 2013 a small recovery was registered, 6% for residential sector and 3% for services, so in 2013 final energy consumption in residential sector and services was slightly above 2008 level.

In 2013, the average final energy consumption in EU-28 was 2.2 toe per capita. Luxembourg and Finland had final energy consumption over 4 toe per capita. In Romania, Bulgaria, Malta, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Portugal, Poland, Lithuania, Spain, Cyprus, Latvia and Italy, consumptions were under 2 toe per capita. The biggest increase in primary energy consumption per capita between 2005 and 2013 was observed in Malta (+19%), followed by Lithuania (+15%), while the biggest decrease (between -27% and -22%) was observed in Greece, Cyprus, Ireland, Spain and Luxembourg.

Graphs on main indicators at EU28 level