Eurostat: Preliminary energy data for 2022 show diverse trends

Preliminary energy data for 2022 show that after 2021, when supply increased for all monitored fuels (hard coal, lignite, natural gas, petroleum products and nuclear fuel), supply of nuclear fuel and natural gas fell sharply last year, while lignite and petroleum products continued to rise. Gross electricity generation fell by 3% year on year. This is according to data published by Eurostat.

In a press release accompanying the publication of preliminary energy data for 2022, Eurostat noted that the last three years had been significantly affected by a number of uncertainties and fluctuations in the energy sector.

"After the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and restrictions in 2020, many European countries saw economic activity increase in 2021. Natural gas prices, however, rose sharply in the second half of 2021, and 2022 ultimately proved even more challenging as sanctions on imports from Russia, disruptions to natural gas supplies and concerns about a potential gas shortage affected markets and drove natural gas prices up further. All of this, combined with low electricity generation from nuclear power plants, had a significant impact on the European electricity market, where prices also rose sharply," Eurostat said.