IEA: EU gas consumption fell by a record amount last year. Weather and industrial savings contributed

Natural gas consumption in the European Union fell by a record 55 bcm last year, a 13% decrease compared with 2021. The largest reductions in consumption occurred in the north and northwest of the EU. The International Energy Agency (IEA) identifies the reasons for the decline in consumption and estimates their impact.

According to the IEA, the main factors behind the drop in gas consumption in the EU included effective policy measures, supported by schemes for renewables, loans and grants for installing heat pumps, as well as efforts to change consumer behaviour across the EU.

Other significant factors included a rapid response to the reduction in Russian gas supplies and the replacement of a substantial share of supply with gas from other suppliers. The continent-wide pipeline network, which is relatively well developed and highly flexible, undoubtedly played a major role in this.

Even so, it remains unclear which of these factors played the greatest role in the rapid decline in consumption. The IEA therefore took a closer look at three main energy sectors: electricity generation, buildings and industry.