Renewables' share of EU energy consumption rises to 23%, with 42.5% targeted for 2030

The share of renewable energy sources (RES) in gross final energy consumption in the European Union reached 23% in 2022, an increase of 1.1 percentage points year-on-year. However, individual member states will have to significantly increase their use of renewables to meet the 2030 target. 

While 2021 saw the first-ever year-on-year decline in the share of renewables in gross final energy consumption, the trend reversed in 2022 and the share began to rise again.

According to recently published figures, this indicator, which is one of the EU's main climate targets, rose to 23% in 2022. This represents a year-on-year increase of 1.1 percentage points.

Eurostat noted in a press release that EU member states approved an increase in the 2030 target for this area in October, from the original 32% to 42.5%.

"European countries will therefore have to step up their efforts to help meet the new EU target for 2030, which will require increasing the share of renewables in the EU's gross final energy consumption by almost 20 percentage points," Eurostat said.

Sweden leads, Czechia below average

A look at the share of renewables in gross final energy consumption in individual EU member states shows Sweden's continued dominance. The country increased its share by 3.4 percentage points year-on-year to 66%. According to Eurostat, Sweden benefits in particular from the extensive use of hydropower and wind power, solid and liquid biofuels, and heat pumps.

Finland follows (47.9%), making extensive use of hydropower and wind power as well as solid biofuels, followed by Estonia (38.5%), which gets most of its renewable energy from wind power and solid biofuels. Portugal (34.7%) and Austria (33.8%) also have shares of more than one-third.

Ireland (13.1%), Malta (13.4%), Belgium (13.8%) and Luxembourg (14.4%) have the lowest shares of renewables in gross final energy consumption.

A total of 17 of the EU's 27 member states recorded shares below the European average. Czechia is among them, with a share of 18.2%.