Renewable energy comprised 23% of the total energy consumed in the EU in 2022.
This marks a 1.1 percentage points (pp) rise from 2021.
The revised Renewable Energy Directive has elevated the EU’s 2030 renewable energy target from 32% to 42.5%, to further increase it to 45%.
Consequently, EU member countries must enhance their efforts to collectively meet the new 2030 target, necessitating a nearly 20 pp increase in the share of renewable energy sources in the EU’s gross final energy consumption.
According to Eurostat, Sweden led among EU nations, with 66% of its gross final energy consumption in 2022 derived from renewables, primarily hydro, wind, solid and liquid biofuels, along with heat pumps.
Finland followed at 47.9%, relying on hydro, wind and solid biofuels, while Latvia recorded 43.3%, mainly dependent on hydro.
Denmark (41.6%) and Estonia (38.5%) primarily sourced renewables from wind and solid biofuels. Portugal (34.7%) utilised solid biofuels, wind, hydro and heat pumps, whereas Austria (33.8%) mainly relied on hydro and solid biofuels.
Official data suggests the lowest proportions of renewables were observed in Ireland (13.1%), Malta (13.4%), Belgium (13.8%) and Luxembourg (14.4%).
