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Indicator Assessment

Final energy consumption by sector and fuel

Indicator Assessment
Prod-ID: IND-16-en
  Also known as: ENER 016
Published 21 Oct 2015 Last modified 11 May 2021
21 min read
This page was archived on 11 Jan 2017 with reason: Other (New version data-and-maps/indicators/final-energy-consumption-by-sector-9/assessment-1 was published)

Between 1990 and 2013, final energy consumption in the EU28 increased by 2.2%. Between 2005 and 2013, final energy consumption decreased by 7.0% in the EU28. It was a result of decreased final energy consumption in industry, transport and households sectors, where final energy consumption dropped by 15.4%, 5.7% and 3.2%, respectively. In contrast, the services sector was the only sector where energy consumption increased, by a figure of 5.7% over the same period. The decrease in final energy consumption since 2005 was influenced by economic performance, structural changes in various end-use sectors, in particular industry, improvements in end-use efficiency and lower heat consumption due to favourable climatic conditions. In 2013, the EU28 was on track to meet its 2020 target for final energy consumption. Early estimates suggest that final energy consumption decreased by a further 3.4% in 2014 compared to 2013. 

Final energy consumption in EEA countries increased by 6.2% between 1990 and 2013 and this difference is caused by the increased energy consumption in Turkey (115%) and Norway (17%). Between 2005 and 2013, final energy consumption in EEA countries decreased by 5.0% and the largest contributor of this decrease was industry sector (13.1%). 

On average, each person in the EEA countries used 2.0 tonnes of oil equivalent to meet their energy needs in 2013.

Final energy consumption by sector

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Final energy consumption of petroleum products by sector

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Final energy consumption of electricity by sector

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Final energy consumption of natural gas by sector

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Final energy consumption of solid fuel by sector

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Final energy consumption by fuel type

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Member states progress towards indicative national energy efficiency targets for 2020

2013
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Final energy consumption and estimated national 2020 targets

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  • Between 2005 and 2013, final energy consumption decreased by 7.0% (0.9% annually) in the EU28 (Fig. 1) and by 5.0% (0.6% annually) in the EEA countries. Between 2012 and 2013, final energy consumption in the EU28 and EEA countries stabilised (see Table 1) after a small increase due to a mild economic recovery between 2009 and 2010. Overall, between 1990 and 2013, there was a relatively small increase of 2.2% in final energy consumption in the EU28 (0.1% annually) and of 6.2% in the EEA countries (0.3% annually). The difference in final energy consumption between the EEA countries and the EU28 is mainly caused by the increased energy consumption in Turkey (115%) between 1990 and 2013 (31% between 2005 and 2013). In Norway, energy consumption increased by 17% between 1990 and 2013 and by 1% between 2005 and 2013.
  • The decrease  in final energy consumption in the EU28 since 2005 took place in all sectors, except the services sector (see Figure 1). Industry and other [1] sectors show the largest decrease between 2005 and 2013, at 15% and 25% respectively in the EU28. During this period, energy consumption in the services sector continued to increase by 5.7% in the EU28 (9.4% in the EEA). Since 2005, energy consumption in the residential sector has started to decrease in the EU28, after a history of small yearly increases. This deviation of the trend indicates that EU policies on the energy performance of buildings are having an effect (see also ENER 037).
  • Over the whole period (1990-2013), the largest increases in final energy consumption in the EU28 occurred in the services and transport sectors, with 40% and 23% respectively (48% and 26% in the EEA) (see Figure 1).
    • In the services sector, energy consumption increased due to the continued rise in the demand for electrical appliances, in particular information and communication technology (such as computers and photocopiers), and also for other energy-intensive technologies such as air-conditioning.
    • In the transport sector, the increase was observed as a result of improvements in fuel efficiency being offset by increases in passenger and freight transport demand. Higher transport demand has resulted from increased ownership of private cars, particularly in the new EU Member States, as well as growing settlement and urban sprawl, leading to longer distances travelled, and changes in lifestyle. Rapid increases in passenger aviation between 1990 and 2005 have contributed significantly to increased transport demand. Between 2005 and 2013, final energy consumption in the transport sector decreased by 6% in the EU28. The transport sector accounted in 2013 for 32% of total final energy consumption in the EU28 Member States followed by household sector (27%), the industrial sector (25%) and the service sector (14%) (see Figure 1).
  • Of the major sectors, the largest fall in energy consumption between 1990 and 2013 took place in the industry sector, where final energy consumption in the EU28 fell by 25%, at an annual average rate of 1.2%. Between 2005 and 2013, energy consumption in the industry sector fell at an annual average rate of 2.1%. This was largely the result of a shift towards less energy-intensive manufacturing industries and the continuing transition to a more service-oriented European economy, combined with the effects of the economic recession in recent years.
  • The observed trend in final energy consumption differs significantly across the EEA member countries (see Table 1). Between 2005 and 2013, Malta, Turkey and Poland experienced, by far, the largest increase in final energy consumption (32%, 31% and 8% respectively), whereas Greece and Hungary experienced the largest decrease with 27% and 18% respectively. In addition, final energy consumption also decreased significantly in Spain (17%), Portugal (17%), Ireland (15%), Bulgaria (14%), Romania (12%), Cyprus (12%), Italy (12%) and the UK (11%) during this period.
  • Between 1990 and 2005, oil consumption increased by 13%, but has since decreased by 15% in the EU28 (see Figure 2 and Figure 6). In the transport sector, the use of petroleum fuels increased by 29% between 1990 and 2005, at an average annual rate of 1.7%. Between 2005 and 2013, the consumption of oil decreased in all sectors. At 9%, and with an annual decrease of 1.1%, the smallest decrease occurred in the transport sector. In 2013, the transport sector accounted for a 77% share of petroleum consumption (compared to 62% in 1990). Increased fuel efficiencies, as a result of to transport standards, play an important role in this decreased consumption. For more details on trends in the transport sector see also the EEA (2014a) and EEA (2014b).
  • The consumption of electricity increased most rapidly, with a 28.1% increase since 1990 (see Figure 3 and Figure 6). Since 2005 and 2013, there was a 0.5% decrease in the final energy consumption of electricity. The increase since 1990 was due to the increase of electricity consumption in the services and households sector at 88% and 36%, respectively. Since 2005, electricity consumption in these sectors continued to increase (3% for the household sector and 13% for the service sector), while electricity consumption in industry decreased by 12% over the same period due to improvements in industrial processes
  • Consumption of natural gas also increased by 20% in the EU28 during the 1990-2013 period (see Figure 4 and Figure 6). Since 2005, however, consumption of natural gas has decreased by 7%. In the residential and service sectors, weather conditions and income levels play an important role. Although the transport sector had the largest increase in natural gas consumption, the increases in the service and household sectors are much more significant overall because of their contribution to total consumption. Between 1990 and 2013, the service and household sectors experienced an increase of 91% and 45%, respectively. The household sector has experienced a decrease of 6% since 2005, whereas natural gas consumption in the service sector increased by 11%. In 2013, the household sector had the largest share of final energy consumption of natural gas (44%) for the EU28. This was a result of the increase in the use of gas for residential heating and cooking.
  • Consumption of solid fuels underwent the largest decrease (62%) between 1990 and 2013 (12% since 2005) (see Figure 5 and Figure 6). The largest absolute reductions were observed in the industry and households sectors. This is as a result of the switch from coal to gas, triggered by environmental concerns and economic reasons (price differential between coal and gas in 1990s).
  • According to the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU), the EU Member States have set up national indicative targets that collectively would help reach the EU's 20% energy efficiency target by 2020. In 2013, the cumulative final energy consumption target for all Member States was 5 Mtoe below the EU28 target of 1086Mtoe. Member States have the possibility to update their targets in the National Energy Efficiency Plan, although this is not specifically mentioned in the Energy Efficiency Directive. By 2013, sixteen of the EU Member States reached their estimated national target (see Figure 7). In 2013, final energy consumption in Germany, France and the UK was 23, 21 and 7 Mtoe, respectively, above these countries' national targets. In countries such as Italy, Poland, Romania and Croatia, final energy consumption in 2013 was well below their estimated national 2020 target. In 2013, final energy consumption in the EU28 was 1104 Mtoe, 1.6% above the 2020 target of 1086 Mtoe. For more information on progress towards the energy efficiency targets see also EEA (2014c) and forthcoming updates).

[1] “Other” is the sum of Fishing, Agriculture and Forestry

Supporting information

Indicator definition

Final energy consumption covers the energy supplied to the final consumer for all energy uses. It is calculated as the sum of the final energy consumption of all sectors. These sectors are disaggregated to cover industry, transport, households, services and agriculture.

The indicator can be presented in relative or absolute terms. The relative contribution of a specific sector is measured as the ratio of the final energy consumption of that sector to the total final energy consumption, calculated for each calendar year. It is a useful indicator that highlights a country's sectoral needs in terms of final energy demand.

Units

Final energy consumption is measured in million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe).


 

Policy context and targets

Context description

Environmental context

The trends in final energy consumption by fuel type and by sector provide a broad indication of progress towards reducing final energy consumption and associated environmental impacts by the different end-use sectors (the transport, industry, services and households sectors). The type and magnitude of energy-related pressures on the environment (greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, etc.) depends both on the sources of energy and on the total amount of energy consumed. One way of reducing energy-related pressures on the environment is to use less energy. This may result from reducing the demand for energy services (e.g. heat demand, passenger or freight transport) or by using energy in a more efficient way (thereby using less energy per unit of activity) or a combination of these.

Policy context

The 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive establishes a set of binding measures to help the EU reach its 20 % energy efficiency target by 2020. Under this directive, all EU countries are required to use energy more efficiently at all stages of the energy chain, from its production to its final consumption. To reach the EU's 20 % energy efficiency target by 2020, individual EU countries have set their own indicative national energy efficiency targets. Depending on country preferences, these targets are based on primary and/or final energy consumption, primary and/or final energy savings or energy intensity. New national measures have to ensure major energy savings for consumers and industry. To help officials in EU countries implement the Energy Efficiency Directive, the European Commission publishes guidance notes (COM(2013) 762).

On 19 June 2018, a political agreement on new rules for improving energy efficiency in Europe was reached between negotiators from the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council. The new regulatory framework includes an energy efficiency target for the EU for 2030 of 32.5 %, with an upwards revision clause by 2023. This update to the Energy Efficiency Directive, proposed by the Commission on 30 November 2016, includes a 30 % energy efficiency target for 2030.

  • Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency — Analysis of the final compromise text with a view to agreement (ST 10309 2018 INIT);
  • Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC;
  • Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council 'Implementing the Energy Efficiency Directive — Commission Guidance' (COM(2013) 762 final);
  • Council Directive 2013/12/EU of 13 May 2013 adapting Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy efficiency, by reason of the accession of the Republic of Croatia.

Earlier legislation

In 2009, the council adopted the climate-energy legislative package containing measures to fight climate change and promote the use of renewable energy. This package is designed to achieve the EU's overall environmental target of a 20 % reduction in greenhouse gases and a 20 % share of renewable energy in the EU's total energy consumption by 2020. The climate action and renewable energy (CARE) package includes the following main policy documents:

  • Directive 2009/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending directive 2003/87/EC so as to improve and extend the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme of the Community;
  • Directive 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the geological storage of carbon dioxide;
  • Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources;
  • Community guidelines on state aid for environmental protection (2008/c 82/01);
  • Directive 2008/101/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending directive 2003/87/EC so as to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community;
  • Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the Community’s integrated approach to reducing CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles;
  • Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions 'Second Strategic Energy Review — An EU energy and solidarity action plan' (COM(2008) 781 final);
  • Strategic review on short, medium and long term targets on EU energy security;
  • Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions 'Sustainable consumption and production and sustainable industrial policy action plan' (COM(2008) 397 final).

The strategy is meant to further sustainable consumption and production and promote its sustainable industrial policy.

EEA references

Targets

  • In accordance with the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU), the EU Member States have set up national indicative targets that, collectively, should help the EU to reach its 20 % energy efficiency target by 2020. In 2016, the cumulative final energy consumption for all Member States was 1 108 Mtoe (2 %) more than the EU-28 2020 target of 1 086 Mtoe. The approximated trend suggests that in 2017 final energy consumption increased further, to 1 120 Mtoe, which is 2.6 % higher than the EU-28 2020 target. Member States can update their targets in their national energy efficiency plans, although this is not specifically mentioned in the Energy Efficiency Directive. By 2014, 18 of the EU Member States reached their indicative national targets and this has continued up to 2016. In 2016, final energy consumption in Germany and France was 22 and 16 Mtoe, respectively, above these countries' indicative national targets. In 14 of the EU-28 countries, such as Greece, Latvia, Poland, Portugal and Romania, final energy consumption in 2016 was below their indicative national 2020 targets. For more information on progress towards the energy efficiency targets, see EEA (2017b) and forthcoming updates.

Related policy documents

 

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

Technical information

  1. Data sources:
    Final energy consumption: Eurostat (http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/energy/data).
    Final energy consumption, non-EEA countries: International Energy Agency (IEA) (http://www.iea.org/statistics/topics/energybalances/).
    Final energy consumption is one of the EEA’s core set of indicators. More information can be found at http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/about
  2. Description of data/indicator definition:
    Final energy consumption covers energy supplied to the final consumer for all energy uses. It is calculated as the sum of final energy consumption of all sectors. These are disaggregated to cover the industry, transport, households, services and agriculture sectors.
    The indicator can be presented in relative or absolute terms. The relative contribution of a specific sector is measured by the ratio of the final energy consumption of that sector to total final energy consumption calculated for a calendar year. It is a useful indicator that highlights a country's sectoral needs in terms of final energy demand.
  3. Geographical coverage:
    The EEA had 33 member countries at the time of writing this indicator. These are the 28 EU Member States and Turkey, plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Note that no data are included for Switzerland or Liechtenstein because of a lack of Eurostat data. Table 1 also includes data for outside Europe, namely Africa, the Middle East, China, India, Russia and the United States.
  4. Methodology and frequency of data collection:
    Data are collected annually.
    Eurostat metadata: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/index.cfm?TargetUrl=DSP_PUB_WELC
  5. Methodology of data manipulation:
    Average annual rate of growth is calculated using the following: [(last year/base year) ^ (1/number of years) - 1]*100.
  6. Coding (used in the Eurostat database) and specific components of indicator:
    • Numerator: final energy consumption (101700) = final energy consumption industry (101800) + final energy consumption transport (101900) + final energy consumption households (102010) + final energy consumption services (102035) + agriculture calculated as (final energy consumption agriculture/forestry (102030) + final energy consumption fisheries (102020) + final energy consumption other sectors (102000).
    • If needed for calculating share of total energy consumption, a denominator is used: (total) final energy consumption (101700).
    This was done for 0000 — all products; 3000 — total petroleum products; 6000 — electrical energy; 4100 — natural gas; and 2000 — solid fuels.
  7. Coding (used in the IEA database) and specific components of indicator:
    • Reports: Energy balances of Non-OECD countries and Energy balances of OECD countries.
    • Name: Energy Balances.
    • Products: Total; Flow; and Final Consumption — Flow.
    • Memo: Feedstock use in the petrochemical industry.
  8. Early estimates of 2017 ('approximated' or 'proxy') data for final energy consumption were prepared by the EEA and its European Topic Centre for Air Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation (ETC/ACM), see https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/approximated-estimates-for-the-primary-1.

         The estimated indicative national targets for 2020 are based on the national energy efficiency plans for 2017 or earlier when 2017 plans not available (see https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-directive/national-energy-efficiency-action-plans).


Methodology for gap filling

No gap filling was applied.

Methodology references

No methodology references available.

 

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Reliability, accuracy, robustness and uncertainty (at data level)

Any cross-country comparison of the distribution of final energy consumption among sectors will have to be accompanied by a relevant measure of the importance of the sector in the economy, as the sectoral share also depends on a country's economic circumstances. Because the focus is on the reduction of final energy consumption and not on the sectoral redistribution of such consumption, the trends in the absolute values (in thousand tonnes of oil equivalent) are preferred, as they are a more meaningful indicator of progress. However, even if the same sectors in two countries are equally important to the economy, the gross (primary) consumption of energy needed before it reaches the final user might draw from energy sources that pollute the environment in different ways. Therefore, from an environmental point of view, the final energy consumption of a sector should be analysed in that broader context.

The sectoral breakdown of final energy consumption includes the industry, transport, households, services, agriculture, fisheries and other sectors. The inclusion of the agriculture and fisheries sector together with the services sector is however questionable given their divergent trends. Separate assessments are therefore made where appropriate. It is worth noting that, according to Eurostat final energy consumption in agriculture is not very reliable and it is accounted for mainly by consumption from engines used for agricultural transportation. A new definition is now used in energy questionnaires to be more in line with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines.

Overall scoring — historic data (1 = no major problems, 3 = major reservations):
Relevance: 1
Accuracy: 1
Comparability over time: 1
Comparability over space: 1

Data sets uncertainty

Strengths and weaknesses (at data level)

Officially reported data, updated annually. No obvious weaknesses.

Data have traditionally been compiled by Eurostat through the annual joint questionnaires of Eurostat and the IEA, following a well-established and harmonised methodology. Methodological information on the annual joint questionnaires and data compilation can be found on Eurostat's web page for metadata on energy statistics (https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/de/nrg_quant_esms.htm).

Rationale uncertainty

No uncertainty has been specified

Data sources

Other info

DPSIR: Driving force
Typology: Descriptive indicator (Type A - What is happening to the environment and to humans?)
Indicator codes
  • ENER 016
Frequency of updates
Updates are scheduled once per year
EEA Contact Info