EU energy consumption from renewables falls for the 1st time in 2021

The renewables share in gross final energy consumption in the EU was 21.8% in 2021, decreasing for the first time, Eurostat said on Thursday.

Compared to 2020, the renewables share fell by 0.3 percentage points, although the EU statistics office warned of misinterpretation of the difference between results for 2020 and 2021 due to a change in methodology.

Data until 2020 were calculated based on the Renewable Energy Directive I (RED I), while those for 2021 follow the RED II.

“Due to the change of legal basis, a break in series occurs between 2020 and 2021,” Eurostat said.

Moreover, part of the renewables share dropping had to with lifting Covid-19 restrictions in 2021, which boosted overall energy consumption, Eurostat explained.

As for the country leadership board, Sweden had the highest share of energy from renewable sources in 2021. Its 62.6% renewables share came mostly thanks to a mix of biomass, hydro, wind, heat pumps and liquid biofuels. Finland followed with a 43.1% share, Latvia was behind with a 42.1%, with both countries relying mostly on biomass and hydro.

Below the EU average of 21.8% were 15 member states, including Spain, France and Germany. The lowest renewables share was found in Luxembourg, 11.7%, followed by Malta with 12.2%, the Netherlands with 12.3%, Ireland with 12.5% and Belgium with 13.0%.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!