EU Renewable Energy Usage Hits Record High but Falls Short of 2030 Goals

Renewable energy accounted for 24.5% of the European Union’s energy consumption in 2023, marking a new record. Despite this progress, the figure remains significantly below the EU’s ambitious target of 42.5% by 2030.

Among the bloc’s four largest economies, only Spain exceeded the EU average in renewable energy usage. Sweden led all member states, sourcing the majority of its renewable energy from solid biofuels, hydropower, and wind. Finland followed with 50.8% of its energy derived from renewables, while Denmark ranked third at 44.9%. Outside the EU, Albania emerged as a standout among candidate countries, with renewables contributing over 46% of its energy.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Luxembourg recorded the lowest share of renewable energy use at 11.6%, followed by Belgium at 14.7% and Malta at 15.1%. However, Malta distinguished itself as one of the few European countries to achieve a significant increase in renewable energy usage over the past decade, raising its share by more than 10%. Other countries with notable growth include Denmark (+15.61%), Sweden (+15.24%), Estonia (+14.82%), Albania (+14.77%), Cyprus (+11.07%), and Bosnia-Herzegovina (+11.69%).

In contrast, Croatia (+0.23%), Romania (+0.92%), and North Macedonia (+0.65%) reported minimal growth, while Kosovo (-0.76%), Moldova (-3.17%), and Montenegro (-3.13%) saw declines in renewable energy use.

Although the EU’s 2023 result reflects a 7% improvement compared to a decade ago, it is still 18 percentage points below the 2030 target. Achieving this goal requires an annual growth rate of 2.6%, significantly higher than the average year-on-year increase of 0.79% observed over the past decade.

Have you read?
Countries: Women in the workforce.
Countries: Personal space.
World’s Most (And Least) Religious Countries.
Best Countries to Invest In Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality.
Most Forested Countries In The World.