EU Renewable Energy Consumption Rises in 2023 but Remains Below 2030 Target

Renewable energy sources (RES) accounted for 24.5% of electricity consumption in the European Union in 2023, a 1.4% increase compared to 2022, according to Eurostat. Bulgaria saw a notable rise, with 22.58% of its electricity coming from RES, up 3.56% year-on-year, ranking it 14th among EU nations, CE Report quotes BTA

Despite progress, the EU's renewable energy share remains 18% below the 42.5% target set for 2030. Achieving this goal requires an annual increase of 2.6% in RES usage.

Sweden led the EU with 66.4% of its gross final energy consumption sourced from renewables, mainly solid biofuels, hydro, and wind. Finland followed with 50.8%, and Denmark ranked third at 44.9%. The lowest shares were recorded in Luxembourg (11.6%), Belgium (14.7%), and Malta (15.1%).