EurObserv'ER has calculated the share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption for the 27 European Union Member States (EU-27). For the year 2011 this share was estimated at 13.4%. This is more than in the year 2010, for which the share was estimated at 12.5%.

All country-specific details can be read from the press release (PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB)

The increase of the renewable energy share in EU-27 can be explained by the combination of a slightly higher gross consumption of final energy from renewable energy sources - 151.1 Million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) (against 148.6 Mtoe in 2010) - and of a significant decrease of the total gross final energy consumption (1126.6 Mtoe in 2011 against 1184.6 Mtoe in 2010).

Gross final energy consumption from renewable energy sources increased by 1.7% (+2.5 Mtoe) whereas total gross final energy consumption decreased by -4.9% (-58.0 Mtoe). This important decrease is the consequence of an exceptionally mild winter in Europe, which has contained the need for heating, and of a slowdown in economic activity.

The relatively small increase of renewable energy consumption in EU-27 is due to a lower consumption of wood fuel and to a relatively small increase of biofuels consumption.

It is not linked to the important decrease of the European hydroelectricity production in 2011, since the calculations presented here are based on a normalised hydroelectricity production and not on effective production.

EurObserv'ER is the first organisation estimating the share of renewable energy for the year 2011.

In January 2013 EurObserv'ER will publish the new edition of the annual RES overview publication 'The state of renewable energy in Europe'. In this report more context will be provided around the renewable energy share presented above. This report will become available through the EurObserv'ER website