Crisis Drags Down EU Energy Consumption by 6% in 2008-11

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Since 2008, the severe economic crisis in the European Union (EU) has resulted in a contraction in energy consumption. According to a report from Eurostat, the statistical office of EU, gross inland energy consumption in the EU fell from 1.8 billion tonnes of oil equivalent (TOE) in 2008 to 1.7 billion TOE in 2011. Between 2008 and 2011, energy consumption in the EU decreased 6%.

The largest energy consumers in 2011 were listed in order as Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain. A total of 23 EU members reported decreases in their energy consumption between 2008 and 2011, and four reported increases. The largest declines were recorded in Lithuania (-24.5%), Ireland and Greece (both -12.3%), Romania (-10.2%), Spain and the United Kingdom (both -9.4%), while the highest increases were in Malta (16.9%) and Estonia (4.8%).

The energy dependence rate is defined as net imports divided by gross consumption, and it shows the extent to which a country or region is dependent on energy imports. The rate was 54% in the EU in 2011, nearly stable since 2008. The least dependent countries on energy imports are Denmark, Estonia, Romania and the Czech Republic.

The eurozone GDP is expected to have declined about 1.5% in the fourth quarter and should be flat in the first three months of 2013. In third quarter, the eurozone GDP fell 0.1%, after shrinking 0.2% between April and June, sending the bloc into recession.

The EU aims to reduce carbon emissions 20% relative to 1990 levels by 2020 and push for far deeper cuts by mid-century, a more ambitious agenda than other countries. The EU plans to increase the use of renewable sources in its energy consumption. Renewable energy accounted for 13.4% of gross final energy consumption in the EU. For additional information on renewable energy in EU, see February 13, 2013, article -- Europe's Renewables Beat Odds in 2011.

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