Comparison of Consumption and Renewable Sources of Energy in European Union Countries—Sectoral Indicators, Economic Conditions and Environmental Impacts

Anna Komarnicka,Anna Murawska

doi:10.3390/en14123714

Abstract

The use of energy is a precondition for global economic and civilisational development. However, the growing demand for energy is depleting traditional energy resources and, most importantly, causing environmental pollution, mainly through the emission of greenhouse gases. As energy is necessary for the functioning of all sectors of the economy, such as industry, services, transport as well as households, these sectors are the largest contributors to energy consumption. Renewable energy sources are an alternative to generating energy from conventional fossil fuels. The main objective of this paper was to determine and compare the level, trends and variation in energy consumption by different economic sectors in countries of the European Union in 2010–2019. An analysis of the share of renewable energy consumption in different economic sectors was also carried out, as well as an assessment of the relationship of these indicators with the level of economic development of the countries and environmental impacts in the form of greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption. To explore the topics under discussion, a dozen of indicators have been considered in the article. The source of empirical data collected was the European Statistical Office. The researched period covered the years 2010–2019. The empirical data was statistically analysed. The article considers changes in the values of the studied indicators, differentiation between countries and the results of correlation and regression analysis. As shown by the data from 2010–2019, the countries of the European Union vary significantly in respect of primary and final energy consumption. The highest final energy consumption occurs in the transport sector, followed by slightly lower consumption in the industrial sector and households sector and the lowest but also significant consumption in the commercial and public services sector. Since 2010, total primary and final energy consumption has decreased in the EU (27) countries. Total energy consumption and consumption by individual sectors in modern economies of the EU (27) countries are reflected on the one hand in economic development and on the other—in exacerbation of adverse climate changes. Therefore, all EU Member States, aware of their energy consumption and their own contribution to environmental pollution, should take effective and sustainable corrective action in this area as soon as possible.

Highlights

Energy is recognised as a driver of a country’s economic growth, an essential commodity and an important tool for holistic development, while sustainable economic growth requires sufficient and continuous availability of energy [1,2,3]
The following specific objectives have been accomplished: first, assess the level of variation between EU countries with regard to energy consumption in total and by sectors such as industry, transport, commercial and public services and households; second, compare and evaluate renewable energy sources in general and in transport, electricity and heating and cooling; third, seek confirmation whether the level of energy consumption in total and by different sectors of the economy is related to methods of energy generation, the economic development of the countries and the environmental impacts in the form of greenhouse gas emissions; fourth, establish whether the level of energy consumption and the economic development of the countries is related to trends of change in energy consumption
While the coefficient of variation in 2010 for EU (27) countries for primary energy consumption was Vs = 45.9%, in 2019 it was equal to Vs = 38.8%, whereas for final energy consumption in 2010 Vs was equal to 57.6% and in 2019 Vs was equal to 48.2%

Summary

Introduction

Energy is recognised as a driver of a country’s economic growth, an essential commodity and an important tool for holistic development, while sustainable economic growth requires sufficient and continuous availability of energy [1,2,3]. Energy can be used for a variety of purposes and is acquired from many different sources [6] Fossil fuels still represent the foundation of the global energy system [4]. Roughly 81% of the global total primary energy production comes from fossil fuels, of which oil accounts for 31.5%, coal—26.9% and natural gas—22.8%. Biofuels secured 9.3%, nuclear energy—4.9% and hydropower—2.5% of global energy supply in 2018. Only 2.1% of the world’s primary energy comes from solar, wind, geothermal or biomass energy or other alternative energy sources. The above figures for total primary energy supply are based on world energy balances and have been retrieved from the International Energy Agency (IEA) [7]

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