RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN THE EU – CURRENT STATE OF USAGE AND IMPORT DEPENDENCY

Abstract

European Union countries consumed in 2020 more energy than they produced themselves. Onlyits part was obtained from renewable sources (14.4%). Because of this, the Community focuses itsactivities largely on energy, where it is produced and the level of its consumption. To this purpose,through tools such as EU directives, it obliges Member States to reduce the energy they consume,as well as to increase the share of renewable sources in energy production. The paper analyses theenergy and climate targets for the European Union, particularly those for renewables and energyefficiency, for the oncoming years. In addition, the consumption and production of energy fromrenewable sources of each country was summarized. Only Sweden and Latvia have been shownto consume more than 50% of their energy from renewable sources. On the other hand, about58% of the EU’s consumed renewable energy in 2020 comes from biofuels and renewable waste.The countries’ dependence on energy imports is also apparent, but that from renewable sourcesusually does not account for a large share. It has also been shown that sixteen of the twenty-sevencountries import more than 50% of their energy needs.