Energy consumption across the EU‘s industrial sector declined in 2024, continuing a trend evident since 1990, according to new data from Eurostat.
However, the data showed that energy use in Europe’s food, beverages and tobacco sector has increased over the same period.
Industrial sector
Eurostat reported that total energy consumption in the EU’s industrial sector reached 8,835 petajoules in 2024, representing a decline of 8.1% compared with a decade earlier (2014).
Electricity accounted for the largest share of industrial energy use in 2024 at 2,945 petajoules, representing 33.3% of total consumption. Natural gas followed closely at 2,817 petajoules or 31.9%. Renewables and biofuels represented the third-largest energy source at 999 petajoules (11.3%), ahead of oil and petroleum products at 922 petajoules (10.4%). Smaller shares came from solid fossil fuels, heat and non-renewable waste.
Eurostat noted that consumption of most energy products declined over the ten-year period, with the largest reductions recorded in solid fossil fuels, down 34.8%, and heat, down 23.7%.
The use of renewables and biofuels increased by 24.3% over the same timeframe, while non-renewable waste consumption rose by 32.1%.
Food, beverages and tobacco
Within the food, beverages and tobacco industry, energy consumption increased by 4.7% compared with 2014, reaching 1,134 petajoules in 2024. This represented 12.8% of total industrial energy consumption across the EU.
Natural gas remained the largest energy source within the food and beverage sector, accounting for 525 petajoules or 46.3% of consumption. Electricity represented 401 petajoules, or 35.3% of consumption.
The remaining energy demand in the sector was met through renewables and biofuels, oil and petroleum products, heat, solid fossil fuels and non-renewable waste.
Eurostat said the strongest growth within the food and beverage industry was recorded in renewables and biofuels, which increased by 68.4% compared with 2014. Use of non-renewable waste also increased by 47.4%.
Electricity consumption rose by 8.1% and natural gas use increased by 5% over the same period. In contrast, the use of solid fossil fuels in the sector fell by 36.4%. Read more here.
