Imports of solar panels by European Union countries grew by 145% last year, with the bloc importing €22.6 billion worth of solar panels in 2022 from extra-EU countries, up from €9.2 billion worth the previous year.
Overall, in 2022, the European Union spent €28.4 billion on imports of green energy products – including wind turbines, solar panels and liquid biofuels – from extra-EU countries, which is more than double the amount spent on said products in 2021 (€13.3. billion), environmental data from Eurostat revealed.
In terms of liquid biofuels, imports rose 49% to €5.1 billion (up from €3.4 billion in 2021), while imports of wind turbines were valued at €0.8 billion in 2022, a 17% increase on the previous year (€0.6 billion).
In 2022, China was the largest origin of extra-EU wind turbines and solar panels, while Argentina was the largest source of liquid biofuels.
Compared to ten years ago, imports of all three green energy product types are also up – solar panel imports are up 137% since 2012, while imports of liquid biofuels are up 60% and wind turbines are up 504%, albeit off a low base.
In terms of exports, the EU’s exports of green energy products to non-EU countries saw a notable decrease last year, totaling €3.7 billion in 2022, marking a 27% decline from the €5.0 billion recorded in 2021.
The export value of wind turbines experienced a drop of 59%, amounting to €1.3 billion in 2022 compared to €3.2 billion in 2021. Conversely, solar panel exports increased by 44%, reaching €0.8 billion in 2022, up from €0.6 billion in 2021. Liquid biofuel exports rose by 23% to €1.6 billion in 2022, compared to €1.3 billion in the previous year.
In 2022, wind turbines and liquid biofuels from the EU found the largest market in the United Kingdom, while the United States emerged as the primary destination for solar panels.
‘Clean energy is a fundamental part of the European Green Deal,’ Eurostat said in its report. ‘In pursuit of this, green energy products such as wind turbines, liquid biofuels and solar panels are required.
‘Utilising these energy products also reduces the energy import dependencies highlighted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.’
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