Fossil fuels in Europe - statistics & facts
Fossil fuels account for roughly two thirds of primary energy consumption in the European Union. Coal was the main source of electricity generation in Europe for more than a century, but its contribution has halved in the span of 20 years, with the coal power share falling to less than 15 percent in 2023. Meanwhile, oil and natural gas continue to play a pivotal role in meeting energy consumption, primarily for heating and transportation fuels.
Oil is the main fuel source in the EU. It is largely used as a motor fuel and to produce petrochemicals. Since resources in the North Sea have depleted, oil production in the EU has also fallen significantly since the early 2000s. Outside of the EU, Russia and Norway are the leading producers on the continent.
Changes in domestic energy production
As the threat of climate change poses a major challenge for the world, many countries have seen to reducing the production and use of fossil fuels where possible. Coal is the most emission-intensive fossil fuel and as such many governments have begun to phase out this energy source. This has resulted in EU coal production dropping to historic lows. Today, Germany and Poland are Europe’s biggest remaining coal producers.Oil is the main fuel source in the EU. It is largely used as a motor fuel and to produce petrochemicals. Since resources in the North Sea have depleted, oil production in the EU has also fallen significantly since the early 2000s. Outside of the EU, Russia and Norway are the leading producers on the continent.
