The share of renewable energy used for heating and cooling in the European Union (EU) reached 26.2% in 2023, marking the highest level since records began in 2004, when it stood at 11.7%. This represents a 1.2 percentage point (pp) increase from 2022, when the share was 25.0%, according to the latest data from the EU energy statistics.
EU Directive Mandates Annual Growth in Renewables
Under EU Directive 2023/2413, adopted on October 18, 2023, member states are required to increase the share of renewable energy in heating and cooling by at least 0.8 pp per year from 2021 to 2025 and by at least 1.1 pp per year from 2026 to 2030. The steady growth of renewable energy in heating and cooling has been largely driven by biomass and heat pump technologies.
Sweden, Estonia Lead in Renewable Heating; Ireland and Netherlands Lag Behind
Among EU nations, Sweden led with a 67.1% share of renewable energy in heating and cooling in 2023, closely followed by Estonia (66.7%) and Latvia (61.4%). Biomass and heat pumps remain the primary contributors to their renewable energy mix.
Conversely, Ireland (7.9%), the Netherlands (10.2%), and Belgium (11.3%) recorded the lowest shares of renewables in heating and cooling.
Growth Trends Across EU Countries
A total of 21 EU countries reported an increase in their renewable energy share in heating and cooling between 2022 and 2023. The highest increases were observed in Austria (+8.1 pp), Malta (+7.5 pp), and Greece (+4.9 pp).
However, declines were recorded in Sweden (-2.7 pp), Poland (-2.2 pp), Slovakia (-1.1 pp), Croatia (-1.0 pp), Germany (-0.5 pp), and Luxembourg (-0.1 pp).
The upward trend highlights the EU’s continued commitment to decarbonizing heating and cooling sectors in line with its renewable energy targets.
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