ENER 21 Final Energy Consumption Intensity
Key message
Over the period 1990-2009, the EU-27 final energy intensity has decreased by 26% at an annual
average rate of 1.6%/year. From 2005 to 2009, decoupling of economic growth from final energy
consumption was more rapid and resulted in a faster energy intensity reduction of 2.2%/year:
since 2005, decoupling was the most successful in the agriculture and industrial sectors where
the energy intensity has decreased by respectively 3.3%/year and 3.1%/year. In the tertiary and
transport sectors the final energy consumption intensities have decreased by 2.4%/y and 0.5%/y
since 2005. In the households sector, the final energy consumption per capita decreased slightly
(-1%/year over 2005-2009), due to counterbalancing effects: larger and more numerous
dwellings, greater ownership of electrical appliances on the one hand, energy efficiency
improvements on the other hand. In non EU-EEA countries, the final energy intensity has
decreased by 8.3% or 0.5%/year over the period 1990-2009.
Rationale
Historically, economic growth influenced final energy consumption in the end-use sectors,
particularly transport, industry and services. Final energy consumption of households is driven by
disposable income (a function of economic growth), population, the number of households and
size of the dwellings. The indicator measures to what extent there is a decoupling between final
energy consumption in various sectors and these drivers. A decoupling of final energy
consumption from economic growth indicates a reduction in environmental pressures from energy
production and consumption due to avoided supply of energy.
Key policy question: has there been a decoupling between economic growth and final energy
consumption in Europe?
Key assessment: final energy intensity1

From 1990 to 2009, the final energy intensity of the EU-27 decreased by 26% at an annual average rate of 1.6%.
Since 2005, the energy intensity mainly decreased in the agriculture and industrial sectors by respectively 3.3%/year
and 3.1%/year. In the tertiary and transport sectors the final energy consumption intensities decreased by 2.4%/year
and 0.5%/year since 2005. In the households sector, the final energy consumption per capita decreased slightly (1%/year). Improvements in final energy intensity were influenced both by structural changes in the economy, such as
a shift from industry towards services and, within industry, to less energy-intensive processes, and by energy efficiency
improvements. In the household sector, improvements in the efficiency of electrical appliances and measures targeting
the buildings’ envelope helped to slow down the growth in final energy consumption (see ENER016 and for energy
efficiency in the household sector see ENER022).

In 2009, the GDP decreased by 4.3% and the final energy consumption dropped by 5.2%, which resulted in a
decrease of 1% in the final energy intensity of the EU-27. In 2009, the final energy intensity was 25.9%, lower than
in1990.

Trends are very different among countries: final energy intensity decreased by more than 4%/year since 1990 in
Estonia, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Lithuania, between 2 and 4%/year in Czech Republic, Latvia, Hungary,
Poland, Norway, Ireland and Luxembourg, mainly due to energy efficiency progress and restructuring in industry. . .

In the non EU EEA member countries, the final energy intensity decreased by 8.3 % over the period 1990 to 2009, at
an annual average rate of 0.5 %: GDP grew at an average annual rate of 2.5% while final energy consumption
increased by an average annual rate of 2 %. Therefore, in these countries, there is a slower pace of decoupling
between final energy consumption and economic growth, mainly due to developments in Turkey. Over the period
2005-2009, the intensity decreased slightly faster, by 0.6%/year. In 2009, the economic crisis led to a strong reduction
1Final
energy intensity or final energy consumption intensity refers to the ratio between the final energy consumption and the GDP.
EN21 Final Energy Consumption Intensity
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in the final energy intensity in non EU EEA member countries (-2.1%): the final energy consumption dropped much
faster than the GDP (5.1% compared to 3%).

From 1990 to 2009, the final energy consumption of the EU-27 has increased by 0.2 %/year. During the same period,
CO2 emissions from fuel combustion have decreased by 13.4% (- -35.8% in manufacturing industries and
construction, -15% in residential, tertiary and agriculture but + 20.8% in transport. The CO2 emissions of industrial
process have also decreased by 30.8% since 1990 (EEA, 2011b). In 2009, the economic crisis induced a significant
decrease in CO2 emissions from the energy industry (-8%) and from the manufacturing industries and construction (15.5%). An important decrease was also observed in industrial process (-17.1%).
Between 1990 and 2009, the emissions of other air pollutants decreased more significantly: SOx (-80 %), CO (-62 %),
NMVOCs (-55 %) and NOx (-44 %) (EEA, 2011a).
Specific policy question: is the final energy consumption intensity decreasing in the households
sector in Europe?
Specific assessment: the final energy consumption intensity in the household sector

The final household energy consumption has grown almost at the same pace as the population since 1990 (average
annual rate of 0.4 % for the population compared to 0.3 % for the energy consumption). As a result, the final energy
intensity in the households sector, measured by the ratio “energy consumption divided by population” has only
increased moderately by 1.6 % between 1990 and 2009, i.e. at an average annual rate of 0.1%. This trend resulted
from counterbalancing effects: increased comfort levels on the one hand, energy efficiency improvements on the other
hand (see ENER 022). The final energy consumption intensity in the households sector is also closely linked with
climatic conditions, as the major part of the energy is used for space heating (for details on energy efficiency
improvements in the household sector see also ENER 022)2. An opposite trend can be observed over the period 20052009 with a decrease of the consumption per capita by 1%/year (the same for the year 2009), reflecting larger energy
efficiency improvements and also, in some countries, comfort restrictions by households due to income reduction. .
Specific policy question: is the final energy consumption intensity decreasing in the industrial
sector?
Specific assessment: the final energy consumption intensity in the industrial sector

Between 2005 and 2009, the energy intensity in the industrial sector decreased by 12%, at an annual average rate of
3.1 %. Over the same period of time, the gross value added of the industrial sector increased by 8%, at an annual
average rate of 2.1 % and the final energy consumption of industry declined over 1990-2009 by 18.1%, at an annual
average rate of 1.4%. In 2009, the economic crisis had a large impact on the industrial sector. While the total GDP of
the EU-27 decreased by 4.3% between 2008 and 2009, the gross value added of industry dropped by 12.1%. The
drop in the energy consumption of the industrial sector was even greater (14.7%). As a consequence, the energy
intensity of industry decreased by 2.9% in 2009.

This energy intensity decrease is mainly due to energy efficiency improvements in the industry (see also the ODEX in
ENER025) and to a lesser extent to a shift towards less energy-intensive industries.
Specific policy question: is the final energy consumption intensity decreasing in the services and
agriculture sectors?
Specific assessment: the final energy consumption intensity in the services sector and
agriculture

From 2005 to 2009, energy intensity of the service and agricultural sectors declined by 2.4 %/year and 3.3%/year
respectively. Therefore, there is for both sectors a significant decoupling of energy consumption from the gross value
added. During this period, the gross value added for the services and agriculture sector increased by 6% and 3.5%
respectively, at an average annual rate of 1.5 % and 0.9%. The energy consumption of services increased by 3.3 %
(0.8%/year); the energy consumption of agriculture (and fisheries) decreased by 9.5% (2.5%/year).
2Please
note that figures presented in this indicator are not directly comparable with the figures presented in the ENER 022. Most of the trends presented in
ENER 022 refer to consumption adjusted from climate to make more realistic comparison between countries to avoid climatic variations and influence (in
particular to compare Nordic and Southern countries).
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EN21 Final Energy Consumption Intensity

In 2009, the gross value added of the EU-27 services sector decreased for the first time since 1995 (-2.2%). The
decrease of energy consumption was less significant (-1.4%), which implied a 0.8% increase of the final energy
intensity of the services sector. In the same time, the gross value added of the agriculture sector increased by 1.7%
whereas energy consumption dropped by 3.3%. As a result, the final energy intensity of agriculture decreased by 4.9%
in 2009.

The reduction in energy intensity in services is the result of counterbalancing drivers: energy efficiency, on the one
hand, and increase in comfort and in the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in offices, on the
other hand. The underlying factors explaining the energy efficiency improvement include increase in insulation and in
heating equipment. For agriculture, the main drivers are energy efficiency improvements and increase in productivity.
Specific policy question: is the final energy consumption intensity decreasing in the transport
sector?
Specific assessment: the final energy consumption intensity in the transport sector

Between 2005 and 2009, some progress was made in decoupling the energy consumption in transport from economic
growth, albeit much less noticeable than what can be observed in industry or service sectors. During this period of
time, the final energy consumption intensity decreased by 2%, at an average annual rate of 0.5 %.
The decrease of the energy intensity in transport is due to different factors: on the one hand this is due to energy
efficiency increase, improvement in trucks management of transport operations (load factor) ; on the other hand
these benefits have been partially offset by modal shifts to more energy intensive modes of transport (increase in air
traffic and in the use of cars instead of public transport and the increasing use of trucks instead of rail or inland
waterways for good transportation increased). In 2009, the energy consumption in transport decreased by 2.7%; GDP
decreased by 4.3% due to the financial and economic crisis. As a result, the energy intensity of the transport sector
decreased by 1.6% in 2009.
Fig. 1: Variation of final energy intensity in EU and EEA countries, 1990-2009
Data Source: Eurostat and World Bank
Notes : Some estimates have been necessary for computing GDP mainly before 1995. See metadata.
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Fig. 2: Index of final energy intensity and energy intensity by sector, EU-27
Data Source: Eurostat
Note: Gross Value Added in Eurostat are not available for all the countries before 1995 (as well as for EU-27 as a whole). Final energy
intensities between sectors, and also the total final energy intensity, are not comparable, because the normalising variables are not the same.
The indicator serves to highlight the evolution in energy intensity within each sector. The denominators for the sectoral energy intensities are,
respectively: GDP for total intensity and transport, population for households, Gross Value added in industry for industry and Gross Value
Added in Services for tertiary and Gross Value Added in Agriculture for Agriculture.
Indicator rationale
Environmental context
In Europe there are two prevailing objectives: to continue generating economic growth (the Lisbon Agenda) while, at the same
time protecting the environment and ensuing security of energy supply. Achieving these goals simultaneously requires
decoupling the economic growth from energy-consumption. This indicator shows the extent to which this is happening (or not)
for the four main sectors (for definitions for each sector please see the “Methodology” section): households, services and
agriculture, industry and transport. Relative decoupling occurs when energy consumption grows, but more slowly than the
underlying driver. Absolute decoupling occurs when energy consumption is stable or falls while the driver grows.
A shift towards absolute decoupling would indicate that pressures on the environment from energy production and consumption
are decreasing (because of avoided energy supply) but the magnitude of the impact depends both on the total amount of
avoided energy consumption as well as the implications for the energy mix (in other words which fuels have been used less
because of the reduction in final energy consumption).
Policy context
 Proposal for a directive on energy efficiency (COM(2011) 370 final)
On 22 June 2011, the European Commission proposed a new set of measures in order to meet the EU’s 2020 energy efficiency
target.
 A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050 (COM(2011) 112 final)
Presents a roadmap for action in line with a 80-95% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2050.
 Energy Efficiency Plan 2011 (COM(2011) 109 final)
Proposes additional measures to achieve the 20 % primary energy saving target by 2020.

Council adopted on 6 April 2009 the climate-energy legislative package containing measures to fight climate change and
promote renewable energy. This package is designed to achieve the EU's overall environmental target of a 20 % reduction
in greenhouse gases and a 20 % share of renewable energy in the EU's total energy consumption by 2020.The climate
action and renewable energy (CARE) package includes the following main policy documents
Directive 2009/29/ECof the European parliament and of the Council amending directive 2003/87/EC so as to improve and
extend the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme of the community
Directive 2009/31/EC of the European parliament and of the Council on the geological storage of carbon dioxide
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EN21 Final Energy Consumption Intensity
Directive 2009/28/EC of the European parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable
sources
Community guidelines on state aid for environmental protection (2008/c 82/01)
Directive 2008/101/EC of the European parliament and of the Council amending directive 2003/87/EC so as to include
aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas Emission allowance trading within the community
Regulation (EC) no 443/2009 of the European parliament and of the Council setting emission performance standards for
new passenger cars as part of the community’s integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles
 Energy Services Directive; Directive 2006/32/EC
Sets out clear mandatory targets for annual energy intensity improvements at Member States’ level and for the share of energy
efficient public procurement for the period 2006-2012. For the same period, strong incentives were given by the Directive for
Member States to ensure that suppliers of energy offer a certain level of energy services.
 Second Strategic Energy Review; COM(2008) 781 final
Strategic review on short, medium and long term targets on EU energy security.
 Eco-Design Directive; COM(2008) 778 final/2
Directive on intensification of existing regulation on energy-efficiency of products.
 Energy Performance Buildings Directive; Directive 2002/91/EC
The Member States must apply minimum requirements as regards the energy performance of new and existing buildings,
ensure the certification of their energy performance and require the regular inspection of boilers and air conditioning systems in
buildings.
 Energy Performance Buildings Directive (recast); Directive 2010/31/EU
Strengthens the energy performance requirements of the 2002 Directive.
References
COM(2011) 370 final Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy efficiency and repealing Directives
2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC
COM(2011) 112 final: A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050
COM(2011) 109 final: Energy Efficiency Plan 2011
Directive 2002/91/EC - Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings
Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 2010 on the energy performance of buildings (recast)
Directive 2005/32/EC - Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2005 establishing a framework for the setting of
ecodesign requirements for energy-using products and amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC and Directives 96/57/EC and 2000/55/EC of
the European Parliament and of the Council
Directive 2006/32/EC - Directive 2006/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on energy end-use efficiency
and energy services and repealing Council Directive 93/76/EEC
EEA (2011a) - European Union emission inventory report 1990–2009 under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air
Pollution (LRTAP)
EEA (2011b) – EEA greenhouse gas dataviewer (Annual European Union greenhouse gas inventory 1990 – 2009 and inventory report 2011).
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Meta data
Technical information
1. Data source:
Total final energy consumption and final energy consumption by sector, Gross domestic product, Gross Value Added: Eurostat (historical
data) http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ .
GDP growth rate: World Bank (World Development Indicators 2011) http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-developmentindicators
2. Description of data / Indicator definition:
Final energy consumption covers energy supplied to the final consumer for all energy uses. It is calculated as the sum of final energy
consumption of all sectors. These are disaggregated to cover industry, transport, households, and services and agriculture.
Total final energy intensity is defined as total final energy consumption (consumption of transformed energy such as electricity, publicly
supplied heat, refined oil products, coke, etc, and the direct use of primary fuels such as gas or renewables, e.g. solar heat or biomass)
divided by gross domestic product (GDP) at constant 2000 prices. The GDP figures are taken at constant prices to avoid the impact of
inflation, base year 2000.
• Household energy intensity is defined as household final energy consumption divided by population.
• Transport energy intensity is defined as transport final energy consumption divided by GDP at constant 2000 prices.
• Industry energy intensity is defined as industry final energy consumption divided by industry Gross Value Added at constant
2000 prices. This excludes final energy consumption and gross value added from construction.
• Services energy intensity is defined as services final energy consumption divided by services Gross Value Added at constant
2000 prices. Value added of services is the sum of 3 value added :
G_H_I : Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and personal and household goods; hotels and
restaurants; transport, storage and communication,
J_K - Financial intermediation; real estate, renting and business activities and
L_TO_P - Public administration and defence, compulsory social security; education; health and social work; other
community, social and personal service activities; private households with employed persons
Units:
Final energy consumption is measured in 1000 tonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe) and GDP in million Euro at 2000 market prices. Energy
intensity is measured in tonnes of oil equivalent per million Euro (GDP or GVA), except in the case of household energy intensity which is
measured in tonnes of oil equivalent per 1000 people.
3. Geographical coverage:
The Agency had 32 member countries at the time of writing of this fact sheet. These are the 27 European Union Member States and
Turkey, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. No 2007-2009 data available for Iceland (Iceland do not appear on the graphs).
4. Temporal coverage: 1990-2009
5. Methodology and frequency of data collection:
Data collected annually.
Eurostat definitions and concepts for energy statistics http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_SDDS/en/nrg_quant_esms.htm
Methodology of data manipulation:
The coding (used in the Eurostat New Cronos database) and specific components of the indicators are:
• Total final energy intensity: final energy consumption 101700 divided by the gross domestic product, conducted from the Eurostat
datasheets (b1gm Gross domestic product at 2000 market prices mio_eur_clv2000 )
• Household energy intensity: Final energy consumption households 102010 divided by PJAN Population by sex and age on 1. January of
each year.
• Transport energy intensity: Final energy consumption transport 101900 divided by B1GM GDP and main components - Constant
2000 prices.
• Industry energy intensity: Final energy consumption industry 101800 divided by the gross value added for industry conducted from the
Eurostat datasheets (NACE C_D_E Total industry GVA)
• Services energy intensity : Final energy consumption Services and Others 102035, 102040 divided by the gross value added of services
(Wholesale and retail trade, Financial intermediation; Public administration and defence : NACE G to P)
• Agriculture energy intensity : Final energy consumption Agriculture, fisheries 102030, 102020 divided by the gross value added of
agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing –NACE A_B
The gross value added (GVA) for Industry, Agriculture and Tertiary and GDP are not available in Eurostat for all the countries before
1995. GDP before 1995 has been calculated with GDP growth rate published by country by the World Bank (Reference World Development
Indicators 2011). GDP for EU-27 is the sum of countries.
Average annual rate of growth calculated using: [(last year / base year) ^ (1 / number of years) –1]*100.
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EN21 Final Energy Consumption Intensity
Qualitative information
7. Strength and weaknesses (at data level)
Data have been traditionally compiled by Eurostat through the annual Joint Questionnaires, shared by Eurostat and the International
Energy Agency, following a well established and harmonised methodology. Methodological information on the annual Joint
Questionnaires and data compilation can be found in Eurostat's web page for metadata on energy statistics.
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_SDDS/en/nrg_quant_esms.htm
8. Reliability, accuracy, robustness, uncertainty (at data level):
Indicator uncertainty (historic data)
The sectoral breakdown of final energy consumption includes industry, transport, households, services, agriculture, fisheries and other
sectors. To be consistent with projection data, the indicator aggregates agriculture, fisheries and other sectors together with the services
sector. The inclusion of agriculture and fisheries together with the services sector is however questionable given their divergent trends.
Because the main focus of the indicator is on trends, energy intensity is presented as an index. It should be noted that the final energy
intensities between sectors, and also the total final energy intensity, are not directly comparable, because as described above, the
definitions of energy intensity within each sector not identical. The indicator serves to highlight the evolution in energy intensity within
each sector.
9. Overall scoring – historic data (1 = no major problems, 3 = major reservations):
Relevance: 1
Accuracy: 1
Comparability over time: 2
Comparability over space: 2
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