Aenert news. Energy Market & Energy Statistics
This review provides the main indicators of production and consumption of energy products in the European Union in the first quarter of 2023 compared to previous periods according to Eurostat data in quarterly terms. In a number of areas, the large-scale decline in volume indicators continued, but in others there are optimistic signs of stabilization. The most interesting are the indicators related to natural gas. The table below shows the annual data converted to quarterly figures (Q). Natural gas consumption in 2023 Q1 increased by almost 19% compared to the previous quarter but remained significantly lower than in 2022 Q1(a decline of 13%). Natural gas imports remained in significant decline, a process that continued for the third consecutive quarter. In the quarter under review, the decline in natural gas imports was about 8% compared to 2022 Q4 and more than 24% compared to 2022 Q1. Imports of crude oil were also less dramatic, although here too the decline continued for two consecutive quarters.
EU energy statistics, natural gas, oil and electricity, 2022 Q1 - 2023 Q1
| Energy Indicator/Q | 2022 Q1 | 2022 Q2 | 2022 Q3 | 2022 Q4 | 2023 Q1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production of natural gas, TJ | 444438.7 | 398924.5 | 393383.3 | 399867.0 | 391128.6 |
| Total consumption of natural gas, TJ | 5031575.9 | 2731639.5 | 2297520.0 | 3674240.4 | 4360394.1 |
| Imports of natural gas, TJ | 6165227.2 | 6296600.5 | 5354419.6 | 5229571.5 | 4660172.1 |
| Imports of crude oil - 1000t | 114112.5 | 121560.7 | 123139.2 | 120263.0 | 115481.9 |
| Production of electricity - GWh | 734054.8 | 626573.7 | 623508.5 | 657118.4 | 698955.2 |
| Consumption of electricity - GWh | 678760.7 | 593339.6 | 589922.7 | 608161.5 | 641917.3 |
| Imports of electricity - GWh | 107237.7 | 101260.8 | 103336.0 | 109761.0 | 104383.3 |
Source: Based on Eurostat
Electricity consumption continued to grow after the lowest values in the third quarter of 2022. Compared to the previous quarter, this growth amounted to more than 5%, and the consumption approached the values of 2022 Q1.
Monthly EU natural gas production and consumption, gas and oil import
Source: Based on Eurostat
In addition, in 2023 Q1, the total domestic generation of electricity by EU countries increased markedly by more than 6% compared to the previous quarter. Overall, electricity generation was in the range of 200-250 TWh per month during the year.
Monthly EU electricity production
Source: Based on Eurostat
Notable changes also occurred in the structure of electricity generation. Thus, the share of fossil fuel in power generation (including nuclear) decreased by 3.5% during the year. At the same time, generation from renewable sources increased significantly: the share of wind power increased by 2%, solar power by 0.5%, and hydropower by 1.8%.
Percentage of electric power generation by source type in 2022 Q1 and 2023 Q1
Source: Based on Eurostat
Thus, the total share of renewable sources in electricity generation in the EU was 38% compared to 38.8% for coal, natural gas and other combustion feedstocks.
By the Editorial Board
