The amount of renewable energy used by EU countries is on the rise, according to a recent report. Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, found that the share of renewable sources in gross energy consumption at the EU level reached 23 per cent in 2022. That’s up from 2021, which saw 21.9 per cent come from renewables, according to Euronews.

Sweden was the EU country that used the most renewable energy in 2022, the Eurostat report found.

Nearly two-thirds of its gross final energy consumption was derived from renewable sources. Sweden relied primarily on hydro, wind, solid and liquid biofuels, as well as heat pumps.

Finland came in second place with 47.9 per cent of its energy from renewable sources. The Nordic country also relied on hydro, wind and solid biofuels.

Latvia followed at 43.3 per cent, depending mostly on hydro. Both Denmark (41.6 per cent) and Estonia (38.5 per cent) got most of their renewables from wind and solid biofuels. Portugal (34.7 per cent) relied on solid biofuels, wind, hydro and heat pumps, while Austria (33.8 per cent) utilised mostly hydro and solid biofuels.

The lowest proportions of renewables were recorded in Ireland (13.1 per cent), Malta (13.4 per cent), Belgium (13.8 per cent) and Luxembourg (14.4 per cent).

In total, 17 of the 27 EU members reported shares below the EU average of 23 per cent in 2022.

Under the Renewable Energy Directive, the EU has increased its 2030 renewable target from 32 per cent to 42.5 per cent. The bloc also aims to boost that even further to 45 per cent soon.