Energy
Find out how EU countries cooperate to secure a sustainable and affordable energy supply.
Affordable and reliable energy is crucial to the EU's prosperity.
The EU countries' goal is to build a strong energy union, increase energy sovereignty and competitiveness globally, while decarbonising the sector, with a view to achieving the climate goals.
Securing energy supply
The EU countries are working together to ensure energy supply at competitive prices for the EU's economy and its citizens.
The EU countries' goal is to reduce dependence on Russia's fossil fuels, diversify supply routes and strengthen ties with more reliable partners, while supporting the shift towards greener energy, particularly clean energy produced in Europe.
EU rules protect consumers and companies from spikes in energy prices and aim to better integrate EU countries' national energy systems into a stronger energy union.
Shift away from Russian gas
In 2025, the volume of gas imported from Russia was less than one third of the 2021 level. The chart below shows the volume of gas imported by the EU in billion cubic metres.
Bar chart comparing gas supply from the EU's main partners in 2021 with 2023 and 2025.
Imports from Russia fell from over 150 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2021 to 40.9 bcm in 2025. This was mainly compensated for by increasing imports from other partners. Imports from the US rose from 18.9 bcm in 2021 to 79.4 bcm in 2025. Imports from Norway grew from 79.5 bcm in 2021 to 97.2 bcm in 2025.
Source: European Commission calculation based on LSEG (Refinitiv) and ENTSO-G
In January 2026, the EU adopted a regulation to gradually prohibit the remaining Russian gas imports, by the end of 2027 at the latest.
Making energy greener
The energy sector is the EU's greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Under the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 rules, EU countries have set goals for reducing emissions from the energy sector, which include:
- progressively moving away from fossil fuels
- increasing the share of renewable energy
- making energy use more efficient, including in buildings
- creating a market for hydrogen
Renewable energy capacity
From 2020 to 2025, the EU's solar power capacity grew by 157% to a total of 406 gigawatts, according to data from the European Commission. This is more than is needed to power a country such as Italy for a whole year. Wind energy production is also increasing fast.
Renewable energy, like solar and wind power, is central to the clean energy transition and can help to reduce the EU's dependency on external energy suppliers.
Renewable energy production in the EU set to keep growing
The EU member states are collaborating to increase the use of renewables and, as shown in the chart, their production in the EU is forecast to keep growing over the coming years. In 2024, 25.4% of all final energy consumed in the EU was obtained from renewable sources. The goal is for renewables to make up more than 42.5% of the EU's energy mix by 2030.
Chart showing the cumulative capacity in gigawatts (GW) in the EU for solar, wind, bioenergy and hydro power from 2010 until 2024, with forecasting for 2025-2030.
- Hydro power capacity experienced only limited growth, from 143.2 GW in 2010 to 152.7 GW in 2024. Capacity is expected to remain stable and reach 159 GW in 2030.
- Bioenergy only accounts for a small share of the renewable energy production in the EU. The EU's bioenergy capacity grew from 25 GW in 2010 to 37.2 GW in 2024 and according to forecasting it will remain more or less at this level.
- Wind power capacity experienced steady growth and increased from 79.2 GW in 2010 to 230.8 GW in 2024. Capacity is expected to grow even further and reach 368.6 GW in 2030.
- Solar power is the renewable energy source that has seen the most growth, from 30 GW in 2010 to 332.1 GW in 2024. The IEA predicts that by 2030, solar power capacity in the EU will reach 690.1 GW.
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Last review: 18 March 2026