Electricity remains the dominant power source for the services sector in the European Union, with energy consumption reaching 4,971 petajoules in 2024, as reported by Eurostat. This marks a modest increase from the 4,886 petajoules consumed in 2023, reflecting a year-on-year rise of 1.7 per cent.
Long-Term Trends in Energy Consumption
Examining the broader historical context, energy usage in the EU services sector has surged by 25 per cent since 1990. Despite this growth, the sector’s share of total final energy consumption remains at 13.5 per cent in 2024. This figure is significantly lower than the proportions for other categories, including transport at 32.3 per cent, households at 26.0 per cent, and industry at 24.5 per cent.
Electricity and Natural Gas Lead the Way
Electricity and natural gas are the primary energy sources, combining to account for over three-quarters of final energy consumption in the services sector. Specifically, electricity constituted 52.0 per cent of the total consumption, while natural gas made up 25.4 per cent. Renewable sources and biofuels contributed 8.7 per cent, followed by heat at 7.7 per cent and oil and petroleum products at 5.6 per cent. A small fraction, 0.6 per cent, was attributed to other sources, including coal and waste.
Sector-Specific Consumption Patterns
Among various sub-sectors within the services category, wholesale and retail trade emerged as the largest consumer in 2024. This sub-sector consumed 1,021 petajoules, representing 21.2 per cent of total consumption by the services industry. Following closely were human health and social work activities, which accounted for 506 petajoules or 10.5 per cent, and accommodation and food service activities, also at 503 petajoules, equating to another 10.5 per cent.
The remaining consumption was distributed among professional, scientific, and technical activities, along with other miscellaneous services, which collectively utilised 492 petajoules or 10.2 per cent of the sector’s total energy consumption. As the EU continues to navigate its energy landscape, electricity’s prominent role in the services sector underscores the ongoing transition towards more sustainable energy sources.
