Energy Consumption
EU27 gas and electricity account for nearly 2/3 of total energy consumption in the EU27 chemical industry
Total energy consumption* in the EU27 chemical industry by source (%, 2020)
The chemical industry transforms energy and raw materials into products required by other industrial sectors as well as by final consumers. The cost of energy and raw materials is a major factor in determining the competitiveness of the EU27 chemical industry on the global market.
In 2020, the fuel and power consumption of the EU27 chemical industry, including pharmaceuticals, amounted to 589 terawatt hours (TWh). EU27 gas and electricity account for nearly two thirds of total energy consumption.
The EU27 chemical industry, including pharmaceuticals, significantly reduced its fuel and power consumption from 1990 to 2020. Most of the energy used by the chemical industry as feedstock is stored in products and can still be recycled. Regarding other raw materials, the chemical industry uses a wide variety of natural and processed feedstocks, including metals, minerals and agricultural raw materials such as sugar, starch and fats.
Energy in all products consists mainly of gas (natural gas, and manufactured gases, electricity, oil and petroleum products (excluding biofuel portion), heat, solid fossil fuels, non-renewable waste, renewables and biofuels, and others such as peat and peat products, oil shale and oil sands and nuclear heat.
EU27 energy consumption falls 22% since 1990
Energy consumption in the EU27 chemical industry
The total energy consumption in the EU27 chemical sector was valued at 589 terawatt hours in 2020, down from 752 terawatt hours in 1990. Energy consumption in the EU27 chemical sector went down by an average of 1.2% per annum between 1990 and 2020. EU27 Energy consumption in chemicals accounted for 21.2% of total industry energy consumption in 2020.
In 1990, the fuel and power consumption of the EU27 manufacturing industry amounted to 752 terawatt hours. Between 1990 and 2020, the sector considerably decreased its fuel and power consumption by 163 terawatt hours. The amount of energy consumed in 2020 was 22% less than in 1990.
EU27 gas consumption falls 25% since 1990
Gas consumption in the EU27 chemical industry
More than one third of the total energy consumption in the EU27 chemical sector is attributable to “gas” (37.2% in 2020, down from 38.7% in 1990). Gas consumption in the EU27 chemical sector accounted for 24.2% of total industry consumption in 2020.
Gas energy consumption is the sum of natural gas, and manufactured gases. “Gas” consumption in the EU27 chemical sector was valued at 219.2 terawatt hours in 2020 (far below the 290.6 terawatt hours reported in 1990).
“Gas” consumption went down by an average of about 1% per annum between 1990 and 2020, and by 25% in 2020 compared to 1990.
EU27 electrical energy consumption falls 15% since 1990
Electrical energy consumption in the EU27 chemical industry
The electrical energy” consumption accounted for 27.8% of total energy consumption of the EU27 chemical sector in 2020 (up from 25.6% in 1990).
Electrical energy” consumption in chemicals accounted in 2020 for 18.5% of total industry (down from 21.5% in 1990). “Electrical energy” consumption accounts for 27.8% of total energy consumption of the EU27 chemical sector in 2020 (up from 25.6% in 1990).
Electrical energy” consumption in chemicals accounted in 2020 for 18.5% of total industry (down from 21.5% in 1990). “Electrical energy” consumption accounts for 27.8% of total energy consumption of the EU27 chemical sector in 2020 (up from 25.6% in 1990).
Electrical energy” consumption in chemicals accounted in 2020 for 18.5% of total industry (down from 21.5% in 1990).
EU27 Total petroleum consumption falls 22% since 1990
Total petroleum products consumption in the EU27 chemical industry
The petroleum” consumption accounted for 14.8% of total energy consumption of the EU27 in 2020. “Petroleum” consumption in the EU27 chemical sector accounted for 32.1% of total industry petroleum consumption in 2020.
Oil and petroleum products” consumption (excluding biofuel portion) in the EU27 chemical sector was valued at 87.3 terawatt hours in 2020, compared to the 112.3 registered in 1990.
Petroleum” consumption went down at an average of 0.8% per annum between 1990 and 2020. “Petroleum” consumption fell by 22% in 2020 compared to 1990.
EU27 solid fuels consumption falls 68% since 1990
Solid fuels consumption in the EU27 chemical industry
The “solid fossil fuels” consumption accounted for 4.2% of energy consumption of the EU27 chemical sector in 2020, far below the 10.5% registered in 1990. The share of “Solid Fuels” consumption in chemicals to total industry was valued at 20% in 2020.
The “solid fossil fuels” consumption in the EU27 chemical sector was valued at 24.9 terawatt hours in 2020, far below the 78.7 registered in 1990. the “solid fossil fuels” consumption went down by an average of 3.8% per annum between 1990 and 2020. “Solid fossil fuels” consumption fell by 68.4% in 2020 compared to 1990.
EU27 renewable energies consumption more than doubled since 2000
Renewable energies consumption in the EU27 chemical industry
The share of the renewable and biofuels energy consumption in chemicals increased from 0.3% in 2000 to 0.7% in 2020.
The renewable and biofuels energy consumption in the EU27 area was valued at 4.4 terawatt hours in 2020, significantly up from 1.8 in 2000. The renewable and biofuels energy consumption grew at an average of 4.5% per annum between 2000 and 2019. The renewable and biofuels energy consumption was 2.4 times higher in 2020 compared to 2000.
EU27 SPECIFIC ENERGY CONSUMPTION DROPPED BY 45% DURING 30 YEAR PERIOD
Efficient use of energy in the EU27 chemical industry
The EU27 chemical sector has been a pioneer in energy efficiency. It recognised early that in order to be competitive in a global market, competitive advantages must be sought at every opportunity.
As one of the most energy-intensive sectors, chemical companies have also had more scope for reduction than others. By making processes more efficient, including the construction of new facilities, the energy efficiency drive has been sustained for many years. Making further significant improvements requires technological breakthroughs.
For many years, the EU27 chemical industry, has made strenuous efforts to improve energy efficiency by reducing its fuel and power energy consumption per unit of production.
By 2020, the EU27 specific energy consumption, (being the energy consumption per unit of production) in the chemical industry was 45.3% lower than in 1990. Further improvements to EU27 energy efficiency are subject to project returns.
As a result, the EU27 chemical industry has excelled in significantly lowering its specific energy consumption by an average of 2.0% per year. The analysis shows that improvements in energy efficiency were spectacular from 1990 to 2000. However, the period from 2001 to 2020 shows less significant performance.
Improving energy efficiency in the energy-intensive chemical sector is a determining economic success factor but also an important instrument to further reduce GHG emissions, thus facilitating transition to climate-neutrality.
EU27 Chemicals performance is slightly higher than overall industry
EU27 specific energy consumption: Chemicals vs total industry
Specific energy consumption (being the energy consumption per unit of production) in the EU27 chemical industry decreased by an average of 2.0% per annum from 1990 to 2020.
Specific energy consumption in the EU27 chemical industry was 45.3% lower in 2020 compared to 30 years ago. In the EU27 manufacturing sector, specific energy consumption was 41.8% lower in 2020 compared to 1990.
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Profile – Trade Development – Growth And Competitiveness – Our Contribution To EU27 Industry – Capital & R&I Spending – Environmental Performance
