Ameer Randolph
Europe's primary fossil fuels are sourced from Russia, which is the EU's main supplier of fossil fuels, providing over half of the solid fossil fuels imported in 2020, mostly coal, and 43% of imported natural gas. Germany and Poland are the biggest coal producers within the EU, and oil is the main fuel source, largely used for motor fuel and to produce petrochemicals. Estonia is also a producer of domestically-sourced oil shale. However, Europe has been reducing its dependence on Russian fossil fuels since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which caused a significant increase in fossil fuel prices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Primary Source of Fossil Fuels | Russia |
| Share of Fossil Fuels imported from Russia | Over half of solid fossil fuels (mostly coal) and 43% of natural gas |
| Other Sources of Fossil Fuels | Norway |
| Biggest Fossil Fuel Companies | BP and Shell |
| Biggest EU Coal Producers | Germany and Poland |
| Main Fuel Source in the EU | Oil |
| Primary Energy Production in the EU in 2023 | 23 159 petajoules (PJ) |
| Share of Fossil Fuels in EU Electricity Production in 2023 | 31.7% |
| Main Fossil Fuel Used to Generate Electricity | Gas (17%) |
| EU Country with Highest Share of Renewables in Electricity Mix | Luxembourg (over 90%) |
| EU Country with Lowest Share of Renewables in Electricity Mix | Malta (13%) |
| Number of EU Countries that Generate Electricity from Nuclear Power | 13 |
| EU Target for Climate Neutrality | 2050 |
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What You'll Learn
Europe's primary fossil fuel supplier is Russia
Europe has long been dependent on fossil fuels, with oil being the main fuel source in the EU. However, Europe's primary fossil fuel supplier is Russia. In 2020, over half of the solid fossil fuels imported to the EU, mostly coal, came from Russia, as did 43% of imported natural gas. Russia has been the largest exporter of oil and natural gas to the European Union, with 90% of oil imports and 40% of gas consumed in the EU coming from Russia.
Russia's state-owned company Gazprom has contributed significantly to this dominance in the European energy sector. Gazprom has established natural gas pipelines and storage depots in several European countries, increasing Russia's influence in the region. This has led to a heavy reliance on Russian fossil fuels by some European countries, including Austria, Latvia, and Germany, which was Russia's largest gas customer by volume.
The EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels has posed energy security risks, especially in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Weeks after the invasion, the European Commission announced the REPowerEU plan to transition away from Russian fossil fuels by 2027. EU leaders agreed to phase out this dependency due to concerns over the security of their energy supply.
The shift away from Russian fossil fuels may have negative consequences for Europe's climate emissions pathway. As European countries strive to reduce fossil fuel consumption, they also need to ensure energy security. This has led to a focus on building renewable energy systems, with some countries like Estonia achieving a high degree of energy self-sufficiency through domestically produced oil shale.
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Germany is the EU's biggest coal producer
Germany and Poland are the EU's biggest coal producers. Germany represented 46% of the total brown coal consumption of the EU in 2024, followed by Poland (21%), Czechia (12%), Bulgaria (8%), Romania (6%), and Greece (4%). In 2015, Germany was the EU's largest hard coal importer at 55.5 million tonnes. Germany has considerable reserves of hard coal and lignite, making these the country's most important indigenous sources of energy. However, Germany's government is phasing out coal production by ending state aid for it. In 2018, Germany ended subsidised hard coal production, and plans to reach climate neutrality by 2045, which should all but eliminate fossil fuels from the country's energy mix.
Germany, like the EU, remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels. Russia is the EU's main supplier of fossil fuels. Over half of the solid fossil fuels imported in 2020 were from Russia, as was 43% of imported natural gas. Europe is home to some of the world's biggest fossil fuel companies, such as BP and Shell. Estonia, however, has a high degree of energy self-sufficiency due to its domestically produced oil shale. Oil is the main fuel source in the EU, largely used as a motor fuel and to produce petrochemicals.
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Oil is the EU's main fuel source
Oil is the main fuel source in the EU. It is largely used as a motor fuel and to produce petrochemicals. In Germany, oil remains the most important primary energy source. Estonia's high energy self-sufficiency is based on domestically produced oil shale.
Oil production in the EU has fallen significantly since the early 2000s due to the depletion of resources in the North Sea. Despite this, Europe is home to some of the world's biggest fossil fuel companies, including BP and Shell.
Crude oil and other liquids produced from fossil fuels are refined into petroleum products that have various uses. Petroleum has historically been the most-consumed energy source in the US in terms of total annual energy consumption. It is used to propel vehicles, heat buildings, and produce electricity. The US has more than 3 million miles of pipelines dedicated to transporting natural gas, with most crude oil being shipped long distances via pipeline.
The EU has been heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, with Russia being the main supplier. However, in March 2022, EU leaders agreed to phase out this dependency due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and concerns over energy supply security. Germany and Poland are currently the EU's biggest coal producers.
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Estonia has a high degree of energy self-sufficiency
Europe is home to some of the world's biggest fossil fuel companies, including BP and Shell. The EU's main supplier of fossil fuels is Russia, which supplied over half of the solid fossil fuels imported in 2020, mostly coal, and 43% of imported natural gas. Germany and Poland are the EU's biggest coal producers. Oil is the main fuel source in the EU, largely used as a motor fuel and to produce petrochemicals.
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Gas is the main fossil fuel used to generate electricity
Europe is home to some of the world's biggest fossil fuel companies, including BP and Shell. The EU still relies heavily on fossil fuels for its energy, with around two-thirds of primary energy consumption in the EU derived from fossil fuels. Oil is the main fuel source in the EU, largely used as a motor fuel and to produce petrochemicals. However, oil production in the EU has fallen significantly since the early 2000s due to depletion of resources in the North Sea.
Natural gas is the second-largest energy source in the EU, with Russia and Norway being the leading producers on the continent. Gas is the main fossil fuel used to generate electricity, making up 17% of the EU's electricity production in 2023. The price of electricity in the EU is often determined by the price of natural gas, which has seen significant increases due to the reduction in imports from Russia.
Solid fossil fuels, such as coal, have seen a decline in consumption in recent years, with EU coal production dropping to historic lows. Germany and Poland are currently the biggest coal producers in the EU. Despite the decline in coal consumption, it still plays a significant role in electricity generation, accounting for 11.7% of the EU's electricity production in 2023.
The EU has set ambitious targets for climate neutrality, aiming to achieve this goal by 2050. To reach this target, the EU has proposed a European Climate Law and introduced interim greenhouse gas emission targets. The share of renewable energy sources in the EU's energy mix has been increasing, reaching 12.6% in 2023, excluding electricity and purchased heat produced from renewable sources.
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Frequently asked questions
Europe has traditionally relied heavily on Russia for its fossil fuel supply, but in 2022, the EU agreed to phase out this dependency.
Oil is the main fuel source in the EU, largely used for motor fuel and petrochemicals. However, in terms of electricity generation, gas is the main fossil fuel used.
Germany and Poland are the biggest coal producers in the EU. Estonia also has a high degree of energy self-sufficiency due to its domestically produced oil shale.
Europe is increasingly moving towards climate neutrality, with renewable energy deployment at record highs. In 2023, renewables surpassed fossil fuels as the largest share of power generation in the EU.
