Where the EU's final energy is used
In 2023 transport was the EU's largest energy consumer at 32.0% of final energy use, followed by households (26.4%), industry (24.7%) and services (13.6%). Industry alone burned roughly a quarter of the EU's delivered energy.
Source: Eurostat — Final energy consumption in industry — detailed statistics (dataset nrg_bal_s) (2023)
What it means
Industry consumes about a quarter of all final energy delivered in the EU, making factory energy efficiency a national-scale lever, not just a private cost. For an operator the figure frames the stakes: cutting industrial energy waste moves a meaningful share of total EU demand, which is why efficiency in plant attracts growing policy support and incentives.
Context
Eurostat's energy balances (dataset nrg_bal_s) split final energy consumption — the energy actually delivered to end users — across transport, households, industry and services. The 2023 shares are EU-wide. Final consumption excludes energy lost in generation and distribution, so it reflects what reaches the point of use. Sector shares move only gradually year to year as the economy's structure and energy efficiency change.
How to interpret this data
About the source: This data comes from Eurostat. Public datasets like this are the foundation of fact-based decision-making in industry. When you see these numbers cited in vendor proposals or consultant reports, remember: the raw data is freely available, and the value is in how you interpret it for your specific plant and situation.
Where this matters: How to reduce industrial energy costs, Is industrial insulation worth it? are built on insights like the data shown here. Rather than treat data in isolation, read the deeper guides to see how these trends translate into actionable levers for your plant.
Sector relevance: This dataset is especially relevant to Chemicals, Cement. These sectors face the trends and challenges you see in this chart daily — energy cost pressure, the push for decarbonization, adoption of AI and predictive maintenance. Use this data to benchmark your plant against the industry average and identify where you lag or lead.
How to use this data: Take the headline number but look deeper at the chart. Is it growing or shrinking? Which segments or regions drive the trend? Does your plant's data align, or are you an outlier? Outliers are often where the best opportunities hide — either an efficiency gap you can exploit, or a leading practice you can copy.
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Related topics
How to Reduce Industrial Energy Costs: Practical Quick Wins · Is Industrial Insulation Worth It? Payback and ROI · Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) · Energy Audit
Relevant to: Chemicals · Cement · Steel & Metals · Paper & Packaging