In 2023, the EU reached a milestone, with renewable energy accounting for 26.2 % of its heating and cooling consumption – the highest since records began in 2004. This marks a 1.2 percentage point increase from 2022, reflecting steady progress towards EU Directive 2023/2413 targets, which mandate an annual rise of at least 0.8 percentage points from 2021 to 2025, and 1.1 percentage points from 2026 to 2030. 

The growth is primarily driven by biomass and heat pump technologies. Sweden led the EU with a 67.1 % share, closely followed by Estonia (66.7 %) and Latvia (61.4 %). Conversely, Ireland (7.9 %), the Netherlands (10.2 %), and Belgium (11.3 %) reported the lowest shares. 

Notably, Austria (+8.1 pp), Malta (+7.5 pp), and Greece (+4.9 pp) recorded the most significant year-on-year increases. However, some countries, including Sweden and Poland, experienced slight declines. 

These developments underscore the EU's commitment to enhancing renewable energy use in heating and cooling, contributing to broader climate goals and energy sustainability. 

 
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