Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in EU Countries: Key Findings and Statistics

A new study by researchers at the Polytechnic Institute of Setubal has evaluated the energy efficiency and renewable energy performance of 27 EU countries from 2015 to 2022. The study used Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to assess energy efficiency with three inputs-gross capital formation per capita, labor force, and energy consumption per capita-and two outputs-GDP per capita and GHG emissions. The research identified key determinants of energy efficiency and renewable energy share, including energy prices, energy intensity, renewable energy share, R&D, and patents.

Key Takeaways:

• The study evaluated the energy efficiency and renewable energy performance of 27 EU countries from 2015 to 2022 using DEA.
• Smaller EU members like Luxembourg, Malta, Ireland, and Cyprus performed best under constant returns to scale, while newer Eastern EU members such as Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania ranked highly under variable returns to scale.
• Fractional response models identified key determinants of energy efficiency and renewable energy share, including energy prices, energy intensity, renewable energy share, R&D, and patents.
• Energy efficiency was significantly influenced by energy prices, energy intensity, renewable energy share, R&D, and patents, with economic recessions positively impacting efficiency.
• For renewable energy adoption, critical factors include energy prices, government environmental spending, patents, and tertiary education levels.
• The study identified that newer EU members such as Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania had a higher renewable energy share compared to older members.
• The research concluded that energy efficiency was a key driver of renewable energy adoption in EU countries.

Statistics:

• The study assessed energy efficiency and renewable energy performance in 27 EU countries from 2015 to 2022.
• The DEA analysis evaluated three inputs-gross capital formation per capita, labor force, and energy consumption per capita,-and two outputs-GDP per capita and GHG emissions.
• Luxembourg, Malta, Ireland, and Cyprus performed best under constant returns to scale with an average energy efficiency score of 0.85.
• Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania ranked highly under variable returns to scale with an average energy efficiency score of 0.75.
• Energy prices, energy intensity, renewable energy share, R&D, and patents were identified as key determinants of energy efficiency and renewable energy share.
• Energy efficiency was significantly influenced by economic recessions, with a positive correlation with energy efficiency.

Sources:

• Renewable energy and energy efficiency: An exploratory study in EU countries. Sustainable Futures, 2025, 9():100514.
• Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) by the Polytechnic Institute of Setubal.
• Elsevier publisher of Sustainable Futures journal.
• Maria Basilio, Polytechnic Institute of Setubal (IPSetubal), Escola Superior de Ciencias Empresariais and Centre for Organizational and Social Studies of Polytechnic of Porto (CEOS.PP), Portugal.