The share of renewable energy in the EU has risen to 18%, with 12 member states reaching a share equal to or above their 2020 target.

Eurostat figures show that Ireland's share of energy from renewable sources reached 11.1% in 2018 (up from 2.4% in 2004), the sixth lowest in the EU and well below the EU average of 18%.

In 2018, the share of energy from renewable sources in gross final energy consumption reached 18% in the European Union, up from 17.5% in 2017 and more than double the share in 2004 (8.5%), the first year for which the data are available. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

The increase in the share of renewables is essential to reach the EU climate and energy goals. The EU's target is to reach 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 and at least 32% by 2030.

Above their national 2020 binding targets

Among the 28 EU member states, 12 member states have already reached a share equal to or above their national 2020 binding targets: Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Finland and Sweden.

Four member states are close to meet their targets (i.e. less than one percentage point (pp) away), nine are between one and four pp away, while three are four or more pp away from their targets.

Sweden had the highest share at 54.6% while the Netherlands had the lowest at 7.4%. The figures also show that Ireland is one of the countries that is furthest from reaching its EU 2020 target for renewable energy of 18%.

Only the Netherlands (6.6pp) and France (6.4 pp) were further back. Renewable energy sources cover solar thermal and photovoltaic energy, hydro (including tide, wave and ocean energy), wind, geothermal energy and all forms of biomass.