Primary energy consumption (i39)
- 31/10/2025
- objective
- assessment
In 2023, primary energy consumption was 1.76 exajoules in Belgium. To achieve the sustainable development goal by 2030, this figure must reach 1,41 exajoules. The projections of the Final update of the Belgian National Energy and Climate Plan indicate that this objective will not be reached (data available in November 2025). Primary energy consumption is therefore developing unfavourably.
Primary energy consumption - Belgium - trend assessment
exajoules
| 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2023 | 2025 | 2030 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| observations | 2.20 | 2.16 | 2.24 | 1.91 | 1.84 | 1.89 | 1.76 | -- | -- |
| projection (PNEC 2025) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1.82 | 1.73 |
| objective 2030 | 1.41 | 1.41 | 1.41 | 1.41 | 1.41 | 1.41 | 1.41 | 1.41 | 1.41 |
Note: Projection based on the parameters of the WAM (With Additional Measures) scenario of the 2025 NECP.
Source: Eurostat (2025), Primary energy consumption [sdg_07_10], https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat (consulted on 30/09/2025); CONCERE and National Climate Commission (2025), Final update of the Belgian National Energy and Climate Plan, https://www.nationalenergyclimateplan.be/en (consulted on 10/10/2025).
Primary energy consumption - Belgium
exajoules (EJ)
| 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 | 2023 | 2023//1990 | 2023//2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 1.91 | 2.02 | 2.20 | 2.16 | 2.24 | 1.91 | 1.94 | 1.84 | 1.89 | 1.76 | -0.24 | -1.93 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | ||||||||||||
Source: Eurostat (2025), Primary energy consumption [sdg_07_10], https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat (consulted on 30/09/2025).
Primary energy consumption - EU27
exajoules (EJ)
| 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 | 2023 | 2023//1990 | 2023//2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU27 | 57.26 | 56.80 | 58.46 | 62.71 | 61.06 | 56.67 | 57.71 | 51.74 | 52.74 | 50.60 | -0.37 | -2.60 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | ||||||||||||
Source: Eurostat (2025), Primary energy consumption [sdg_07_10], https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat (consulted on 30/09/2025).
Primary energy consumption - Belgium and international comparison
gigajoules (GJ) per capita
| 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 | 2023 | 2023//1990 | 2023//2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 191.67 | 199.24 | 214.16 | 206.17 | 205.20 | 169.71 | 170.01 | 159.29 | 162.02 | 149.63 | -0.75 | -2.52 |
| EU27 | 136.74 | 133.87 | 136.30 | 144.06 | 138.27 | 127.79 | 129.39 | 115.85 | 118.02 | 112.81 | -0.58 | -2.70 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | ||||||||||||
Source: Eurostat (2025), Primary energy consumption [sdg_07_10] and on Eurostat (2025), Population change - Demographic balance and crude rates at national level, Population on 1 January [demo_gind], https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat (consulted on 30/09/2025); calculations FPB.
Definition: primary energy consumption is the energy imported or produced in Belgium before any processing (mainly oil refining and power generation), excluding exports, marine bunkers (fuel provided to ships for international journeys) and non-energy uses (for example oil used as raw material in the chemical industry). The indicator is expressed in exajoules (EJ= 1018 joules). EU countries are compared on the basis of primary energy consumption per inhabitant. The indicator is calculated by the FPB on the basis of data from Eurostat.
Goal: the primary energy consumption must reach 1,41 exajoules by 2030.
The Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs adopted by the UN in 2015 include target 7.3: “By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency”.
The Federal Long-Term Strategic Vision for Sustainable Development includes objective 18: “The increase in the energy efficiency of products will continue to be pursued with a view to reducing final energy consumption” (Belgian Official Gazette, 08/10/2013).
Directive (EU) 2023/1791 on energy efficiency and amending Regulation (EU) 2023/955 (recast) sets a target of reducing primary energy consumption in the EU by around 34% compared with 2005 levels (Official Journal of the European Union). Although this objective is not translated into binding targets for EU Member States, an indicative primary energy consumption reduction target for Belgium by 2030 of 1.41 EJ can be calculated using a formula set out in the directive 2023/1791 (Concere/CNC, 2025). It's this target that is used for the evaluation.
The target for reducing primary energy consumption by 2030 presented in the Final Update of the Belgian National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 (PNEC 2023) is less ambitious than the indicative target proposed by the EU. It corresponds to the result of projections 'with additional measures' of this plan and amounts to 1.73 EJ.
UN indicator: the selected indicator does not correspond to any monitoring indicator for the SDGs but is related to target 7.3. Indeed, the increase in energy efficiency results in a decrease in primary energy consumption. Both concepts are therefore related.
Sources
-
Belgian Official Gazette: http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi/welcome.pl; research on http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/doc/rech_f.htm.
-
Concere/CNC (2025), Final update of the Belgian National Energy and Climate Plan, https://www.nationalenergyclimateplan.be/en (consulted on 24/11/2025).
- Official Journal of the European Union: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/oj/direct-access.html?locale=nen.
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