Our new report, “Getting Rid of Russian Gas Dependency in EU Member States: A Case-by-Case Approach,” offers a detailed, country-by-country analysis showing that the EU’s transition away from Russian gas isn’t just feasible — it’s already happening across the continent. What’s missing is the political courage to finish the job.
Main findings:
- Germany: gas consumption increased to 844 TWh in 2024, a 3.5% increase compared to 811.5 TWh in 2023.
- France: cut its gas consumption by 5.5% in 2024, including a 56% drop in demand from gas-fired power plants, showing an accelerated shift away from fossil fuel generation.
- Belgium: gas use hit a 15-year low at 149 TWh, prompted by falling power sector demand.
- Spain: gas consumption dropped 4.2%, due to reduced demand for power generation, despite being one of Europe’s largest LNG importers.
- Italy: renewable energy share leapt to 40.8%, up from 37.9% in 2023.
- Greece: gas consumption surged by 30%, driven by a sharp rise in demand from the power sector. This underlines the need for coordinated EU-wide action.
The study outlines three under-leveraged strategies that can dramatically reduce EU gas dependency:
- Scaling up energy efficiency across residential, industrial, and power sectors.
- Accelerating the switch from fossil-based heating to electrified alternatives, established well before Russia’s full-scale invasion, but still underperformed by many member states, including major ones like Germany, Spain, Italy and Austria.
- Strengthening dynamic electricity pricing to cut peak-time gas reliance.
By prioritising renewable energy expansion, enhancing energy efficiency, electrifying heating and industrial processes, and investing in supportive infrastructure and policies, the EU can achieve energy independence, bolster economic resilience, and meet its climate commitments while defusing Russia’s main tool of geopolitical influence over the continent.
