Despite a 1.7% increase in energy use, the European Union’s services sector continues to primarily depend on electricity, marking ongoing challenges and opportunities for decarbonisation efforts in the region.
Electricity remained the main energy source in the European Union’s services sector in 2024, even as overall consumption in the segment continued to edge higher, according to Eurostat.
The bloc’s services sector used 4,971 petajoules of energy last year, up from 4,886 petajoules in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 1.7 per cent. Over the longer term, energy use in the sector has risen by about 25 per cent since 1990, Eurostat said in its latest Energy in Europe publication.
Despite that growth, services still accounted for a comparatively modest 13.5 per cent of total final energy consumption in the EU, well behind transport at 32.3 per cent, households at 26.0 per cent and industry at 24.5 per cent. Agriculture, forestry and fishing remained far smaller at 3.6 per cent.
The sector’s energy mix was dominated by electricity and natural gas, which together made up more than three-quarters of final consumption. Electricity alone represented 52.0 per cent, while natural gas accounted for 25.4 per cent. Renewables and biofuels contributed 8.7 per cent, heat 7.7 per cent, and oil and petroleum products 5.6 per cent. Other fuels, including coal or waste, made up the remaining 0.6 per cent.
Eurostat’s earlier 2025 analysis also pointed to a 1.9 per cent fall in services-sector energy use in 2023 compared with 2022, underlining that annual movements can be uneven even as the long-term trend remains upward. The agency has also linked the sector’s energy profile to emissions performance, noting in January 2026 that services helped drive a 14 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the EU between 2013 and 2024.
Within services, wholesale and retail trade was the largest energy user in 2024 at 1,021 petajoules, or 21.2 per cent of the sector total. Human health and social work activities used 506 petajoules, while accommodation and food service activities were close behind at 503 petajoules. Professional, scientific and technical activities, together with other services, accounted for 492 petajoules.
For industrial decarbonisation professionals, the data reinforce a familiar pattern: services are less energy-intensive than heavy industry, but they are increasingly important to the wider electrification agenda. With electricity already the clear lead fuel and gas still supplying a quarter of demand, the sector remains a significant test case for grid readiness, building efficiency and low-carbon heat deployment across Europe.
- https://cyprus-mail.com/2026/06/28/electricity-remains-dominant-power-source-for-eu-services-sector – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/interactive-publications/energy-2026 – Eurostat’s ‘Energy in Europe – 2026 edition’ provides comprehensive data on energy consumption across various sectors in the EU. In 2024, the services sector accounted for 13% of final energy consumption, with electricity and natural gas being the dominant sources, comprising over 75% of the sector’s energy use. The publication offers detailed insights into energy consumption patterns, highlighting the significant role of electricity in the services sector.
- https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20250717-1 – Eurostat’s news article from July 2025 reports a 1.9% decrease in the EU’s services sector energy consumption in 2023 compared to 2022. Despite this decline, the sector’s energy use has increased by nearly 25% since 1990. The article details the energy mix, with electricity and natural gas accounting for over 75% of the sector’s final energy consumption, underscoring the continued dominance of electricity in the services sector.
- https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20260123-1 – Eurostat’s January 2026 article discusses the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2024, noting a 20% reduction since 2013. The services sector contributed to this decline, with a 14% decrease in emissions. The article highlights the sector’s energy consumption patterns, emphasizing the significant role of electricity and natural gas, which together account for over 75% of the sector’s final energy consumption.
- https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20240513-1 – Eurostat’s May 2024 news article highlights that in 2022, electricity and natural gas together accounted for 64.5% of the EU’s industry sector’s final energy consumption. The article provides insights into the energy mix, noting that electricity and natural gas were followed by oil and petroleum products, renewables and biofuels, heat, solid fossil fuels, and non-renewable waste.
- https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20260123-1 – Eurostat’s January 2026 article reports a 20% reduction in the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions since 2013. The services sector contributed to this decline, with a 14% decrease in emissions. The article highlights the sector’s energy consumption patterns, emphasizing the significant role of electricity and natural gas, which together account for over 75% of the sector’s final energy consumption.
- https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20250717-1 – Eurostat’s July 2025 news article reports a 1.9% decrease in the EU’s services sector energy consumption in 2023 compared to 2022. Despite this decline, the sector’s energy use has increased by nearly 25% since 1990. The article details the energy mix, with electricity and natural gas accounting for over 75% of the sector’s final energy consumption, underscoring the continued dominance of electricity in the services sector.
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The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article cites data from Eurostat’s 2026 ‘Energy in Europe’ report, published in March 2026. The Cyprus Mail article was published on 28 June 2026, indicating timely reporting. However, the article’s reliance on a single source raises concerns about originality and potential recycling of content. Further verification is needed to confirm the independence of the reporting.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article does not provide direct quotes, which limits the ability to verify specific statements. The absence of direct quotes makes it challenging to assess the accuracy and originality of the information presented.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The Cyprus Mail is a reputable news outlet in Cyprus. However, its reach and influence are more limited compared to major international news organisations. The article’s reliance on a single source, Eurostat’s 2026 report, without additional independent verification, raises concerns about the comprehensiveness and potential biases in the reporting.
Plausibility check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about the dominance of electricity in the EU services sector’s energy consumption align with known trends in energy usage. However, the article’s lack of direct quotes and reliance on a single source without independent verification makes it difficult to fully assess the accuracy and depth of the reporting.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article provides a timely summary of Eurostat’s 2026 ‘Energy in Europe’ report, but its reliance on a single source without direct quotes or additional independent verification raises concerns about the originality and comprehensiveness of the reporting. The lack of multiple verification sources and direct quotes limits the ability to fully assess the accuracy and depth of the information presented. Further independent verification is recommended before publishing.
