Heat waves double cooling energy consumption in Europe over six years

Recent data show that demand for energy used for cooling in European households has risen significantly in recent years, coinciding with rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves.

According to a report published by Euronews based on European data, EU households’ consumption of energy for cooling increased from 40.5 terajoules in 2018 to 80.4 terajoules in 2024, representing an increase of nearly 99% over six years. The report also noted that some countries recorded substantial increases in cooling usage, most notably Austria, along with the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, and Greece, with actual consumption levels varying across countries according to climatic conditions and the prevalence of air conditioning systems. In contrast, consumption rates remained relatively stable in Germany, while France recorded a more moderate increase.

The report indicated that Italy led EU countries in total energy consumption for cooling, accounting for about one-third of the overall consumption, followed by Spain. Cyprus recorded the highest share of cooling use relative to total household energy consumption.

These figures reflect the growing impact of rising temperatures on energy consumption patterns across the European continent.