20 December 2012: The European Environment Agency (EEA) has released a technical report examining the demand-side aspects of energy sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions trends in the European Union, titled “End-User GHGEmissions from Energy: Reallocations of Emissions from Energy Industries to End Users 2005-2010.”

The report includes a summary, introduction to methodology and analyses of two methodologies – energy industry emissions from combustion activities and fugitive emissions from fuels – as well as tables summarizing results. The methodology of the report is to allocate GHG emissions of the energy sector, both direct and indirect, to energy users in order to understand demand-side trends driving energy-sector GHG emissions. Sectors analyzed include: industry; transportation; commercial; residential; and other sectors.

The report found that 90% of the net increase in GHG emissions in the EU in 2010 was driven by energy production and consumption, but that the use of renewable energy and increased carbon intensity of fossil fuels used in energy production helped limit the increase. The report notes this increase is partly due to improved economic conditions in 2010, as well as a cold winter, which increased demand for heating in the residential sector. [EEA Press Release] [Publication: Summary – End-User GHG Emissions From Energy: Reallocations of Emissions From Energy Industries to End Users 2005-2010] [Publication: Full Report – End-User GHG Emissions From Energy: Reallocations of Emissions From Energy Industries to End Users 2005-2010]