BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. Following a dip in April, natural gas consumption in the European Union rose by 1.8% year-on-year in May 2025, reaching 19 billion cubic meters (bcm), Trend reports citing the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
The latest report issued by GECF reveals that the uptick was primarily driven by increased demand from the residential, power generation, and industrial sectors. Cooler-than-average temperatures contributed to higher heating needs, particularly in eastern and northern parts of Europe. “The month of May featured a significant east-west temperature divide, with cooler-than-average conditions observed from eastern Italy and the Balkans to Finland,” the report noted, citing data from Copernicus, which showed the average land temperature in Europe was 12.98°C — 0.29°C below the 1991–2020 average.
In the power sector, lower nuclear and hydroelectric output, attributed to unfavorable precipitation levels, triggered greater reliance on gas-fired generation. “Reduced nuclear and hydro output led to increased gas use to maintain grid stability,” the GECF said. As a result, gas-fired electricity generation grew by 3% year-on-year, while overall EU electricity generation rose by 2% to 194 terawatt-hours (TWh).
The report also pointed to signs of recovery in the industrial sector: “Industrial gas consumption rose in May, reflecting a rebound in activity across major European economies.”
According to GECF, the EU’s power generation mix in May was led by non-hydro renewables at 43%, followed by nuclear (22%), gas and hydro (14% each), and coal (7%). “This composition underscores the evolving dynamics of the region’s energy landscape,” the organization noted.
Cumulatively, EU gas demand in the first five months of 2025 increased by 5.6% y-o-y, reaching 154 bcm.
