BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 18. Gas consumption in the European Union fell by 3.7% year-on-year in August 2025, reaching 15.8 billion cubic meters (bcm), according to the latest report by the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Trend reports.
"The decline in EU gas consumption in August reflects a combination of mild industrial activity and strong renewable generation, demonstrating the region’s increasing energy efficiency," the report reads.
The drop in gas usage was largely balanced by higher renewable energy output in the power sector and reduced demand in residential and industrial sectors. Copernicus data indicated that the average temperature over European land in August reached 19.46°C, 0.30°C above the 1991–2020 norm, though still outside the ten warmest Augusts on record.
"While average European temperatures were slightly above the long-term norm, the impact was uneven, with Western Europe experiencing heatwaves and Northern Europe seeing cooler conditions," noted the Copernicus climate team. Western Europe saw the most pronounced heat anomalies, particularly the Iberian Peninsula and southwest France, while northern Europe—including Fennoscandia, the Baltic States, Belarus, and Poland—recorded cooler-than-average temperatures.
Despite a decline in nuclear and hydroelectric output, the EU did not increase reliance on gas-fired power. "Despite lower nuclear and hydro output, renewables have filled the gap, highlighting the growing role of wind and solar in Europe’s power mix," the report noted. Industrial gas consumption also fell amid slower economic activity in major European economies.
Total electricity generation in the EU rose by 4.6% year-on-year to 208 TWh, largely driven by increased cooling demand during summer heatwaves. However, gas-fired power generation declined by 6%, as renewables surged 13%, compensating for reduced output from nuclear, hydro, and coal. "Gas-fired power generation continues to face stiff competition from renewables, which accounted for 41% of electricity production in August, marking a new milestone for the EU energy transition," said the report.
Within the power mix, non-hydro renewables remained the largest source at 41%, followed by nuclear (25%), gas (16%), hydro (10%), and coal (8%), highlighting the ongoing shift in Europe’s energy landscape.
