The bloc’s exports of wind turbines, solar panels and liquid biofuels saw substantial growth between 2002 and 2023, but a more balanced import-export tradeoff is still a long way to go, according to new data from Eurostat.
The European Union imports more green energy infrastructure than it exports.
Last year, member countries purchased 19.7 billion euros worth of solar panels from outside the bloc, an increase of 5% compared to 2022. EU solar panel exports, on the contrary, totaled only 0.9 billion euros.
The biofuel trade-off is also negative. The EU imported 3.9 billion euros of liquid biofuels, while 2.2 billion euros were sold to third countries.
However, European exports of wind turbines, valued at €2 billion, far exceeded imports, which amounted to €0.3 billion.
Solar, wind, biofuel: which is increasing and which is decreasing?
Imports of wind turbines into the EU fell sharply by 66% last year.
Imports of liquid biofuels also declined, but only by 2%.
In contrast, exports of solar panels increased by 5% between 2022 and 2023.
When it comes to solar panels, China still has a near monopoly on exports to the EU, accounting for 98% of them.
Beijing is also the one that sends the most biofuels to the EU (36%). Other important biofuel partners are the United Kingdom (13%), Brazil (12%) and Malaysia (11%).
In terms of wind turbines, India takes the lion’s share of EU exports, with 59%.
EU green energy exports increase in value and quantity
Although the green energy infrastructure trade-off remains negative for the EU, exports have seen substantial growth, both in quantity and value, on several fronts.
The strongest economic growth in exports was recorded for wind turbines: +49% in value and +26% in quantity.
Similarly, sales of liquid biofuels increased by 36% in value and 63% in quantity.
Exports of solar panels also increased: 19% and 37% in quantity, says Eurostat.
Video editor • Mert Can Yilmaz
