Europe Hits 26.7% Renewable Heating Record in 2024

Across Europe, more homes and businesses are staying warm without burning fossil fuels, and 2024 just proved how far we've come.

The European Union reached a record 26.7% renewable energy share in heating and cooling systems last year, the highest level since tracking began in 2004. Back then, only 11.7% of heating came from clean sources.

The shift is powered mainly by biomass and heat pumps, technologies that are becoming more common in homes across the continent. Between 2021 and 2024, the EU averaged a 0.93 percentage point increase each year, hitting early targets set by new climate directives.

Sweden leads the pack with an impressive 67.8% of its heating and cooling from renewable sources. Finland follows at 62.6%, and Latvia rounds out the top three at 61.8%.

The progress isn't perfectly uniform. Ireland, the Netherlands, and Belgium still hover around 11% or less, showing there's room to grow.

Malta made the biggest leap forward in 2024, jumping 6 percentage points in a single year. Luxembourg and Denmark also saw strong gains, proving that rapid transitions are possible with the right policies and investments.

Not every country moved forward. Estonia saw an 11.1 percentage point drop, while Greece and Bulgaria also slipped backward, reminding us that clean energy transitions require sustained commitment.

The Ripple Effect

This shift means millions of European households are cutting their carbon footprints simply by heating their homes. As heat pumps and biomass systems become more mainstream, the technology gets cheaper and more accessible for everyone.

The EU has set even more ambitious targets for the years ahead. Countries must increase their renewable heating share by at least 1.1 percentage points annually between 2026 and 2030, pushing the transition into high gear.

The progress also creates jobs in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of clean heating systems. As demand grows, so does the workforce needed to make it happen.

From 11.7% in 2004 to 26.7% in 2024, Europe has more than doubled its clean heating in just two decades, proving that big changes are possible when commitment meets action.