In 2024, the EU imported €11.1 billion ($12.8 billion) worth of solar panels, €2.9 billion of liquid biofuels, and €0.5 billion worth of wind turbines from extra-EU countries, totalling almost €14.6 billion ($16.9 billion) in imports of green energy products, according to data released by Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office.

The value of imported solar panels decreased by 43 per cent compared with 2023 due to a drop in prices, while the total weight of these imports increased by a modest 2 per cent.

Liquid biofuel imports also recorded a 25 per cent drop in value.

On the other hand, imports of wind turbines not only saw a 102 per cent rise in value but also registered a 113 per cent increase in the imported weight.

For illustration, in 2024 the EU imported 32 373 wind turbines, 9 072 more than in 2023. 

When it comes to exports, in 2024, the EU exported €0.7 billion worth of solar panels, €1.8 billion in liquid biofuels, and €2.8 billion in wind turbines.

Unlike solar panels and liquid biofuels, wind turbines exports significantly exceeded import values.

Between 2023 and 2024, the export of wind turbines saw an increase in value (+41 per cent) and in exported weight (+28 per cent).

When looking at the quantity, the EU exported 17 180 wind turbines in 2024, 7 434 more than in 2023. 

As for solar panels, exports decreased by 22 per cent in value but increased 24 per cent in weight. Exports of liquid biofuels decreased both in value (-18 per cent) and in weight (-7 per cent). 

China was by far the largest supplier of solar panels, accounting for 98 per cent of all imports.

Although the share remained the same as in 2023, the total value of these imports was down from €19.0 billion to €10.9 billion in 2024.

For liquid biofuels, China also led but with a smaller share of 24 per cent of all these imports, down from 36 per cent in 2023.

The top import partners of liquid biofuels also included Malaysia (15 per cent), the UK (13 per cent) and Brazil (12 per cent).

In 2024 imports of wind turbines were mostly from India and China.

Compared with 2023, China increased its share from 31 per cent to 43 per cent while India saw a decrease from 58 per cent to 48 per cent. -OGN/ TradeArabia News Service