In spite of energy targets, the EU has seen demand for energy for energy rise for the third consecutive year, and the highest increase was seen in Malta.

Eurostat reported on Thursday that the total energy demand in Malta in 2017 went up by 12.9 per cent in Malta, followed by Romania (5.8%) and Spain (5.4%).

Demand fell in eight member states, lead by Estonia (-4.2%), the United Kingdom (-1.6%), and Ireland (-1.4%).

In 2017, primary energy consumption in the EU was 5.3% above the efficiency target for 2020. Since 1990, the first year for which data are available, consumption has fallen by 0.4%.

However, over the years, the primary energy consumption has fluctuated greatly. It peaked in 2006 (a 16.6% gap from the 2020 target), while a record low was reached in 2014 (a 1.9% gap from the 2020 target).

The EU has committed itself to reducing energy consumption by 20 per cent by 2020, representing a primary energy consumption of no more than 1.483 units. The revised Energy Efficiency Directive provides a new energy efficiency target for 2030: of no more than 1.273 Mtoe.