European Union countries (EU) spent �15.2 billion on green energy product imports last year, including wind turbines, solar panels and liquid biofuels from countries outside the EU, the European Statistical Office revealed on Monday.
These imports consisted of �11.2 billion worth of solar panels, �3.4 billion worth of liquid biofuels and �0.6 billion worth of wind turbines.
However, exports from the EU only accounted for half of the imported total of �6.5 billion (US$ 6.81 billion) to countries outside the EU.
"The value of imports of solar panels and liquid biofuels was much greater than the corresponding value of EU exports of these goods to countries outside the EU, with exports of �2.0 billion and �1.3 billion, respectively," the statistics showed.
In contrast, the value of exports of wind turbines to non-EU countries was far greater at �3.3 billion than the value of imports at �0.6 billion.
Exports of liquid biofuels only totaled �0.5 billion in 2012 and peaked at �1.7 billion in 2019. However, the last two years has seen a decrease with exports falling in 2021 to �1.3 billion.
In terms of value, imports of wind turbines, liquid biofuels and solar panels into the EU in 2021 were higher than in 2012.
Exports of all three products were also higher than in 2012, with a 13%, 173%, and 4% rise, respectively, the data showed.
However, the data revealed that while the last three years saw an increase in the exports of wind turbines and solar panels, there was a decrease in the exports of liquid biofuels.
US$1 equals �0.95 at 2.44 p.m. local time (1144GMT) on Monday.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency