Europe is heating up, and Croatia is among the top countries relying on air conditioning

Europe is experiencing a significant surge in energy consumption for cooling, driven by increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves. Between 2018 and 2024, the energy used for cooling households across the European Union has almost doubled, rising from 40.5 to 80.4 thousand terajoules. This represents a 99% increase, and a staggering 420% jump compared to 2010 levels.

While Austria saw the largest percentage increase at over 1000%, Croatia is also notable for its rising reliance on air conditioning. In 2024, cooling accounted for 2.1% of Croatia's total household energy consumption, substantially higher than the EU average of 0.84%. This places Croatia among countries where air conditioning plays a significant role in domestic energy use, far exceeding the bloc's average.

Italy stands out as the largest consumer of cooling energy within the EU, using over 26 thousand terajoules, which constitutes nearly a third of the total European consumption. Spain and Turkey also rank high among major consumers when candidate countries are included.

The escalating demand for cooling has already impacted the European electricity market. In June 2026, electricity demand spiked in the EU's four largest economies. Operators estimate that each one-degree Celsius rise in temperature increases electricity consumption by 0.7 to 1 gigawatt. This heightened demand has consequently driven up wholesale electricity prices.