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Poland’s power sector had the highest carbon intensity across the European Union in 2025, with nearly ****grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated (gCOâ‚‚/kWh). Cyprus ranked second, with just under ****²µ°ä°¿â‚‚/°ì°Â³ó. By comparison, Sweden's power sector was the least carbon-intensive in the EU, producing just ²µ°ä°¿â‚‚/°ì°Â³ó.

Why is Poland’s power sector so carbon-intensive?

The carbon intensity of the power sector is largely associated with the energy sources used for power generation. Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas have high carbon intensities because they release CO₂ when burned, while renewable energy sources have a much lower or zero carbon intensity. Poland’s energy mix is dominated by coal, which accounts for slightly over ** percent of the country’s electricity generation, with gas and other fossil fuels contributing an additional ** percent. Poland is home to some of the most polluting power stations in the EU, which is a primary reason why the country’s energy sector is the most carbon-intensive in the region.

Low-carbon power generation

On the other side of the spectrum is Sweden, which has the least carbon-intensive power sector in the EU. Clean energy sources represent about ** percent of electricity generation in Sweden, with hydropower the single-largest energy source in the country. Sweden is one of Europe's largest consumer of hydropower.