In a notable shift, electricity demand in Europe experienced a significant decline during the week of April 20, with the United Kingdom leading the decrease at 5.9%. France, Germany, and Italy followed with reductions of 4.4%, 4.1%, and 3.4%, respectively. The Iberian Peninsula saw more modest declines, with Spain’s demand down 0.7% and Portugal 0.6%. Conversely, Belgium reported a slight increase of 0.4%, breaking a three-week trend of falling consumption.
This decline in demand coincided with rising average temperatures across much of Europe. Portugal and Spain recorded the most significant temperature increases at 2.1°C and 1.7°C, respectively, while the UK saw a minimal rise of 0.1°C. France’s temperatures increased by 1.4°C, contrasting with cooler conditions in several markets, including Belgium and Germany, where temperatures fell by 0.8°C and 2.5°C, respectively.
AleaSoft Energy Forecasting has projected that the week of April 27 will see continued declines in electricity consumption across France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. This trend is largely attributed to the upcoming May 1 International Workers’ Day holiday, which is widely observed throughout continental Europe. In contrast, demand in the British market is anticipated to rise, marking a divergence from the overall European trend.
