In the week of March 23, electricity demand experienced a notable uptick across several major European markets, reversing a previous downward trend. The French market led this increase with a demand rise of 4.4%, while Belgium, Germany, and Great Britain recorded smaller gains of 2.2%, 1.7%, and 1.4%, respectively. In contrast, Italy’s electricity demand remained relatively stable during this period.
The Iberian Peninsula displayed contrasting trends, as both Portugal and Spain continued to experience declines in electricity demand. Portugal reported an 8.1% decrease, marking its second consecutive weekly drop, while Spain’s demand fell by 1.6%, indicating its third straight week of decline.
Contributing to these shifts in energy consumption were average temperature decreases observed across most markets analyzed. Temperature drops varied, with Italy experiencing a decline of 0.5°C and France seeing a more significant drop of 2.1°C. Conversely, Portugal maintained relatively stable temperatures compared to the previous week.
Looking ahead to the week of March 30, forecasts from AleaSoft Energy Forecasting indicate that the recent upward trend in electricity demand may reverse. Predictions suggest a decline in demand across the primary European markets, highlighting the potential for shifts in energy consumption patterns as spring approaches.
