In the week of March 23, notable advancements in solar and wind energy production were observed across Southern Europe, particularly in Spain and Italy. The solar photovoltaic sector demonstrated significant growth, with Portugal leading the charge at a remarkable 31% increase in output compared to the previous week. Meanwhile, both Italy and Spain maintained their upward trajectory for a third consecutive week, reporting increases of 19% and 13%, respectively. This growth trend was not mirrored in Germany and France, where production fell by 11% and 0.1%, reversing previous gains.
Spain and Italy achieved historic milestones in solar energy generation, with Spain producing an impressive 194 GWh on March 24, marking a new record for solar output on a March day. Italy followed suit just a day later, generating 139 GWh on March 25. These figures underscore the increasing capacity and efficiency of solar technologies in these markets.
Forecasts from AleaSoft Energy Forecasting suggest that this positive momentum is likely to persist into the week of March 30 for both Italian and Spanish solar markets. However, a decline in photovoltaic production is anticipated for Germany during the same period, highlighting regional disparities in renewable energy performance.
Wind energy production also saw substantial increases across major European markets during the same week. Italy led with an impressive 78% rise, marking its second consecutive week of growth. Germany followed closely with a 72% increase, while Spain reported a notable 47% rise. France experienced a more modest gain of 18%. Conversely, Portugal’s wind energy output declined by 2.3%, indicating challenges in maintaining consistent performance.
Looking ahead, projections indicate that wind energy production will continue to rise in Spain, Portugal, France, and Germany during the week of March 30. However, Italy is expected to experience a downturn in wind generation. These developments are critical as they reflect ongoing shifts in energy dynamics within the region’s power markets.
