During the week of March 10, electricity demand across major European markets saw an upward trend, reversing the decline observed in the previous week. The largest increases were seen in the Dutch, British, and French markets, which experienced demand rises of 9.3%, 8.5%, and 6.8%, respectively. Other markets also saw demand increases, with Spain rising by 0.3% and Portugal by 2.2%. Notably, Spain saw its third consecutive week of rising demand. However, Italy was the exception, as its demand dropped by 2.0% for the third consecutive week.
The increase in demand was primarily driven by lower average temperatures, which fell by 1.3°C in Portugal and up to 4.5°C in Belgium. Italy, on the other hand, experienced a 3.0°C rise in average temperatures, contributing to its decreased demand.
Looking ahead to the week of March 17, forecasts from AleaSoft Energy Forecasting indicate that electricity demand in the British market will continue to rise, while demand in the Spanish market is expected to remain stable. However, demand is expected to decrease in several other markets, including Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands, AleaSoft reports.