As of late April 2023, the European renewable energy landscape has exhibited contrasting trends in solar and wind generation. In Germany, solar photovoltaic production saw a notable uptick of 11% during the week ending April 27, marking its second consecutive week of growth. This rise stands in stark contrast to declines observed in several other major markets across Europe. France experienced the most significant reduction at 16%, followed by Portugal with a 13% drop and Italy at 4.8%. Spain’s decline was comparatively modest at 1.9%, representing its second weekly decrease in solar output.
A significant milestone was achieved on April 30, when Germany set a new record for solar generation on an April day, reaching 457 GWh. This performance underscores the strength of seasonal solar energy production amid varying results from other European markets.
Looking ahead to the week of May 4, forecasts from AleaSoft Energy Forecasting predict a potential recovery in solar generation for Italy and Spain. However, Germany is anticipated to see a decline in photovoltaic output, suggesting a shift in regional dynamics regarding solar energy production.
In terms of wind energy, performance across Europe has been mixed during the same timeframe. Spain managed to break a four-week streak of declines with a 16% increase in wind generation. Conversely, Portugal faced the steepest drop at 32%, while Germany recorded a significant decrease of 22%. Italy continued its downward trend with a 15% drop, and France saw a milder decline of 14%.
The outlook for early May indicates a potential rebound in wind production within Iberian markets. However, further declines are expected for France, Germany, and Italy, highlighting ongoing volatility within European renewable energy outputs as reported by AleaSoft.
