In early January, the Iberian Peninsula experienced a significant surge in solar photovoltaic production, contrasting sharply with declines observed in several central European markets. Spain led the charge with a remarkable increase of 39% in solar output, while Portugal followed with a 16% rise. Conversely, Italy, Germany, and France reported reductions in their solar energy generation, with Italy and France seeing decreases of 8.8% and 26%, respectively. Germany also faced a downturn, marking its second consecutive week of declining production with a drop of 23%.
The week of January 5 marked several historic milestones for solar energy in Europe. Portugal achieved its second-highest photovoltaic output for January, reaching 16 GWh. Italy set an all-time record for January on January 11 with 63 GWh, while Spain recorded its third-highest January production on the same day at 115 GWh, just shy of previous peaks reached in late January 2025.
Looking ahead to the week of January 12, forecasts from AleaSoft Energy indicate a potential decline in solar production across Germany, Spain, and Italy, suggesting a reversal of the earlier positive trend.
Wind energy trends exhibited a contrasting pattern during the same period. The second week of January saw an increase in wind generation across most major European markets. Spain experienced the most significant growth, with production soaring by 119% week-on-week. France followed closely with an 87% increase, while Portugal and Italy also enjoyed positive momentum with rises of 21% and 24%, respectively. However, Germany was an exception, experiencing a decline of 35%, following two weeks of growth.
This period also marked new historic records for wind energy production. On January 9, Spain achieved an all-time high with wind generation reaching 453 GWh. Italy followed suit on January 10 by setting a new record at 188 GWh. France recorded its second-highest wind output for a January day on January 9 at 429 GWh, just below its peak from late January 2025.
AleaSoft’s forecasts for the second week of January suggest that while wind energy production is expected to rise in Germany, declines are anticipated in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and France. This indicates a notable shift in market dynamics compared to the previous week.
