Across major European electricity markets, weekly average prices fell during the fourth week of August compared with the previous week. The Nordic market saw the steepest decline, with prices down 20%. Portugal followed with a 17% drop, while the Netherlands recorded a 16% decrease.
Germany, France and Spain also posted declines over the same period. Spain’s weekly average price fell by 12%, while Germany declined by 14%. France registered a significant fall within that range, and Belgium recorded an 8.1% decrease.
The British market recorded the smallest weekly decline at 2.2%. Italy was the only market showing an increase, with weekly average electricity prices rising by 15%.
Weekly averages by market for the week of August 24
For the week of August 24, Italy recorded the highest weekly average electricity price among the markets analyzed at €194.14/MWh. Great Britain ranked next at €160.40/MWh. The Nordic market recorded the lowest weekly average at €89.81/MWh.
The Portuguese and Spanish markets both averaged €106.46/MWh. In the remaining markets covered by AleaSoft Energy Forecasting, weekly average prices ranged from €121.15/MWh in France to €132.28/MWh in Belgium.
Daily price movements during the fourth week of August
Daily pricing in Italy stayed above €190/MWh for almost the entire fourth week of August, dropping below that level only on Sunday. Italy’s daily peak reached €205.52/MWh on August 27 and 28. That level marked Italy’s highest price since August 6.
The British market maintained elevated daily prices throughout the week, with values exceeding €160/MWh on several occasions. Belgium also surpassed this threshold on August 26 and 27.
Saturday August 29 sees sharp declines amid wind output changes
A sharp fall in daily prices occurred on Saturday, August 29 across Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Nordic region. The move was linked to higher wind energy production alongside lower electricity demand. On that day, the Nordic market recorded the lowest daily price among those analyzed at €15.04/MWh.
The French market dropped to €65.33/MWh on August 29. Over the full fourth-week period, increased wind generation was described as a key driver behind declining European electricity prices.
Italy’s exception: wind up modestly while demand rises
Italy differed from other markets because wind power generation rose by only 4.6%. At the same time, electricity demand increased by 15% during the week. This combination prevented Italian prices from tracking the downward pattern seen elsewhere.
AleaSoft forecasts for the week beginning August 31
Ahead of the week starting August 31, AleaSoft Energy Forecasting expects electricity prices to rise in Spain and Portugal. The forecast increase is tied to an anticipated decline in wind energy production across the Iberian Peninsula.
AleaSoft also projects that prices will decrease in most other European markets analyzed. France is expected to see a slight increase, influenced by lower wind energy production as well.
