During the week of May 5, electricity demand increased across major European markets. Spain saw the largest rise at 15%, followed by Italy with 12% and Portugal with 11%. Smaller increases were observed in Great Britain, Belgium, France, and Germany, ranging from 1.7% to 5.9%. This marks a reversal of the downward trend observed in previous weeks, with Italy continuing its upward trajectory for a second consecutive week.
The increase in demand was influenced by lower average temperatures compared to the previous week. Germany experienced the steepest drop at 4.3°C, followed by Belgium (-3.8°C), France (-3.6°C), and Great Britain (-3.1°C). Southern markets—Spain, Portugal, and Italy—saw more modest declines in temperature, between 1.0°C and 1.4°C.
The return to normal work activity following the May 1 International Workers’ Day holiday, along with cooler weather, contributed to the increased electricity demand. In Spain and Portugal, the rise was also affected by recovery from the April 28 blackout that disrupted electricity supply.
Looking ahead to the week of May 12, AleaSoft Energy Forecasting expects demand to decrease in Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, France, and Italy. Conversely, electricity demand is forecast to continue rising in Spain and Portugal, AleaSoft reports.
