Electricity demand declined across most major European markets during the third week of July compared with the previous week, while Italy and Germany recorded the largest changes in opposite directions, according to AleaSoft Energy Forecasting.
Italy registered the largest weekly decline in electricity demand, at 10%, followed by France with a 3.8% drop and Great Britain with a 3.7% decrease. Belgium recorded a 3.4% decline, while Portugal posted a more moderate reduction of 2.4%.
Germany and Spain bucked the broader trend, with electricity demand increasing by 2.4% and 1.0%, respectively.
The changes in demand coincided with a mixed temperature pattern across the markets analysed. Average temperatures fell in most countries, with Great Britain recording the largest weekly decline, at 2.7°C.
Average temperatures decreased by 1.2°C in France and 0.9°C in Portugal, while Spain and Belgium recorded more moderate declines of 0.4°C.
Italy and Germany moved in the opposite direction. Average temperatures increased by 1.5°C in Italy and 0.7°C in Germany, contributing to the contrasting demand trends observed in the two markets.
For the fourth week of July, AleaSoft Energy Forecasting expects electricity demand to increase in Italy and Portugal.
Demand is forecast to decline in Germany, Spain, France, Belgium and Great Britain. The divergent outlook highlights the continued influence of weather conditions, seasonal patterns and temperature-driven cooling demand on European power markets during the summer period, AleaSoft Energy Forecasting said.
