In early March 2023, the energy landscape in Europe showcased significant shifts in renewable energy production, particularly in solar and wind sectors. The week of March 9 saw a notable rise in solar photovoltaic energy production across the Iberian and Italian markets. Spain led this surge with a remarkable increase of 38%, while Italy and Portugal reported gains of 21% and 18%, respectively. Conversely, the German and French markets experienced declines after extended periods of growth, with Germany facing the most substantial drop at 30%, followed by France’s decline of 0.8%.
The week also marked a momentous achievement for the Iberian markets, setting historical records for solar energy output on specific days in March. Portugal achieved its highest production on March 11 with 22 GWh, while Spain set its record on March 13, generating an impressive 180 GWh.
Looking ahead to the week of March 16, forecasts from AleaSoft Energy Forecasting indicate an anticipated increase in solar production within the German and Italian markets. However, a reduction is expected in the Spanish market as production dynamics shift.
<pIn contrast to solar developments, wind energy production rebounded significantly during the second week of March in Germany and France after two weeks of declines. Germany recorded the largest increase of 95%, while France’s output rose by 91%. This was a stark contrast to the Iberian and Italian markets, where both faced reversals from previous upward trends; Spain noted a significant drop of 28%, Italy saw a modest decline of 3.7%, and Portugal experienced a decrease of 9.1%.
The peak wind energy output for March days over the last two years was reached on March 13, with France producing 297 GWh and Germany achieving 778 GWh.
AleaSoft forecasts further increases in wind energy production for Germany and Italy during the third week of March. However, projections indicate that both Iberian and French markets may see declines during this period.
