In early May 2026, the European energy landscape witnessed notable fluctuations in solar and wind energy production across various markets. The week of May 11 marked a significant rebound in solar photovoltaic generation, particularly in Italy, where output surged by 19%, following two weeks of declines. In contrast, the German market exhibited minimal growth of just 0.5%. Spain and France both maintained their upward trajectories with increases of 6.1% and 8.5%, respectively. However, Portugal’s photovoltaic generation saw a decline of 3.0%, setting it apart from the prevailing trends.
Looking ahead to the week of May 18, forecasts from AleaSoft Energy Forecasting indicated a continuation of strong solar output in Italy, Germany, and Spain. This trend is attributed to favorable seasonal conditions and improved solar resource availability, suggesting that these markets are well-positioned to capitalize on renewable energy potentials.
The second week of May also brought positive developments for wind energy production across most European markets. Germany reported the most substantial increase, with wind generation soaring by 120%, effectively reversing a downward trend observed in prior weeks. Meanwhile, Spain’s wind output grew by 21%, marking its third consecutive week of growth. France and Italy also experienced significant rebounds with increases of 50% and 100%, respectively. Conversely, Portugal faced a 7.1% decrease in wind energy production during this period.
A key highlight occurred on May 12 when Germany achieved its highest daily wind energy production for May over the past four years, reaching a total of 623 GWh. This milestone underscores the substantial volatility and potential of wind generation within Europe’s largest power market.
As the month progressed into its third week, forecasts from AleaSoft indicated a potential downturn in wind production across all analyzed European markets. This anticipated reduction suggests a short-term reversal following the robust gains recorded previously, highlighting the inherent variability in renewable energy outputs.
