In the latest developments of renewable energy production across Europe, the week ending January 26 showcased significant fluctuations in solar photovoltaic (PV) energy generation. Italy emerged as a leader, achieving a remarkable increase of 41% in its solar output. France also experienced growth, albeit at a more modest rate of 13%, marking its second consecutive week of gains. Conversely, the Iberian Peninsula and Germany faced substantial declines in PV generation. Specifically, Portugal and Spain reported decreases of 30% and 34%, respectively, continuing a downward trend that has persisted for three weeks. Germany was notably impacted, recording a dramatic drop of 64%, following two weeks of upward movement.
A milestone was reached on January 27 when Italy set an all-time record for photovoltaic energy production on a January day, generating 69 GWh. This achievement underscores the country’s growing capacity and commitment to solar energy.
Looking ahead to the week of February 2, forecasts from AleaSoft Energy Forecasting suggest that solar production is expected to rise again in Germany, Spain, and Italy compared to the previous week, indicating potential recovery in these markets.
The wind energy sector also demonstrated varied performance across Europe during the last week of January. Italy led with an increase of 14%, while Portugal’s growth was more modest at 10%. Both countries have shown consistent upward trends for two weeks. Germany contributed positively as well, reversing a three-week decline with a rise of 13%. In contrast, Spain’s wind production remained relatively stable with a slight decrease of 2.5%. France faced challenges with a significant drop in wind energy output by 32%.
The Italian market achieved its third highest historical wind energy production for a January day on January 28, generating 173 GWh, following earlier records set on January 9 and 10 with outputs of 182 GWh and 188 GWh, respectively.
AleaSoft’s analysis for the first week of February indicates anticipated increases in wind energy production across Germany, France, and Spain. However, both Portugal and Italy are projected to experience declines during this period. The shifting dynamics within these renewable sectors reflect broader trends influenced by weather patterns, market conditions, and regulatory frameworks impacting energy generation capacities across Europe.
