During the week of September 21, electricity demand declined in most major European power markets compared with the previous week. Italy recorded the largest decrease, at 3.7%, followed by Belgium, where demand fell by 3.5%. In Germany, demand declined by 2.2% after four consecutive weeks of increases. France and Spain posted smaller decreases of 0.9% and 0.2%, respectively. Italy, France and Spain therefore recorded their third consecutive weekly declines in electricity demand.
In contrast, electricity demand increased in Great Britain and Portugal. The British market registered the largest increase, at 5.3%, following the decline recorded in the previous week. Portugal saw demand rise by 1.2%, marking its fourth consecutive week of growth.
Average temperatures declined in most of the analysed markets during the week. Germany recorded the largest drop, at 3.1°C, followed by Italy with a 2.1°C decrease and Belgium with a 1.9°C decline. Temperatures fell by 0.8°C in both France and Great Britain.
Portugal and Spain moved in the opposite direction, with average temperatures increasing by 1.2°C and 0.8°C, respectively.
For the week of September 28, AleaSoft Energy Forecasting expects electricity demand to increase in Portugal, Great Britain, Belgium and France. In contrast, demand is forecast to decline in Italy, Spain and Germany.
The differing demand trends reflect the combined influence of temperature changes and market-specific consumption patterns as Europe moves further into the autumn period, AleaSoft reports.
