During the fourth week of May, electricity demand increased across most major European markets, reflecting seasonal temperature shifts and changing consumption patterns. Italy recorded the largest rise in demand at 8.7%, followed by Spain with a 7.1% increase. France, Belgium, and Portugal also saw moderate growth of 1.0%, 1.4%, and 2.9% respectively, with both the Iberian Peninsula and Belgium extending their trend of demand growth into a second consecutive week.
In contrast, Germany and Great Britain experienced a decline in electricity demand during the same period. The British market registered the largest drop of 3.9%, marking its second consecutive weekly decrease, while Germany saw demand fall by 3.4%, reflecting weaker consumption conditions.
At the same time, average temperatures rose across all analyzed markets, contributing significantly to overall electricity consumption patterns. France recorded the sharpest temperature increase of 5.4°C, followed by Belgium at 4.7°C, Italy at 4.3°C, and Great Britain at 4.1°C. Spain experienced the smallest rise of 2.4°C, while Portugal and Germany saw increases of 2.9°C and 3.3°C respectively.
The Whit Monday holiday on May 25, observed in Germany, France, Great Britain, Belgium, and parts of Spain, temporarily reduced electricity demand due to lower industrial and commercial activity. However, the effect was largely offset by higher average temperatures compared to the previous week, which boosted overall electricity consumption, particularly in France and Great Britain, AleaSoft reports.
