During the week of April 27, electricity demand declined across all major European markets compared to the previous week. Germany recorded the steepest drop at 6.2%, followed by Italy and France, both down 5.3%. The British market showed the smallest decrease at 0.5%, while Portugal, Spain, and Belgium registered declines of 1.4%, 2.6%, and 4.1%, respectively. With the exception of Belgium, all markets extended their downward trend for a second consecutive week.
At the same time, average temperatures increased across most regions. Belgium and Germany saw the largest rises, at +4.1°C and +3.7°C, respectively. France and Great Britain recorded increases of +2.5°C and +2.7°C, while Italy saw a smaller rise of +0.8°C. The Iberian Peninsula was an exception, with slight decreases in temperatures of −0.1°C in Spain and −0.5°C in Portugal.
The overall decline in demand was mainly driven by lower industrial and business activity due to the May 1 International Workers’ Day holiday. In addition, milder weather conditions compared to the previous week further contributed to softer electricity consumption.
For the week of May 4, forecasts from AleaSoft Energy Forecasting indicate a rebound in electricity demand across all analyzed markets, as economic activity normalizes following the holiday period, AleaSoft reports.