European electricity prices increase despite falling gas prices

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">AleaSoft Energy Forecasting’s latest analysis finds the weekly average electricity price was above €95 ($111.70)/MWh last week in all major European markets except France, Portugal and Spain. These three countries each set new records for solar energy production for a day in April last Friday, recording 145 GWh, 26 GWh and 213 GWh respectively. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Weekly average electricity prices increased across the major European markets last week, according to analysis by AleaSoft Energy Forecasting, despite TTF gas futures prices reaching their lowest settlement since February.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Spanish consultancy found the weekly average electricity price increased across the Belgian, British, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Nordic, Portuguese and Spanish markets when compared to the <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/04/15/france-germany-set-daily-solar-records-for-april/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">week prior</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Averages were above €95 ($111.70)/MWh in all analyzed markets except the Spanish, Portuguese and French markets, where averages reached €50.38/MWh, €50.73/MWh and €70.93/MWh. </span></p>
<p><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-339630 aligncenter" height="418" src="https://www.pv-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260420-AleaSoft-European-electricity-market-prices-1-600x418.png" tabindex="0" width="600" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These three markets each set all-time records for solar energy production on a day in April last week. Spain generated 213 GWh on April 17, the same day France reached 145 GWh and Portugal recorded 26 GWh.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Italian market continued to record the highest weekly average, registering €123.19/MWh, followed by the German market, at €109.09/MWh. These two markets also saw less solar energy production last week than the week prior, contributing to the higher prices.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">AleaSoft attributed the general upward trend in electricity prices to rising CO2 emission allowance prices, declining wind energy production and increasing electricity demand in most markets. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The consultancy noted this upward price trajectory despite lower TTF gas futures in the ICE market. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">AleaSoft says the failure of peace negotiations over the previous week contributed to the weekly high registered on April 13, of €46.41/MWh. Settlement prices then remained below €45/MWh for the rest of the week, influenced by expectations of new talks between the U.S. and Iran and the beginning of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. </span></p>
<p><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-339628 aligncenter" height="418" src="https://www.pv-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260420-AleaSoft-Prices-gas-coal-Brent-oil-CO2-600x418.png" tabindex="0" width="600" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Higher temperatures, lower LNG imports in Asia and increased renewables production towards the end of the week also contributed to the falling gas prices, according to AleaSoft’s analysis. The consultancy registered a minimum settlement price of €38.77/MWh on April 17, which it says was 11% lower than the last session of the previous week and the lowest recorded since February 28.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">AleaSoft’s price forecasts are expecting prices will decline in Europe's main electricity markets during the fourth week of April, driven by lower electricity demand and increased wind and solar energy production across most markets. Its analysis adds that gas price movements will also continue to influence price trends.</span></p>