Negative power prices also break through during the week

Both Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday there are negative prices at the Wholesale Market for Electricity. That is always the case in the afternoon hours, between around 12:00 and 15:00. The prices are quite deep, to more than -60 euros per megawatt hour, for example for delivery on Wednesday between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

It is a fairly new phenomenon. Negative electricity prices normally mainly occurred during weekends with a lot of sun and wind and little demand for electricity. Last Sunday, for example, the power price went to -462 euros for a megawatt hour, an absolute record.

But now it also breaks through during the week, energy grid Matthias Detremmerie by supplier Elindus confirms. « It is striking that we even get negative hours consistent during the week, » said the energy specialist. According to him, those negative power prices are a permanent phenomenon. « Really a confirmation that the renewable energy gets the upper hand and the system still has difficulty in absorbing the surpluses somewhat economically. »

There is an increasing range of renewable energy, especially due to the increased number of solar panels. These installations run overtime in the spring, especially in the spring. In the summer the heat can sometimes road on the capacity of the installations, and there is often a need for more electricity because air conditioners are being constructed.