Record June Heat Raises Electricity Demand and Prices Across Europe

Record heat across western Europe in late June drove electricity demand higher and pushed wholesale prices to multi-month peaks in the continent’s largest markets. France recorded its hottest June day on record on 24 June when the town of Palluau reached 43.8 °C. Germany’s eastern town of Coschen hit 41.7 °C on 28 June, and Spain also logged its hottest June days on record on 23 and 24 June.

Daily electricity consumption in France rose from 1,048 GWh on 11 June to 1,255 GWh on 25 June, an increase of almost 20 %. Germany’s daily use climbed from 1,267 GWh to 1,396 GWh over the same period, according to Eurelectric data cited by Euronews. French grid operator RTE said consumption typically rises 0.7 GW to 1 GW for every 1 °C increase in temperature during heatwaves.

The late-June surge added an average 10 GW to 14 GW of daily demand compared with equivalent periods of normal seasonal temperatures. Wholesale electricity prices peaked between 23 and 24 June. Germany recorded prices above €200/MWh, France reached almost €160/MWh, and Spain peaked at just over €110/MWh.

France’s nuclear output fell by 4.1 GW during the heatwave after river-water temperatures rose too high for safe reactor cooling, a reduction equal to roughly 7 % of national demand at the time, EDF stated. Germany’s wind generation also declined sharply, forcing greater reliance on gas- and coal-fired plants. Cooling demand has grown steadily.

Eurostat data show households’ annual energy use for cooling has roughly doubled across the EU since 2015, while air-conditioning ownership has risen about 50 % in the past decade, the International Energy Agency reported. Fabian Voswinkel, energy efficiency policy analyst at the IEA, said: “As Europe heats up, a growing number of people are reconsidering.