During the first week of January, electricity demand increased across the main European markets compared to the previous week. Italy recorded the strongest growth, with demand rising by 19%. In Spain, Germany, Belgium, Great Britain and Portugal, increases ranged between 11% and 17%, with Portugal at the upper end of this range. Most of these markets maintained an upward trend for the second consecutive week, while the Iberian Peninsula reversed the declines seen in the previous two weeks. France registered the smallest rise, at 8.2%, marking its fourth straight week of demand growth.
This rise in consumption was largely supported by lower average temperatures in most markets. Temperature drops ranged from 0.2°C in Great Britain to 1.8°C in Germany, boosting heating needs and electricity usage. France was the exception, as average temperatures were 0.5°C higher than the previous week, slightly moderating demand growth in that market.
Looking ahead to the week of January 12, AleaSoft Energy Forecasting expects electricity demand to continue increasing in Germany, Spain and Italy. However, demand is forecast to decline in France, Portugal, Great Britain and Belgium, pointing to a divergence in consumption trends across Europe, AleaSoft reports.