European markets set daily September solar records

Record September output

Solar generation reached new daily September highs in five European markets during the first week of the month. Portugal produced 31 GWh on 2 September, Spain 267 GWh on 3 September, France 155 GWh and Italy 143 GWh on 4 September, and Germany 389 GWh on 6 September.

The records underline the growing scale of solar in Europe’s generation mix, even outside the summer peak.

Power prices remained high

The additional solar output did not translate into uniformly low wholesale prices. Weekly average prices exceeded €100/MWh in Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain, while the Nordic average was €86.05/MWh and Italy recorded €202.89/MWh.

High gas prices, hot weather and weaker wind generation contributed to the price environment. This shows why generation volume should be considered alongside the wider power-system balance.

Commercial implication

For developers, asset owners and large energy users, strong solar production is only one part of the commercial picture. Storage, flexible demand, hedging and contract structure increasingly determine how much value can be captured from periods of high renewable output.