Electricity prices surged by 119 per cent in Hungary and 44 per cent in France this summer during heatwaves, directly impacting European households. This financial burden on working and middle-class families comes as Europe grapples with an unstable energy supply, despite a temporary boost from solar power.
An analysis from the energy think-tank Ember revealed that solar output in European countries increased by up to 17 per cent on heatwave days in June and July. This extra generation helped meet a significant rise in electricity demand, which climbed by as much as a quarter on hot days.
Heatwaves routinely cause a spike in electricity consumption, primarily due to the sudden need for cooling from energy-intensive air conditioning units. The International Energy Agency estimates that space cooling, encompassing air conditioning and fans, consumed approximately seven per cent of the world’s electricity in 2022.
Even in nations with low air conditioning ownership, energy demand spikes occur when temperatures soar. France, for example, recorded an evening electricity peak last year that was 25 per cent above the off-season average because of air conditioning use during early summer heatwaves.
Ember’s analysis found that daily electricity demand rose by up to 28 per cent in Italy, 23 per cent in Hungary, 14 per cent in France, and 13 per cent in Spain compared with pre-heatwave days during the late-June heatwave this summer. Solar was the only major power source to perform better than usual as this demand increased.
Average daily solar generation during the heatwaves was 17 per cent higher in France and Hungary, five per cent higher in Spain, and remained the same in Italy, compared with other days in June and July. This temporary surge, however, masks deeper vulnerabilities in Europe's energy system.
The Cost to Our People
The late-June and early-July heatwaves this summer saw average daily electricity prices jump significantly. Prices were 119 per cent higher in Hungary, 44 per cent in France, 13 per cent in Italy, and seven per cent in Spain than on comparable days in the preceding weeks. These costs are borne directly by European citizens, who face the consequences of an energy policy that struggles to deliver stability and affordability.
Senior energy analyst Chris Rosslowe stated that while “Solar is already doing heavy lifting during heatwaves,” the “real challenge starts after sundown.” He highlighted that in the evening, when cooling demand remains high, “the grid is most exposed to expensive gas-fired power.” This reliance on imported, volatile energy sources undermines national energy security and drains household budgets.
Europe's Energy Sovereignty Under Strain
Europe’s back-to-back heatwaves, which scientists claim “would have been virtually impossible if it weren’t for climate change,” have also triggered mass droughts across the continent. These environmental factors further expose the fragility of Europe's energy infrastructure, demonstrating how external pressures can quickly compromise national self-sufficiency.
Low water levels along the Danube River forced nuclear output to be curtailed in Hungary. Experts also warned that hydropower neared an all-time low in the Alpine region. These traditional, often more reliable, energy sources are struggling under current conditions, leaving nations vulnerable.
Fossil-fuelled energy has also suffered from the drought. Poland was compelled to reduce output at a coal-fired power plant because of critically low water levels in the Vistula River. This demonstrates that no single energy source is entirely immune, yet the push for certain renewables leaves nations dependent on a precarious balance.
Experts suggest the price surge underlines the need for battery storage systems to prevent excess solar energy from being wasted. Rosslowe noted that “While solar saves the day, battery storage can save the evening,” adding that “Together, they are one of the clearest ways to make Europe’s power system more resilient in the hotter summers.” This reliance on new, often imported, technologies for stability raises questions about true energy independence and the cost of maintaining it.
As solar output rises during heatwaves and other power sources struggle, storage is presented as the solution to carry “that cheap electricity into the evening.” However, the fundamental question remains: why are European nations increasingly dependent on a patchwork of solutions rather than robust, nationally controlled energy strategies that prioritize the stability and affordability for their own citizens? A Europe that controls its own energy supply is a stronger Europe, better able to secure its borders and protect its people.