Heatwave sends European spot prices above €150/MWh
Temperatures hitting 42 °C across Western Europe are tightening power systems and spiking day-ahead prices in multiple bidding zones.
By Matthias Blank · drafted with the Vantage newsroom system, approved before publication
A Western European heatwave pushed temperatures to 42 °C on 19 June, driving day-ahead spot prices above €150/MWh across multiple bidding zones, according to pv magazine. The price level is roughly 3–4× the H1 2026 seasonal average in most of those markets, reflecting both demand surge and tighter reserve margins during sustained high-temperature periods.
The price spike is not confined to a single country. pv magazine reports forecasts of elevated spot prices spreading across several markets simultaneously, a dynamic that limits the usual cross-border relief from cheaper neighbouring zones. Wind output, which has helped cap previous summer price events, was not cited as a material offset in this episode.
The Terna data published 31 May already flagged rising Italian electricity demand in May 2026, providing pre-heatwave context for system tightness entering June. RTE's full-year 2025 electricity review, published in April, documented the structural demand growth backdrop against which this heatwave is unfolding.
Source: pv magazine
Photo by AlphaTradeZone on Pexels.
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