AleaSoft Energy Forecasting, April 7, 2026. In the first week of April, weekly average prices in most major European electricity markets fell compared to the previous week and mostly stayed below €85/MWh. Demand declined, photovoltaic energy production increased in some markets and wind energy production dropped. Several European markets showed low daily prices on April 5, including negative prices in some cases, while early in the week several markets exceeded €100/MWh and the Italian market went above €150/MWh. Brent futures reached their highest level since June 2022.
Solar photovoltaic and wind energy production
During the first week of April, compared to the last week of March, solar photovoltaic energy production showed mixed performance across the main European markets. Overall, solar energy production followed a favorable seasonal trend supported by longer daylight hours and higher solar irradiation. However, increases remained moderate despite average temperatures rising by about 2 °C. By market, photovoltaic energy production increased by 13% in Portugal, 2.7% in Germany and 1.9% in Spain. In contrast, France and Italy showed decreases of 14% and 5.0%, respectively.
AleaSoft Energy Forecasting’s solar energy forecasts for the second week of April point to uneven performance for this technology. Germany and Italy, where production remained relatively moderate the previous week, will see significant photovoltaic energy production increases. By contrast, the Iberian markets, which registered high values during the first week of the month, could register downward corrections.
Source: Prepared by AleaSoft Energy Forecasting using data from ENTSO-E, RTE, REN, Red Eléctrica and TERNA.
Source: Prepared by AleaSoft Energy Forecasting using data from ENTSO-E, RTE, REN, Red Eléctrica and TERNA.Regarding wind energy production, all analyzed European markets registered declines in the first week of April compared to the previous week. Portugal showed one of the sharpest drops, 28%, followed by Italy, at 10%. AleaSoft Energy Forecasting’s wind energy forecasts for the second week of April indicate further declines in Italy and France. Portugal, however, will see a significant rebound after the previous week’s drop.
Source: Prepared by AleaSoft Energy Forecasting using data from ENTSO-E, RTE, REN, Red Eléctrica and TERNA.
Electricity demand
In the first week of April, electricity demand declined across the main European markets compared to the previous week. Spain showed the largest drop, 8.7%, followed by Portugal at 6.8% and Great Britain at 6.7%. Demand in Germany fell by 5.2%, while Italy and France registered declines of 2.7% and 1.0%, respectively. Belgium remained nearly stable with a 0.2% decrease.
Higher average temperatures supported this trend, rising between 1.6 °C and 2.0 °C and reducing heating needs. The Easter holiday calendar also contributed to lower demand.
For the second week of April, AleaSoft Energy Forecasting’s demand forecasts point to mixed demand trends across Europe, while average temperatures will continue rising in all analyzed markets. France, Italy and Belgium will register the largest temperature increases. Under these conditions, demand will fall in France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. Germany, Spain and Portugal could instead see demand recovery. Overall, in addition to the effect of temperatures, the different distribution of Easter holidays from one week to the next will continue to influence the week‑on‑week demand comparison.
Source: Prepared by AleaSoft Energy Forecasting using data from ENTSO-E, RTE, REN, Red Eléctrica, TERNA, National Grid and ELIA.European electricity markets
In the first week of April, daily prices in most major European electricity markets increased through April 1 and then declined for the rest of the week. As a result, weekly average prices fell in most markets. Exceptions included the Dutch, French and Nordic markets, which rose by 1.9%, 8.8% and 37%, respectively. The Portuguese and Spanish markets showed the largest percentage price drops, 29% and 30%, respectively. In the remaining markets analyzed at AleaSoft Energy Forecasting, prices fell between 1.4% in Italy and 13% in Germany.
In the week of March 30, weekly averages stayed below €85/MWh in most European electricity markets. The Dutch and Italian markets stood as exceptions, averaging €88.83/MWh and €136.15/MWh, respectively. Spain and Portugal showed the lowest weekly averages, €12.44/MWh and €12.62/MWh, respectively. In the other markets analyzed at AleaSoft Energy Forecasting, prices ranged from €61.97/MWh in the Nordic market to €84.95/MWh in the British market.
Regarding daily prices, Iberian markets stayed below €25/MWh during the first week of April. However, Germany registered the lowest daily average of the week among the analyzed markets, ‑€16.34/MWh, on Sunday, April 5. This marked the lowest price in that market since July 3, 2023. On April 5, France and Belgium reached their lowest daily prices since May 12, 2025, ‑€3.56/MWh and €0.05/MWh, respectively. That Sunday, the British, Nordic and Dutch markets registered their lowest daily averages since October 2025, €6.84/MWh, €7.61/MWh and €14.46/MWh, respectively.
By contrast, daily prices in the Italian market stayed above €100/MWh throughout the first week of April and exceeded €150/MWh during the first three days. The German, Belgian, British, French, Dutch and Nordic markets also registered prices above €100/MWh during at least one session that week. On April 1, the Italian market reached the highest daily average of the week among the analyzed markets, €159.99/MWh. That same day, the French market registered a price of €134.70/MWh, its highest price since February 18, 2025.
In the week of March 30, lower weekly gas prices compared to the previous week and reduced demand pushed European electricity market prices downward. Higher solar energy production in the Iberian Peninsula and Germany also contributed to lower prices.
AleaSoft Energy Forecasting’s price forecasts suggest that during the second week of April, prices could continue falling in markets such as Germany, where wind energy production and solar energy production will increase. However, gas price trends will continue to strongly influence prices across the main European electricity markets. Meanwhile, demand recovery, lower wind energy production in the Iberian Peninsula and lower solar energy production in Spain could push prices higher in the Spanish and Portuguese markets.
Source: Prepared by AleaSoft Energy Forecasting using data from OMIE, Nord Pool and GME.Brent, fuels and CO2
Brent oil futures for the Front‑Month in the ICE market reached their weekly maximum settlement price, $118.35/bbl, on Tuesday, March 31. According to data analyzed at AleaSoft Energy Forecasting, this marked the highest level since June 17, 2022. After a 15% drop compared to Tuesday, these futures fell to their weekly minimum settlement price, $101.16/bbl, on April 1. Prices recovered to $109.03/bbl on Thursday, April 2.
Developments in the Middle East conflict continued to influence Brent oil futures prices during the first week of April. Potential supply disruptions through the Red Sea pushed prices higher in the last session of March. Expectations of a possible end to the conflict pushed prices down on April 1. However, threats of increased US military operations in the region in the coming weeks supported price recovery in the last session of the week.
As for TTF gas futures in the ICE market for the Front‑Month, they reached their weekly maximum settlement price, €54.81/MWh, on Monday, March 30. Prices then declined until April 1, when they reached their weekly minimum settlement price, €47.51/MWh. According to data analyzed at AleaSoft Energy Forecasting, this marked the lowest level since March 11. Prices recovered to €50.04/MWh in the last session of the week, on Thursday, April 2. However, this price was still 7.6% below the previous Friday.
Supply concerns and low European storage levels continued to push TTF gas futures prices upward during the first week of April. However, statements by the US president about a possible end to the Middle East conflict pushed prices down, with futures settling below €50/MWh on April 1. Forecasts of higher temperatures and increased renewable energy production also contributed to lower prices.
Settlement prices of CO2 emission allowance futures in the EEX market for the reference contract of December 2026 stayed above €70/t during the first week of April. These futures reached their weekly maximum settlement price, €74.65/t, on April 1. According to data analyzed at AleaSoft Energy Forecasting, this marked the highest level since February 12. After a 4.0% drop compared to the previous day, these futures fell to their weekly minimum settlement price, €71.70/t, on Thursday, April 2, a level very similar to the last sessions of the previous week.
Source: Prepared by AleaSoft Energy Forecasting using data from ICE and EEX.AleaSoft Energy Forecasting’s analysis on the prospects for energy markets and storage in Europe
The 65th edition of AleaSoft Energy Forecasting’s monthly webinar series will take place on Thursday, April 16. Raúl García Posada, Director of ASEALEN, the Spanish Energy Storage Association, will participate for the fifth time in this series. The webinar will analyze the evolution and prospects of European energy markets, as well as the regulation, current situation and prospects for energy storage.
Source: AleaSoft Energy Forecasting.