With a simultaneous drop in wind and sunshine, electricity prices in Europe are experiencing a marked increase. This phenomenon, called Dark calmhighlights the limits of renewable energies in the face of unfavorable climatic conditions.
The growing dependence on green energies calls for reflection on solutions to guarantee the stability of the network. Consumers and manufacturers are faced with instability which reveals the need for diversification and strengthening of energy infrastructure.
What is Dunkelflaute and why does it cause prices to rise?
The German term Dark calm designates a prolonged period of low sunshine and insufficient winds, considerably limiting the production of electricity from renewable energies. This phenomenon is particularly problematic in countries strongly committed to the energy transition, such as Germany or Belgium. With less solar and wind power available, operators must resort to thermal power plants, which are more expensive and often powered by fossil fuels, leading to an immediate increase in production costs.
This situation also exposes the dependence of European energy networks on intermittent sources. Imbalance between supply and demand pushes wholesale prices upa trend amplified by increased competition for available energy sources. This illustrates a major challenge: ensuring energy continuity in a context of rapid decarbonization. The Dunkelflaute, although predictable, also highlights the importance of investing in advanced weather forecasting tools to better anticipate these critical periods.
Economic consequences and envisaged solutions
The rise in electricity prices directly impacts households and businesses. During the Dunkelflaute period, consumers can observe a notable increase in their energy billswhile energy-intensive industries, such as metallurgy and chemicals, are seeing their production costs explode. For example, last week, electricity prices jumped by almost 30% in some European regions.
To deal with this vulnerability, several experts are calling for the development of large-scale storage solutions, such as batteries or green hydrogen. At the same time, diversify the energy mix with stable sources such as nuclear power is increasingly considered. Finally, improving interconnection between national networks could limit regional impacts in the event of imbalances. Consumers are calling for more transparency on pricing and increased aid to cushion these brutal increases which are already affecting the most precarious.
