Factsheet
How Europe’s electricity markets survived the stress test of the heatwave
Europe’s warmest summer on record put its electricity system to the test. Soaring demand, drought-hit hydropower and nuclear plants starved of cooling water sent hourly prices close to €1,000/MWh across Central and Eastern Europe. Solar kept the system standing, now covering more than half of midday demand and saving consumers around €1.13 billion in late June alone. But evening price spikes reveal what is missing: storage. This factsheet sets out what EU policymakers must do to keep the lights on.
Product details
Date of Publication
October 2026
Publisher
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union | Global Dialogue & Positive Money Europe
Number of Pages
8
Licence
Language of publication
English