Business · Energy & Commodities · 15 hrs ago
Low wind and sunlight push German electricity prices to winter high
Low wind and little sunshine drove German electricity prices sharply higher on Monday evening, when wholesale power reached €654.38 per megawatt-hour for 15 minutes.
This kind of weather spell, called a Dunkelflaute, leaves renewables short of demand and typically occurs two or three times each winter.
When wind and solar power are not enough, Germany must import electricity or use other plants, often burning gas or coal.
Under the market’s pricing system, the most expensive plant needed to meet demand sets the price for all electricity, and that is often a gas plant.
Dunkelflauten have not become more frequent in 30 years, but they may become more costly as Germany plans to close its coal plants by 2038.
Economy Minister Katherina Reiche wants 11 gigawatts of flexible power by 2031, including nine gigawatts from gas plants and two gigawatts from other technologies such as batteries.
German wholesale electricity prices reached a winter-half-year high on Monday evening.
Between 5pm and 5:15pm, a megawatt-hour cost €654.38 on the EEX exchange in Leipzig.
Low wind output and limited November sunshine reduced renewable electricity supply.
Gas-fired power plants can set the market price when cheaper sources cannot meet demand.
Economy Minister Katherina Reiche plans to build 11 gigawatts of flexible capacity by 2031, including nine gigawatts from gas plants.
- Who
- Electricity buyers in Germany faced the price spike.
- What
- Wholesale electricity prices reached €654.38 per megawatt-hour, a winter-half-year high.
- When
- Monday evening, from 5pm to 5:15pm. The article was published on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Germany, with the price recorded on the EEX electricity exchange in Leipzig.
- Why
- Wind output was low and November sunshine provided little electricity, while high gas prices added to costs.
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- Peak price
- €654.38 per megawatt-hour
- Peak period
- Monday, 5pm to 5:15pm
- Exchange
- EEX, Leipzig
- Planned flexible capacity
- 11 gigawatts by 2031
- Planned gas capacity
- 9 gigawatts of the 11 gigawatts