Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
UK Gas decreased 26.27 GBp/Thm or 20.95% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. UK Natural Gas - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.
The price of gas in the United Kingdom was 106 British pence per therm in the fourth quarter of 2024. It is anticipated gas prices will increase to 131 pence in the second quarter of 2025 before gradually falling to just under 80 pence by the second quarter of 2027.
Surging energy costs and the cost of living crisis
At the height of the UK's recent cost of living crisis in 2022, approximately 91 percent of UK households were experiencing rising prices compared with the previous month. It was during 2022 that the UK's CPI inflation rate reached a peak of 11.1 percent, in October of that year. Food and energy, in particular, were the main drivers of inflation during this period, with energy inflation reaching 26.6 percent, and food prices increasing by 18.2 percent at the height of the crisis.
Global Inflation Crisis
The UK was not alone in suffering rapid inflation during this time period, with several countries across the world experiencing an inflation crisis. The roots of the crisis began as the global economy gradually emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Blocked-up supply chains, struggled to recover as quickly as consumer demand, with food and energy prices also facing upward pressure. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 led to Europe gradually weening itself of cheap Russian energy exports, while for several months Ukraine struggled to export crucial food supplies to the rest of the World.
The National Balancing Point (NBP), the UK's natural gas benchmark, amounted to 100.9 British pence per therm on March 17, 2025, for contracts with delivery in April. A month prior, prices had reached a 2-year-high amid colder weather and storage concerns. Prices are generally higher in the winter months due to greater gas heating demand, especially in weeks of colder weather. The UK NBP, along with the Dutch TTF, serve as benchmarks for natural gas prices in Europe. Impact on consumer prices and household expenditure post-2022 Fluctuations in wholesale natural gas prices often have immediate impacts on UK consumers. In 2023, the consumer price index for gas in the UK rose to 195 index points, using 2015 as the base year. This increase has translated into higher household expenditure on gas, which reached approximately 24.89 billion British pounds in 2023. This figure represents a 23 percent increase from the previous year and a staggering 91 percent rise compared to two years earlier, highlighting the growing financial burden on UK households. Consumption patterns and supply challenges The residential and commercial sector remain the largest consumers of natural gas in the UK, using an estimated 40.7 billion cubic meters in 2023. This was followed by the power sector, which consumed about 15 billion cubic meters. The UK's reliance on gas imports has grown due to declining domestic production. This shift has led to an increased dependence on liquefied natural gas imports and pipeline inflows to meet demand.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
TTF Gas decreased 8.92 EUR/MWh or 17.69% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. EU Natural Gas TTF - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.
The average gas price in Great Britain in January 2025 was 123.02 British pence per therm. This was 50 pence higher than the same month the year prior and follows a trend of increasing gas prices. Energy prices in the UK Energy prices in the UK were exceptionally high in 2021-2022 due to an energy supply shortage as a result of lower pipeline supplies from Norway and Russia, as well as reduced LNG imports owing to greater purchases by customers in Asia. Multiple factors such as a lack of gas storage availability and the large share of gas in heating have exacerbated the supply issue in the UK. This led to multiple suppliers announcing bankruptcy, while an upped price cap threatened energy security of numerous households. The United Kingdom has some of the highest household electricity prices worldwide. How is gas used in the UK? According to a 2023 survey conducted by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 58 percent of respondents used gas as a heating method during the winter months. On average, household expenditure on energy from gas in the UK stood at some 24.9 billion British pounds in 2023.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Natural gas increased 0.21 USD/MMBtu or 5.84% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Natural gas - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
UK Electricity decreased 15.90 GBP/MWh or 15.52% since the beginning of 2025, according to the latest spot benchmarks offered by sellers to buyers priced in megawatt hour (MWh). This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United Kingdom Electricity Price.
Dutch TTF gas futures amounted to 42.75 euros per megawatt hour on March 24, 2025 for contracts with delivery in April 2025. Figures rose slightly compared to the previous weeks and were roughly 15 euros higher than in the same month the year prior. Dutch TTF is seen as a Europe-wide natural gas price benchmark. Europe more reliant on imports The Groningen gas field is the largest gas field in Europe and the major natural gas source in the Netherlands. In 2014, the first earthquake related to drilling the field occurred, and other seismic activities were also observed. Therefore, the Groningen field has drastically reduced its production output. Since then, natural gas production in the Netherlands has been in a trend of continuous decline. To balance the diminished domestic production, the European market relies on liquefied natural gas imports and pipeline inflow. LNG pricing across European regions The European gas market exhibits regional variations, as evidenced by LNG prices in different parts of the continent. The Southwest Europe LNG price is generally slightly higher than LNG prices in Northwest Europe. The latter reached around 13 U.S. dollars per million British thermal units in late March 2025.
As of the fourth quarter of 2024, oil prices in the United Kingdom stood at 74 dollars per barrel, with prices expected to rise to 76.6 dollars a barrel in early 2025, before gradually falling in subsequent quarters.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Gasoline increased 0.22 USD/GAL or 10.89% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Gasoline - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.
In February 2025, electricity prices in the United Kingdom amounted to 143.37 British pounds per megawatt-hour, an increase on the previous month. A record high was reached in August 2022 when day-ahead baseload contracts averaged 363.7 British pounds per megawatt-hour.
Electricity price stabilization in Europe
Electricity prices increased in 2024 compared to the previous year, when prices stabilized after the energy supply shortage. Price spikes were driven by the growing wholesale prices of natural gas and coal worldwide, which are among the main sources of power in the region.
… and in the United Kingdom? The United Kingdom was one of the countries with the highest electricity prices worldwide during the energy crisis. Since then, prices have been stabilizing, almost to pre-energy crisis levels. The use of nuclear, wind, and bioenergy for electricity generation has been increasing recently. The fuel types are an alternative to fossil fuels and are part of the country's power generation plans going into the future.
The average monthly price for natural gas in the United States amounted to 3.02 nominal U.S. dollars per million British thermal units (Btu) in December 2024. By contrast, natural gas prices in Europe were about four times higher than those in the U.S. Prices for Europe tend to be notably higher than those in the U.S. as the latter benefits from being a major hydrocarbon producer. Europe's import reliance European prices for natural gas rose most notable throughout the second half of 2021 and much of 2022, peaking at over 70 U.S. dollars per million Btu in August 2022. The sharp rise was due to supply chain issues and economic strain following the COVID-19 pandemic, which was further exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. As a result of the war, many countries began looking for alternative sources, and Russian pipeline gas imports to the European Union declined as a result. Meanwhile, LNG was a great beneficiary, with LNG demand in Europe rising by more than 60 percent between 2021 and 2023. How domestic natural gas production shapes prices As intimated, the United States’ position among the leaders of worldwide natural gas production is one of the main reasons for why prices for this commodity are so low across the country. In 2023, the U.S. produced more than one trillion cubic meters of natural gas, which allays domestic demand and allows for far lower purchasing prices.
Wholesale electricity prices in the United Kingdom hit a record-high in 2022, reaching 21.7 British pence per kilowatt-hour that year. Projections indicate that prices are bound to decrease steadily in the next few years, falling under five pence per kilowatt-hour by 2030.
Electricity Trading Market Size 2025-2029
The electricity trading market size is forecast to increase by USD 123.5 billion at a CAGR of 6.5% between 2024 and 2029.
The market is witnessing significant growth due to several key trends. The integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines, into the grid is a major driver. Energy storage systems are increasingly being adopted to ensure a stable power supply from these intermittent sources. Concurrently, the adoption of energy storage systems addresses key challenges like intermittency, enabling better integration of renewable sources, and bolstering grid resilience. Self-generation of electricity by consumers through microgrids is also gaining popularity, allowing them to sell excess power back to the grid. The entry of new players and collaborations among existing ones are further fueling market growth. These trends reflect the shift towards clean energy and the need for a more decentralized and efficient electricity system.
What will be the Size of the Electricity Trading Market During the Forecast Period?
Request Free Sample
The market, a critical component of the global energy industry, functions as a dynamic interplay between wholesale energy markets and traditional financial markets. As a commodity, electricity is bought and sold through various trading mechanisms, including equities, bonds, and real-time auctions. The market's size and direction are influenced by numerous factors, such as power station generation data, system operator demands, and consumer usage patterns. Participants in the market include power station owners, system operators, consumers, and ancillary service providers. Ancillary services, like frequency regulation and spinning reserves, help maintain grid stability. Market design and news reports shape the market's evolution, with initiatives like the European Green Paper and the Lisbon Strategy influencing the industry's direction towards increased sustainability and competition.
Short-term trading, through power purchase agreements and power distribution contracts, plays a significant role in the market's real-time dynamics. Power generation and power distribution are intricately linked, with the former influencing the availability and price of electricity, and the latter affecting demand patterns. Overall, the market is a complex, ever-evolving system that requires a deep understanding of both energy market fundamentals and financial market dynamics.
How is this Electricity Trading Industry segmented and which is the largest segment?
The industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.
Type
Day-ahead trading
Intraday trading
Application
Industrial
Commercial
Residential
Source
Non-renewable energy
Renewable energy
Geography
Europe
Germany
UK
France
Italy
Spain
APAC
China
India
Japan
South Korea
North America
US
South America
Middle East and Africa
By Type Insights
The day-ahead trading segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.
Day-ahead trading refers to the voluntary, financially binding forward electricity trading that occurs in exchanges such as the European Power Exchange (EPEX Spot) and Energy Exchange Austria (EXAA), as well as through bilateral contracts. This process involves sellers and buyers agreeing on the required volume of electricity for the next day, resulting in a schedule for everyday intervals. However, this schedule is subject to network security constraints and adjustments for real-time conditions and actual electricity supply and demand. Market operators, including ISOs and RTOs, oversee these markets and ensure grid reliability through balancing and ancillary services. Traders, including utilities, energy providers, and professional and institutional traders, participate in these markets to manage price risk, hedge against price volatility, and optimize profitability.
Key factors influencing electricity prices include weather conditions, fuel prices, availability, construction costs, and physical factors. Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, also play a growing role in these markets, with the use of Renewable Energy Certificates and net metering providing consumer protection and incentives for homeowners and sustainable homes. Electricity trading encompasses power generators, power suppliers, consumers, and system operators, with contracts, generation data, and power station dispatch governed by market rules and regulations.
Get a glance at the Electricity Trading Industry report of share of various segments Request Free Sample
The day-ahead tra
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Brent decreased 0.64 USD/BBL or 0.85% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Brent crude oil - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.
Japan and China have some of the highest spot prices for liquefied natural gas. In January 2024, customers in Japan and China paid approximately 10.05 U.S. dollars per million British thermal unit of LNG delivered. Destination markets in Europe and South America experienced slightly lower shipping costs. In the last few years, the global trade volume of LNG has increased notably, exceeding 500 billion cubic meters shipped.
LNG demand growth and largest destination markets
Increased gas demand and improved liquefaction technology has prompted growth in the gas market and the entry of new players. LNG prices were initially strongly influenced by crude oil, however, as the market grew it developed independent benchmarks. As one of the largest LNG importing countries, the price for LNG in Japan has become synonymous with the global benchmark.
British gas price is expected to continuously increase until 2035, when prices are forecasted to stabilize. In 2035, low, central and high are expected to reach 43, 64 and 88 British pence per therm, respectively.
The high, central and low projections are used by Her Majesty's Government for policy appraisal and modeling work. Gas prices are influenced by a number of external factors, including new projects in places such as Australia, weather conditions affecting demand, and the price of oil relative to gas.
Wholesale electricity prices in the European Union (EU) increased in 2024 after recovering from the global energy crisis in 2023. This was the result of a myriad of factors, including increased demand in the “post-pandemic” economic recovery, a rise in natural gas and coal prices, and a decline in renewable power generation due to low wind speeds and drought. Nuclear power's critical role In 2023, nuclear and wind were among the leading sources of electricity generation in the EU, accounting for more than one-third of the output. Nuclear energy continues to play a crucial role in the European Union's electricity mix, generating approximately 619 terawatt-hours in 2023, which accounted for about 20 percent of the region's power production. However, the future of nuclear power in Europe is uncertain, with some countries like Germany phasing out their nuclear plants while others maintain their reliance on this energy source. The varied approaches to nuclear power across EU member states contribute to the differences in electricity prices and supply stability throughout the region.
Renewable energy's growing impact As Europe strives to decarbonize its energy sector, renewable sources are gaining prominence. Wind power in Europe, in particular, has seen significant growth, with installed capacity in Europe reaching 257.1 gigawatt hours in 2023. This expansion of renewable energy infrastructure is gradually reshaping the electricity market, potentially leading to more stable prices in the long term. However, the intermittent nature of some renewable sources, such as wind and solar, can still contribute to price fluctuations, especially during periods of low output.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Propane increased 0.10 USD/GAL or 13.33% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Propane - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Coal decreased 28.50 USD/MT or 22.75% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Coal - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
UK Gas decreased 26.27 GBp/Thm or 20.95% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. UK Natural Gas - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.