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.

During the observed period, electricity prices in the wholesale market more than doubled for some countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). In February 2025, the highest electricity prices in the region were recorded in Poland, where one MWh cost over 137 euros. For comparison, in Latvia and Lithuania, the wholesale price of one MWh was nearly 122 euros.

Germany's electricity prices have experienced an increase in the latter half of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, reaching an average of 140.42 euros per megawatt-hour in February 2025. This marks a notable decrease from the record high of over 469 euros per megawatt-hour in August 2022, yet remains above pre-pandemic levels. The ongoing volatility in energy prices continues to impact German households and businesses, reflecting broader trends across Europe's energy landscape. Electricity price recovery German electricity prices began recovering back to pre-energy crisis levels in 2024, a period driven by a complex interplay of factors, including increased heating demand, reduced wind power generation, and water scarcity affecting hydropower production. The rise in natural gas and coal prices, exacerbated by the economic recovery post-COVID-19 and the Ukraine conflict, further contributed to the spike. Despite Germany's progress in renewable energy sources, with over 50 percent of gross electricity generated from renewable sources in 2023, the country still relies heavily on fossil fuels. Coal and natural gas accounted for approximately 40 percent of the energy mix, making Germany vulnerable to fluctuations in global fuel prices. Impact on consumers and future outlook The volatility in electricity prices has directly impacted German consumers. As of April 1, 2024, households with basic supplier contracts were paying around 46 cents per kilowatt-hour, making it the most expensive option compared to other providers or special contracts. The breakdown of household electricity prices in 2023 showed that supply and margin, along with energy procurement, constituted the largest controllable components, amounting to 40.6 and 11.6 euro cents per kilowatt-hour, respectively. While prices have decreased since the 2022 peak, they remain higher than pre-crisis levels, underscoring the ongoing challenges in Germany's energy sector as it continues its transition towards renewable sources.

Germany Electricity decreased 21.39 EUR/MWh or 18.48% 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 Germany Electricity Price.

Spain Electricity decreased 81.27 EUR/MWh or 59.82% 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 Spain Electricity Price.

Italy Electricity decreased 10.78 EUR/MWh or 7.83% 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 Italy Electricity Price.

In February 2025, the average wholesale electricity price in France amounted to 126.63 euros per megawatt-hour, an increase on the previous month. The electricity price was more than twice as high compared to the same period the previous year.

This dataset provides values for ELECTRICITY PRICE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

France Electricity decreased 6.42 EUR/MWh or 9.19% 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 France Electricity Price.

In the observed period, weighted average monthly electricity prices on the day-ahead market in Poland increased from 163.95 zloty/MWh in January 2018 to over 500 zloty/MWh (117.77 EUR/MWh) in January 2025. The record weighted average price occurred in August 2022, exceeding 1,300 zloty. Consumption of electricity in Poland Electricity is essential to modern life and vital to every country’s economy. Starting from 1990, the final annual electricity consumption reached a value of 124.7 terawatt-hours. It eventually grew to 160 tWh in 2023, which happened to be a six percent decrease compared to the previous year. Consumption of solar photovoltaic power has become popular in recent years, but also the capacity of solar photovoltaic per inhabitant in Poland has significantly increased, rising from just 0.1 watts per inhabitant in 2013 to 464.1 W/inhab in 2023. In 2023, 18.5 million customers in Poland used electricity with consumption lower than 50 megawatt-hours. Electricity production from renewables Throughout the years, there have been different methods and sources of electricity production worldwide. Starting in 2012, the electricity production from solar photovoltaic power generated only 3.4 gigawatt-hours. In 2023, Poland's electricity production volume from solar photovoltaic power reached a peak of over 11 terawatt hours. Another source of electricity production was the wind. Where the production of electricity from wind steadily increased from five gigawatt-hours in 2000 to 23,234 gigawatt-hours in 2023. Biogas and biomass also play a significant role in the production of electricity. In 2012, electricity production from biogas and biomass was the highest at around 10,094 gigawatt-hours. However, in 2022, the production decreased, reaching 6,352 GWh.

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.

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.

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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?

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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.

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The day-ahead tra

The average wholesale electricity price in Spain amounted to 119.03 euros per megawatt-hour in February 2025, an increase compared to the previous month. The electricity price was lower compared to the same period in the previous year. Non-household and household electricity prices in Spain Average annual electricity prices in Spain have not yet fallen back to between 40 and 65 euros per megawatt-hour, the average electricity price before the impact of the energy supply shortage in 2021. Household electricity prices in Spain average 99.6 euro cents per kilowatt-hour in 2023. Similarly, non-household electricity prices have not yet fully recovered to pre-energy supply shortage levels, averaging 12.17 euro cents per kilowatt-hour in 2024. Spanish electricity market The Spanish electricity market consists of two sectors: a regulated sector and a liberalized sector. Both sectors are dominated by two utility companies, Endesa and Iberdrola. The companies possessed a combined market share of 75 percent within the regulated market in the year 2023, whereas their combined share of the liberalized market amounted to 64 percent that same year.

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 electricity delivery process has experienced a major shift in recent years, driven by a push to reduce emissions. Governments across Europe are actively moving away from conventional sources of electricity generation, leading to a decline in the continent's dependency on fossil fuels. In 2022, nearly 40% of electricity generated in the EU came from renewable sources, compared with 25% in 2012. The rise of renewables has spurred an influx of renewable generators and necessitated increased investment in electricity networks. This has lifted revenue for transmission and distribution network operators. Revenue is forecast to rise at a compound annual rate of 7.1% over the five years through 2024, reaching €3.2 billion. Falling wholesale prices and a reduction in overall electricity consumption spurred a drop in revenue during the pandemic. Excess demand for natural gas as economies loosened pandemic-related restrictions spurred a strong rebound in wholesale electricity prices in 2021, translating to a jump in revenue. Wholesale prices recorded a renewed spike following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, spurring a surge in revenue generated by electricity producers and suppliers. Renewable generators were able to rake in extra profits from electricity sold to wholesale markets at inflated prices, counterbalancing a significant rise in costs for fossil fuel generators and electricity suppliers. Revenue is forecast to decline by 8.6% in 2024 as wholesale prices continue to decline from record highs and electricity consumption remains subdued. Revenue is forecast to increase at a compound annual rate of 0.5% over the five years through 2029 to €3.2 billion. The revised Renewable Energy Directive of the EU has set a goal for 69% of electricity to be generated from renewables by 2030. Electricity generators will continue expanding their renewables capacity, while investment in upgrading the electricity network to accommodate the rapid shift to renewables will boost income for transmission and distribution network operators. Rising renewable electricity generation will place downward pressure on wholesale prices, while a long-term decline in electricity consumption in advanced economies will weigh on revenue.

Great Britain's hourly wholesale electricity price in a year, Open Power System Data platform

This data was downloaded from SMARD, a website by the Bundesnetzagentur für Elektrizität, Gas, Telekommunikation, Post und Eisenbahnen, Department 615, and spans the year of 2023 with hourly resolution.

In June 2024, the average wholesale electricity price in Slovakia stood at 86 euros per megawatt-hour. Electricity prices in the country had been on a mostly upward trend from mid-2020 to summer 2022, soaring in the following years amid an energy supply shortage that severely impacted Europe. This was the result of a myriad of factors, including increased heating demand due to cold winters, a rise in natural gas and coal prices, a decrease in wind power generation due to low wind speeds, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Germany, Belgium, and Ireland had some of the highest household electricity prices worldwide, as of June 2024. At the time, German households were charged around 0.39 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour, while in Belgium, the price stood at 0.37 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. By comparison, in Qatar, residents paid more than 10 times less. What is behind electricity prices? Electricity prices vary widely across the world and sometimes even within a country itself, depending on factors like infrastructure, geography, and politically determined taxes and levies. For example, in Denmark, Belgium, and Sweden, taxes constitute a significant portion of residential end-user electricity prices. Reliance on fossil fuel imports Meanwhile, thanks to their great crude oil and natural gas production output, countries like Iran, Qatar, and Russia enjoy some of the cheapest electricity prices in the world. Here, the average household pays less than 0.1 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. In contrast, countries heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports for electricity generation are more vulnerable to market price fluctuations. The top importers of natural gas in Europe in 2023 were Germany and Italy, where this energy source constitutes a relevant share of the power mix.