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Check out the key developments from April 2025 below.
Electricity generation
Aside from the blackouts in Spain, Portugal and parts of France, April 2025 was marked by a surge in solar across the EU. Solar became the second-largest power source after nuclear, overtaking hydro and onshore wind. All Member States saw strong solar gains, showing that the sun was shining EU-wide. Together with improved hydro, this pushed renewables above 50% of generation in April—for the second year running, a milestone first reached in 2024.
Electricity generation in the EU- What went up and down during March-April
Wind, however, remained weak—down 20% year-on-year in April. Between January and April, wind output fell 14% from 2024 levels, though it stayed 13% above 2023.
After a shaky start to the year, the EU power sector is bouncing back, with clean electricity reaching 68% year-to-date—still trailing 2024’s 72% record. However, not all countries benefited equally from the solar surge. In countries like Sweden, Denmark and Spain, falling wind output offset solar gains, lowering overall renewable shares.
Electricity demand
EU electricity demand fell 2.5% from March to April but rose 1.5% year-on-year. April 2025 demand was 2% higher than April 2023, and Jan–Apr demand is up 1.9% from last year—signaling a steady recovery. However, demand is still 3.5% below 2021 levels, showing we have yet to fully rebound from the energy crisis.
Meanwhile at the national level, all Member States saw demand decline month-on-month, with France recording the largest drop—around 8.2 TWh.
EU monthly CO2eq intensity
Stronger solar and hydro, along with lower demand, cut EU power sector emissions intensity by 15 gCO₂/kWh from March to April—an 11% drop in total emissions. However, April 2025 was slightly less clean than April 2024 due to weaker wind. All Member States saw emissions fall, mainly driven by lower demand, though emissions intensity trends varied. Slovenia and Czechia were among those with the largest reductions, while countries like Lithuania and Denmark saw slight increases. In Slovenia and Czechia, lower demand cut coal and gas use, reducing emissions intensity. In contrast, drops in wind output drove the slight increases in Lithuania and Denmark.
Day-ahead electricity prices
Day-ahead electricity prices fell sharply in April as solar output soared across the continent. The EU average dropped to €73/MWh, down from €90/MWh in March. But price variation was stark: Norway, buoyed by abundant hydropower and low demand, saw prices as low as €2/MWh, while Ireland reached €111/MWh — reflecting its continued reliance on natural gas and limited interconnection. A 700 MW direct link from France is currently being built to ease that isolation.
April Average Day-Ahead Electricity Price (Eur/MWh)
Spain also stood out, with average prices dropping to just €27/MWh. This came as the share of solar and hydro in its mix jumped significantly — from a combined 33% in March to 43% in April.
But falling prices came with increased volatility. Negative prices surged across EU bidding zones, from 740 hours in March to 1,767 in April. Only Italy and Ireland managed to avoid any negative hours. For solar producers, this meant lower returns- with Spain’s solar capture rate plummeting from 49% in March to just 29% in April.
Cross-border flows
Member states monthly net-cross-border flows in April
France remained the leading exporter and Italy the leading importer in the EU. The EU maintained a net import position with Norway, though this decreased compared to last month due to a surge in solar generation across the continent. During peak midday solar hours, the EU became a net exporter to Norway, as illustrated below. The UK remained the EU’s top importer.
EU’s net export position with Norway
Interestingly, following the blackout in the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal suspended electricity imports from Spain. This is now reflected in the price gap: Spain’s monthly average stands at €30.4/MWh, while Portugal’s is just €13.08/MWh. Traditionally, Portugal is a price taker from Spain, with little difference in average prices between the two. Data also shows that Portugal is now exporting to Spain, with average export volumes remaining within the normal range.
Check all the data here or contact Mohammed Abi Afthab Olikathodi (aolikathodi@eurelectric.org)
Disclaimer: The latest estimates for electricity generation, demand and CO2 intensity are provided by Eurelectric, based on the most recent hourly data from ENTSO-E and monthly data from Eurostat of the previous year. These figures are subject to slight revisions as actual data becomes available. The aggregate statistics mentioned here refer to the EU-27.