Live updates: Working together in the time of COVID-19

Oesterreichs energie notes that works on refurbishment projects have resumed and are conducted in accordance with strict health and safety measures. Refurbishment projects were on standstill, due to unclear governmental guidelines and closed borders with Italy and Germany, which triggered delays in the delivery of supplies. Read more

Electricity demand increased during the first weeks of May, following a progressive relaxation of lockdown measure. According to the Belgian TSO, Elia, electricity consumption is 11% below the normal levels for this period. In April, electricity demand fell even 16% below the average levels.

Electricity generation fell 10.47% on year, between January and May 2020. While electricity exports dropped 22.43% to 2,585 GWh & imports soared 62.23% to 1,700 GWh. The share of renewables in the electricity generation continued to increase, reaching 1242 GWh.

Clean energy sources accounted for 61% of Eesti Energia’s electricity generation in the first quarter of 2020. The share of renewables increased by 14% this year, while the CO2 emissions dropped 65% to the level of 0.9 million tons.

Customer service centres reopened last week. But health and safety measures continue to be applied, while customers are encouraged to use the online services for both safety and comfort. Applications for new customers, connections, disconnections and transfers can be made via e-mail and fax. Read more

Power demand dropped 18.1% year on year during the last week of April.  Czech baseload prices dropped to 8.18 €/MWh, on 1 May, after a having climbed to 27.11 €/MWh on April 27, following the reopening of some industrial consumers.

Electricity consumption fell 10% in the first quarter, against the backdrop of unusually mild temperatures. This lead to the lowest first quarter peak demand of the century, reaching 12.4 GW on 28 February. Electricity prices also declined, as a result of low demand and high hydro and wind availability. Read more

France is set to announce the support to automotive industry, which could include measures to incentivise the customers to buy cleaner vehicles. Measures are also expected to uplift the developments of electric car batteries.

Import constraints and electricity demand well below the seasonal norm kept the day-ahead power prices at low levels during the last two weeks of April. The day-ahead base on the HUPX exchange, which briefly reached about 30 €/MWh during week 17, reverted to Eur25/MWh for much of following week.

A study conducted in Iceland found that more than 90 % of corporate executives believe revenues will decline between the second quarter of 2019 and the same quarter this year. Due to the impact of COVID 19 on the Icelandic business community, they estimate an average drop of revenues of 50%. Read more

The Electricity association of Ireland flags the need to enable COVID19 testing for critical workers in the power sector, to ensure their ability to carry out their roles. Current restrictions have brought construction projects to a standstill and caused delays in the delivery of new clean energy installations. Read more

Power demand soared beginning of May, as lockdown restrictions were loosened. According to the Italian TSO, Terna, on Monday the peak power consumption rose 11% compared to the previous week.

Wholesale electricity prices increased, as wind power supply sharply dropped. Data from Refinitiv Eikon showed that power generation from wind turbines was forecast to fall to 3.8 GW on Tuesday after 22.8 GW predicted on Monday. 

Greek power demand slides down for the seventh month in a row, as a result of mild winter complemented by the lockdown measures announced in March. Before the COVID19 outbreak, the two-month demand was already 4% down on the year and it continued to fall in March, decreasing 6% on year. Lignite-fired generation dropped 65% on year, as a result of high carbon process, aging infrastructure and government objective to phase it out by 2028.

Latvenergo notes that the construction of new power plants or the modernisation of existing ones are affected by travel restrictions, followed by imposed self-isolation, applied to foreign contractors. In addition to border crossing restrictions, the shutdown of Italian and French factories triggered delays in the production and delivery of components and equipment. Read more

Lithuania celebrates 128 years since the opening of its first power plant. Since the confinement measures do not allow for a physical visit, “Ignitis gamyba” offers a virtual tour of the Kaunas hydroelectric power plant, which has also celebrated its 60^th anniversary on April 18, 1960. Take the virtual tour here.

The government has announced plans to meet the CO2 emission reduction targets once the economy has recovered post-coronavirus. The ceiling on emissions on coal-fired plants will be reviewed this autumn, to include the emissions reductions resulting from the economic slowdown, but also the fuel-switch pre-dating the health crisis.

Nord Pool data shows that reservoirs across Norway, Sweden and Finland continue to be well stocked, holding around 9 TWh more than in April 2019. In Norway, whose hydro stocks account for three quarters of the Nordic total, the spot power price reached the 4.11 €/MWh, a 20-year historic low. Read more

Electricity consumption remained stable during the last two weeks of April, after a period of continuous drop triggered by the lockdown measures. Data from Entso-E shows that the maximum load April 30 was down 8% year on year, to 19,457 MW. PGE estimates that power consumption in April fell 10 % year on year.

Electricity distribution operators have developed online conference services, providing advice to customers on how to register connection requests, thus reducing the direct contact between customers and employees. This approach proved to be efficient throughout the crisis, triggering the continuation of online and digital services.

Slovenské elektrárne cautions about the risk of significant supply chain disruptions, triggered by a domino effect of plant and factories closures, coupled with supply shortages. In the short term, supply chain could continue due to difficulties in re-launching the production. Among them: delayed workforce return, lack of means of transport for personnel, traffic restrictions. Read more

The Slovenian Energy Agency introduced an extraordinary measure to change the network tariff and reduce the electricity bills. Between 1 March and 31 May 2020, small business and household consumers will not be charged a tariff for capacity. Also network charges for these users will be 33% lower. This measure is likely to affect the revenues of the electricity distribution companies.

Spanish nuclear operating rates are 40% lower than normal. Asco1 and Almaraz 1 are offline for refuelling, with outages due to conclude in June. Such measures would enable the plants to operate and to meet increased demand once the lockdown measures are lifted the economic activities are resumed. Other plants have trimmed their output due to a sinking demand, low pool prices and increased renewable generation. Read more

The Swedish Government announced additional measures to support the companies hit by the coronavirus outbreak. First, it will temporarily alleviate the employer’s contribution through a monthly reduction of 500 € per employee. Secondly, it will cover the first day of sick leave, which was previously supported by companies. A third measure consists of covering a bigger portion of the salary for employees that are temporarily laid off.

Volker Lischke, Head of Business Unit Trading at BKW, talks about new ways of improving exchanges between different teams working remotely. The company moves forward in the preparation to respond to specific emergency scenarios. Employees are now engaged in “VersusVirus”, a hackathon aimed at finding new approaches and solutions to provide decentralised electricity supply during a crisis. More from AES

In April, power process plunged into negative territory 66 times, more than twice the number of occurrences in any previous month of the last 10 years. Demand dropped 15% in April, prompting retailers to pay customers to consume electricity, and charge their EVs.