{
  "id": 567413,
  "title": "Energy: Solar eclipse causes electricity price to rise sharply in Germany",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/energie-sonnenfinsternis-lasst-strompreis-in-deutschland-stark",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-11T13:03:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/energie-sonnenfinsternis-laesst-strompreis-in-deutschland-stark-ansteigen/100246541.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "When the moon moves between the Earth and the sun on Wednesday evening, this also has a massive impact on electricity prices in Germany. Because the solar eclipse results in significantly less solar power being generated, the electricity price for Wednesday evening is at a multiple of the average level. The so-called spot prices, i.e. prices for short-term traded quarter-hour electricity quantities on the European electricity exchange EPEX, are more than 400 euros per megawatt-hour on Wednesday evening in some cases. Between 19:00 and 19:15, wholesale electricity already costs 210 euros, and between 19:45 and 20:00 it costs as much as 460 euros. By sunset at around 21:00, the price then falls back to around 230 euros per megawatt-hour.\n\nThe electricity prices are determined for the following day at the so-called day-ahead auction. For this, large suppliers and consumers report their offer and demand quantities, from which the price for each quarter-hour of the day is then determined. Larger fluctuations are normal even without a solar eclipse: on Tuesday at noon, when large quantities of solar power are available with clear skies, the spot price is zero euros. Between 19:45 and 20:00, the price is then back at 200 euros per megawatt-hour.\n\nHeat and low water levels are putting a strain on the electricity market\n\nIn this summer, the situation on the electricity market is already tense due to the high temperatures and low water levels. In several countries, individual reactors or entire power plants had to be taken offline because there was not enough cooling water available from the rivers. At noon, on the other hand, due to the growing solar capacities, there is sometimes so much energy available that the electricity price becomes negative and large consumers even receive money for taking it.\n\nBecause many people use electrical appliances mainly in the evening, the spot prices at this time are usually at their highest. However, such a significant fluctuation as during the solar eclipse is rare. The electricity prices were last higher this year on June 30, when a megawatt-hour cost more than 530 euros in the course of the evening.\n\nFor private individuals, who usually have contracts with fixed electricity prices, the ups and downs have no impact.",
  "summary": "Because significantly less solar power is generated during the partial solar eclipse, prices are significantly higher than usual on Wednesday evening. The effect is already visible now.",
  "key_points": [
    "Solar eclipse caused significant increase in Germany's electricity prices",
    "EPEX spot prices reached over 400 Euros per Megawatt-hour",
    "Last high prices were on June 30th, when a Megawatt-hour cost more than 530 Euros"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The surge in electricity prices during the solar eclipse highlights the growing influence of renewable energy on Germany's power market, where reduced solar output can significantly drive up costs.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "Energy: Solar eclipse causes electricity price to rise sharply in Germany",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/energie-sonnenfinsternis-lasst-strompreis-in-deutschland-stark",
        "published": "2026-08-12T14:15:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}