European Spot Power Prices Rise for Second Month as Heatwave Lifts Demand
Average day-ahead electricity prices across the zone tracked by Energy Solution reached €98.81/MWh in June 2026, up 8.4% from May. A heatwave drove cooling demand while 17 countries posted prices above €100/MWh.
Spot prices climb for a second month
Wholesale electricity prices on Europe's day-ahead (spot) market rose for a second consecutive month in June 2026, according to analysis by Energy Solution cited by wnp.pl. The average price across the zone the firm tracks reached €98.81/MWh, up €7.69/MWh, or 8.4%, from May 2026.
Energy Solution said the higher valuations were driven mainly by demanding weather in the second half of the month. An intense heatwave, most pronounced in north-western Europe, sharply increased electricity demand for cooling. Analysts also noted that 17 countries recorded prices above the psychological threshold of €100/MWh.
Grid outages add pressure
Alongside weather-driven demand, local grid failures tightened supply. Energy Solution pointed to reduced output at nuclear plants in France, problems at gas-fired plants in the United Kingdom, and an issue at the Paks nuclear plant in Hungary.
Poland stood out for the scale of its increase. Prices there rose €15.58/MWh, or 15.8% — almost double the pace of the European average, according to Energy Solution. In Poland, stronger demand coincided with weak wind generation, more than 50% lower year on year, which forced greater output from higher-cost conventional units.
Forward and fuel markets diverge
The forward market moved little. The 2027 annual delivery contract for the tracked zone averaged €88/MWh, up just €0.44/MWh, or 0.5%, from May, Energy Solution said. The firm noted this modest gain came despite a minimal fall in CO2 emission allowance prices and a sharp drop in energy commodities, suggesting spot-market nervousness carried through to forward contracts. Poland was among the markets where the 2027 annual contract traded above €100/MWh.
- CO2 emission allowances traded quietly within an €79–82/t sideways range through the month.
- The gas market was described as exceptionally calm, particularly on geopolitics.
- The ARA API2 annual coal contract fell 10% month on month, reaching $106/t on 26 June — its lowest level since mid-February.
The price maps in the Energy Solution report were prepared by Krzysztof Mazurski, Director of Portfolio Management, and Wojciech Listoś, wholesale energy and gas market analyst.