Europe’s solar and wind farms are actively choosing not to produce energy, as experts warn more investment is needed in storage and flexible technologies.
Renewables covered 45.5 per cent of the EU’s total electricity in the first quarter of 2026, according to Eurostat data – as member states continue to wean themselves off polluting fossil fuels. Wind led the way, covering 44.9 per cent of the total renewable mix, followed by hydropower (28 per cent) and solar (17.3 per cent).
It comes as the war on Iran sends oil and gas prices soaring, pushing Europeans further towards the green transition.
However, negative energy prices are also on the rise – hitting all-time highs in areas such as the Iberian Peninsula. This is where the wholesale price of electricity dips below zero due to supply outstripping demand.
It is a growing concern amid the renewables boom as solar and wind generate energy in response to particular weather conditions, rather than actual demand.
