GEM Energy Analytics

GEM Energy Analytics provides insights on the European energy sector, focusing on the impact of solar and other renewable energies on electricity markets, pricing, import-export dynamics, and energy storage solutions. It addresses challenges such as solar cannibalization, policy support, and the flexibility required for efficient energy use.

Solar Energy Electricity Markets Renewable Energy Pricing Energy Storage Import/Export Dynamics Energy Policy Renewable Integration Energy Flexibility

The hottest Substack posts of GEM Energy Analytics

And their main takeaways

Solar and market prices: focus on Southeast Europe

139 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Solar Power Market Analysis Energy Policy
  1. Southeast Europe has a lot of potential for solar energy, especially in Greece, which could become a major supplier of green electricity to Europe.
  2. Solar energy production is expected to grow rapidly in the region, leading to high price fluctuations in day-ahead markets due to varying solar output.
  3. Greece is pushing for better electricity connections with neighboring countries to export its excess solar energy and support the transition away from fossil fuels.

Will utility-scale batteries reduce volatility in the day-ahead markets?

119 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Energy Storage Renewable Energy Market Dynamics Battery technology
  1. Utility-scale batteries are not likely to lower price swings in energy markets soon. They may help with energy storage but won't solve ongoing price volatility problems.
  2. As solar energy use grows, the daily prices for electricity may get even more unpredictable, especially during peak sunny hours. This is known as the 'canyon curve' effect.
  3. While large batteries are useful for grid services, like frequency control, they're not yet cost-effective for buying energy at low prices and selling it at high prices. Other storage options, like pumped hydro, may offer better solutions.

Can dissipating energy be profitable ?

79 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
💼 Business Energy Economics Renewables Market Analysis Investment
  1. Dissipating energy can actually be a business opportunity, especially when there's a lot of renewable energy that needs to be used quickly. This could be done by creating heat with electricity.
  2. The European power markets show that there is potential to earn money by providing flexible energy solutions, such as using heaters or other simple devices to quickly use excess electricity.
  3. A smarter way to approach energy dissipation is to use the heat generated from electricity for useful purposes, like district heating, instead of just wasting it.

Large-scale battery systems: potential use cases in Albania

79 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Energy Storage Renewable Energy Market Analysis Infrastructure Environmental Impact
  1. Large-scale batteries can help store energy and improve the electricity system in Albania. They could be useful in stabilizing the grid and providing backup power.
  2. These batteries can also help with buying and selling electricity at different prices, which may become profitable in the future as the market develops. This could help businesses make more money from energy.
  3. Co-locating batteries with renewable energy sources can enhance performance and reduce costs related to energy supply. This allows for better management of energy production and consumption.

Monthly captured values of solar in selected EU countries

79 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Solar Power Market Analysis Energy Policy
  1. Spain is rapidly increasing its solar energy capacity, expecting to reach over 77 GW by 2026. However, it faces challenges in exporting excess energy due to its limited connections to other countries.
  2. Greece is also expanding its solar capacity, aiming for 15.9 GW by 2026. It is better connected to neighboring countries than Spain, but rising solar energy shares are affecting local prices.
  3. The 'cannibalization factor' shows how much solar energy prices are pressured down by increased solar generation. In both Spain and Greece, this factor has been decreasing over time.
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The reasons for negative prices

1 HN point • 13 Aug 24
💰 Finance Energy Market Regulatory Challenges Renewable Energy Market Dynamics
  1. Negative prices in the energy market happen when there's too much electricity being produced compared to what people want to buy. This can lead to situations where companies actually pay people to use electricity.
  2. Several things cause these negative prices, like some power plants being unable to stop generating electricity or being tied to support programs that pay them regardless of market prices.
  3. Looking ahead, the number of negative prices may keep increasing because of more solar energy coming online and current support programs not adjusting to limit these instances.

The duck is coming

39 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Market Trends Solar Power Consumption
  1. The 'duck curve' shows how solar energy impacts power prices throughout the day. Prices are usually low around noon and spike in the evening.
  2. In March 2023, the duck curve was very noticeable, especially in Italy-Sardinia, where power prices varied significantly from day to night.
  3. Previous months displayed weaker effects of the duck curve, but trends are expected to become clearer as solar generation increases and power consumption decreases.