Europe renewables: Solar rebounds in Germany as wind output slips across major markets

European renewable output is showing sharper regional divergence, with solar gains in Germany contrasting against widespread weakness in wind across several key markets. The split matters for traders and system operators because it can quickly change short-term supply balances, pricing expectations and the need for balancing resources.

Solar: Germany rises again, other markets fall

For the week of April 27, solar photovoltaic production increased in the German market for a second consecutive week, rising by 11%. Most other major European markets recorded declines instead. France posted the sharpest drop at 16%, followed by Portugal at 13% and Italy at 4.8%, reversing the upward trend seen in the prior week. Spain registered the smallest decrease at 1.9%, marking its second consecutive weekly decline in solar output.

On April 30, Germany reached a new milestone by setting a record solar generation level for an April day at 457 GWh. The result underscores strong seasonal performance in Germany even as variability persisted across Europe.

Forecasts: Italy and Spain may recover as Germany softens

Looking ahead to the week of May 4, forecasts from AleaSoft Energy Forecasting indicate a recovery in solar production across Italy and Spain. In contrast, Germany is expected to see a decline in photovoltaic output, suggesting that regional leadership in solar generation may shift again over coming days.

Wind: mixed results turn negative across most markets

Wind generation during the same period delivered mixed outcomes across Europe. Spain increased output by 16%, ending four consecutive weeks of declines. However, Portugal, Germany, Italy and France all saw lower wind generation.

Portugal experienced the steepest fall at 32%, while France recorded the mildest decline at 14%. Italy continued its downward trend for a second week with a 15% drop, and Germany registered a 22% decrease—one of the strongest contractions among the tracked markets.

Next week: Iberian wind rebound expected amid continued volatility

For the first week of May, AleaSoft forecasts point to a rebound in wind production in Iberian markets. At the same time, France, Germany and Italy are expected to face further declines. Taken together with the shifting solar picture—where some countries are forecast to recover while others soften—the outlook reinforces ongoing volatility in European renewable energy output.

For market participants, that combination of uneven solar strength and broadly weaker wind highlights why near-term forecasting remains central to managing risk: supply swings can alter expectations quickly across multiple power systems within Europe.