“Strange” prices rattle Europe´s power markets

Plugged In: the energy news podcast

Plugged In: the energy news podcast
“Strange” prices rattle Europe´s power markets
Apr 16, 2026
Montel News

Across Europe, power prices are behaving in ways that are leaving even seasoned market participants questioning what they’re seeing. From negative prices to seemingly counterintuitive flows between some price zones, the electricity system is becoming harder to interpret, and certainly more complex.

On April 6, negative prices of EUR -15,000/MWh in Belgium´s balancing market highlighted just how volatile and weather-driven Europe’s power system has become. But are these signals a sign of dysfunction, or simply the reality of a system in transition?

So, what’s really going on beneath the surface?

In this episode, we unpack what’s driving so-called “odd” or “irrational” pricing across Europe, from the rise of renewables and battery storage to the increasing role of algorithmic trading and complex market design. We also explore whether market participants are equipped to handle this growing complexity, and what risks and opportunities lie ahead.

#EnergyMarkets #PowerMarkets #ElectricityPrices #EnergyTransition #Renewables #NegativePricing #EnergyTrading #Volatility #EuropeanEnergy #GridSystems #EnergyCrisis #ElectricityMarket #NetZero #BatteryStorage #AlgoTrading


Host:
Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests:
Alina Trabattoni – Italy Correspondent, Montel
Frank Boerman-Lima – Flow-Based Capacity Calculation Expert, TenneT
Julien Jomaux – Energy & Power Consultant

Editor:
Oscar Birk 

Producer:
Alexandra Carlon


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