A so-called “Dukelflaute”, a dark wind lull', during which little or no energy can be generated from wind or solar power, is currently affecting Belgium. This causes electricity prices to peak. Today (Wednesday 28 January) the price of a megawatt hour of electricity on the wholesale electricity market is 135 euro.
Dull, grey weather that is all but devoid of wind means that little if any electricity can be produced from renewable sources.
Matthias Detremmerie of the energy supplier Elindus told VRT News that “On Wednesday and Thursday, there will be virtually no production from solar panels and wind turbines. The average yield from renewable energy will fall to its lowest level since the beginning of winter.”
Dunkelflautes typically occur on grey and windless days and result in peaks in the price of electricity. A similar phenomenon also occurs in summer during heatwaves when the use of air conditioning and electricity fans causes demand for electricity to peak, forcing up the price on the wholesale energy market.