Plugged In: the energy news podcast
Plugged In: the energy news podcast
Montel News
Celebrating curtailment: Are negative prices really that bad?
37 minutes Posted May 14, 2026 at 5:00 am.
Welcome And The Weird Prices
Why Prices Feel Disorienting
What “Irrational” Prices Reveal
Renewables And EVs Add Complexity
Day-Ahead Versus Intraday Versus Balancing
Non-Intuitive Flows Made Simple
Intraday Bots And Sudden Swings
Humans, Machines And Risk Appetite
The Next Market Changes To Watch
Do Prices Drive Investment Decisions
Gas Risk And Heatwave Stress Tests
How To Follow And Stay Updated
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Show notes
Negative power prices are becoming increasingly commonplace in Europe’s electricity markets. With solar generation soaring and renewable buildout accelerating, Europe’s power systems are increasingly producing more electricity than consumers need during certain hours of the day. The result? Wholesale electricity prices falling below zero, with generators effectively paying the market to take their power. But are negative prices actually a problem — or a sign that the energy trans...