Weather forecasters agree: we’re experiencing a ‘Dunkelflaute’. A period of cold and windless weather with a gray sky. As a result, solar panels and wind farms hardly produce any energy; consequently, in the last few days, energy prices have more than doubled.

‘Dunkelflaute’ (dark wind lull) events are characterized by a very dense cloud cover, consisting of stratus, stratocumulus, and fog, that last for more than one day. In the renewable energy sector, the term is used to describe a period in which little to no energy can be generated using wind and solar power.

Windless months

As a result, nuclear power and gas plants are fully operational, which will probably continue for several days. Weather forecasts predict that, until this weekend, there will be no wind and not much sun either. So, electricity will remain expensive.

Normally, electricity prices are highest in October and November, two months that are often windless. In December, the Christmas holidays push prices down; and in January, we usually get more wind, so prices return to ‘normal’.

Historically expensive

Natural gas and electricity prices remain historically expensive compared to a year and a half ago. So, we have to keep on saving. However, there are no problems with the Belgian electricity grid, high-voltage network operator Elia says. Belgian production is very efficient, and the production level is not yet at its peak. The country even exports electricity.