Europe’s Power Prices Rise as Heat Wave Saps Wind from Turbines

Europe’s heat wave is leaving wind turbines virtually at a standstill.

Conditions are calm in Germany, Spain, Italy, the U.K., Denmark, and Sweden and show no signs of changing, according to The Weather Company. In Germany, average wind output was 3.8 gigawatts over the past 10 days. That’s a third lower than the average so far this year.

Summer is when conventional power stations usually undergo maintenance. With the hot weather pushing up demand and wind levels lacking, prices are rising. Power contracts for August have risen to record levels in Germany, France and the Nordic region. Day-ahead prices ...