2025 will most likely be a record year for the number of hours with electricity prices below zero kroner, and solar energy has played a crucial role here. This is according to the Danish electricity companies OK, Norlys and Andel Energi.
In Western Denmark, there have already been as many hours with negative electricity prices as last year, namely 424 hours. This is shown by figures from OK.
Eastern Denmark - the Danish electricity system is divided into two - is lagging behind a bit. Here, they are only on track to beat last year's 320 negative electricity hours next month, reports OK.
The reason for the record year is the many hours of sunshine during the spring, explains Rasmus Avnskjold, press officer at Andel Energi.
- This is primarily due to a large production of solar energy, says Rasmus Avnskjold, press officer at Andel Energi.
- Different forms of energy cost differently to produce, and solar is clearly the cheapest form of energy.
- When there is a lot of solar energy in the grid, prices fall, and sometimes they actually fall below zero kroner - without taxes and fees. You just have to remember to take that into account, because it still has to be paid for, he points out.
Record is "almost certain"
With the current development, Rasmus Avnskjold would like to state that the record is "almost" certain.
- It is actually the third year in a row, he says, referring to the fact that 2023 and 2024 were also record years.
Negative electricity prices occur when the production of electricity is very high and the demand is low. This typically happens when more energy is produced from wind turbines or solar cells than is needed.
- It is quite remarkable that we are already reaching last year's total level for the western part of the country, says Jacob Skovsby Toft, portfolio manager at the energy company OK, in a press release.
However, the larger share of renewable energy in the electricity grid also means that there may be more fluctuations in prices.
Difficult for private customers
Mads Brøgger, director of Norlys' energy business, acknowledges that it can be more difficult for customers to navigate.
- Just two years ago, it was good Latin to believe that you should just wash your clothes and use electricity at night because this was the cheapest. But over the spring, electricity has often been cheapest during the morning, when there has been plenty of sun and wind in the system, says the director.
He encourages people to follow their app.
- When you charge your electric car, the price of a refueling can double, whether you do it at the cheapest time or at the most expensive time, he says.
The two zones in the Danish electricity system cover Jutland and Funen, which are connected to the Central European electricity system. Meanwhile, Zealand and Bornholm are connected to the Nordic one. In Western Denmark, solar cells and wind energy fill more space, and that is why there is a difference.
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