Italy relied on solar power this summer, but gas still set prices
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In the summer of 2026, Italy generated 13.8 terawatt-hours of solar electricity, an increase of 1.1 TWh from the previous year.
WSP Group reported that while solar power helped reduce electricity price spikes during peak sunlight hours, gas-fired generation increased to meet demand after sunset. Overall gas generation rose by 6.4 TWh, increasing its share of Italy’s power mix to 47.7%. Rising electricity demand and decreased production from hydro and wind power contributed to challenges in the Italian power system.
River levels in northern Italy dropped, impacting hydropower output, and temperatures across 12 cities were 1.7 degrees Celsius higher than in the summer of 2025. These factors created a 7.9 TWh gap in the power supply. The wholesale price of electricity averaged €156.5 ($181.61) per megawatt-hour, which was €45 ($52.22) more expensive than the previous summer. Solar generation exceeded local demand in parts of southern Italy and Sardinia, occasionally driving prices to zero.
However, northern Italy, where most of the country’s electricity is used, had less solar capacity. WSP Group believes its Electricity Market Outlook tool can help manage solar assets, and Italian solar generation consistently outperformed forecasts.
