Europe Faces Solar Energy Challenges Amid Negative Pricing

Europe is experiencing significant challenges with solar energy, according to a statement by Wu Jihan on the X platform. He highlighted that the issue is not merely about increasing solar power generation but rather the lack of sufficient flexible electricity demand to absorb excess energy. According to Odaily, energy research firm Pexapark's latest analysis indicates that Europe's photovoltaic 'self-cannibalization' phenomenon is rapidly worsening. In France, the solar capture factor for April 2026 is projected to drop from approximately 0.42 to 0.10 year-on-year, a decline of about 75%, with nearly half of solar power generation occurring during periods of negative electricity prices. Germany experienced 123 hours of negative electricity pricing in April, a 65% increase from the previous year, with about 46.8% of solar power generation falling within the negative price range. Spain's issues are no longer confined to the summer months, as the solar capture factor for February 2026 is expected to plummet from around 0.71 to 0.18 year-on-year, while the duration of negative pricing is anticipated to rise from 0 hours to 148 hours. Wu Jihan pointed out that this indicates the pace of solar deployment in Europe has surpassed the speed of grid system flexibility development. Besides storage, grid expansion, and demand response, Europe should also focus on interruptible loads, including Bitcoin mining and other computational loads. These loads can be activated when electricity is abundant and shut down when the grid is strained, thus becoming the 'last buyer' of surplus renewable energy. This approach could reduce wasted electricity, improve photovoltaic project returns, and enhance the profitability and financing feasibility of investments in power generation and grid infrastructure.