Polski
The Sun Is Breaking Records, Electricity Is Getting Pricier: Two Sides of the Energy Transition
The sun is breaking records, electricity is getting pricier. September tested the limits of European grid flexibility, and a solid counterpoint comes from data out of the US, where the direction of the energy mix is no longer shaped only by climate policy, but above all by data centers' appetite for megawatts. We look at what both stories tell us about where the global energy transition is heading – and why it's the perfect topic for Future Energy Week Poland.
01 · Energy Prices
Record-Breaking Sun, Record-Breaking Prices – Europe's Paradox
Several European markets fell victim to their own success. In the first week of September, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Germany all broke daily solar power production records – panels were running at full capacity, yet wholesale electricity prices still surged, averaging above €100/MWh and reaching as much as €203/MWh in Italy [1]. The culprit was a combination of factors: a heatwave pushed up demand for air conditioning, wind power output in Spain and Portugal dropped sharply, and geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz constrained LNG supplies, driving up the price of gas, which still sets the marginal price in many European markets [1].
It's a textbook example of why installed renewable capacity alone isn't enough to bring down electricity bills. Without energy storage and flexible grids capable of shifting surplus midday solar output to the evening demand peak, solar records remain more of a statistical curiosity than real relief for households and industry. The situation also shows just how interconnected European energy markets have become today – a drop in wind output on the Iberian Peninsula is felt across the rest of the continent, and local LNG supply constraints can translate, within days, into prices felt by consumers hundreds of kilometers away. That's precisely why energy storage and smart grids are no longer an add-on to the energy transition, but a prerequisite for it – a topic that comes back with double force this week.
02 · Market Forecasts
Across the Atlantic, Demand Is Rising and the Mix Is Shifting
While Europe grapples with weather-driven swings, the United States is looking ahead to sustained, structural demand growth. According to the latest forecasts from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), US electricity generation will grow by 2.2% in 2026, reaching 4,368 billion kWh, with a further 1.7% increase in 2027 [2]. Crucially, the main driver of this growth isn't the electrification of transport or building heating, but the rapidly rising demand from data centers and industry [2].
The projected shift in the energy mix is equally interesting: coal's share is expected to fall from 17% to 14% by 2027, solar power is set to grow from 7% to 9%, while wind power will hold steady at 11-12% [2]. This paints a picture of a market growing fast enough to make room for both new renewable sources and the gradual phase-out of coal – and without the sharp price spikes Europe experienced over the same period. For Poland's energy sector, it's a signal to start planning capacity and grids today for a similar, if delayed, surge in demand driven by digitalization and industry.
03
Two Sides of the Same Coin
Europe's paradox of record solar output paired with rising prices, and America's growth driven by data centers, are essentially one story seen from two sides of the world. Demand for electricity is rising faster than many grid planners expected – whether due to air conditioning on scorching days or server rooms training the next generation of AI models. In both cases, the key to stability is system flexibility: energy storage, smart grids, and a diversified generation mix that doesn't rely solely on the mercy of the weather or a single fuel.
That's exactly what we'll be discussing at Future Energy Week Poland – the Energy Transition and Low-Carbon Technologies Fair. If you're wondering how to protect your business from price swings like the ones seen on the Italian energy market, or how to prepare your infrastructure for a surge in demand similar to that of US data centers, this is the event for you. See you at the fair!
Invitation
Record-breaking solar power that doesn't lower prices, and an American demand boom driven by data centers – both phenomena show that without energy storage and smart grids, the transition will stall. Let's talk about it live: join exhibitors and experts at Future Energy Week Poland and see the technologies already tackling these challenges today.
Future Energy Week Poland 2026Footnotes
[1] pv magazine — https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/09/08/european-markets-set-daily-solar-records-for-september/[2] U.S. Energy Information Administration — https://www.eia.gov/pressroom/releases/press592.php