Recent analysis by Montel Analytics reveals that Germany, France, and the Netherlands collectively curtailed a record 3.9 TWh of renewable energy in 2025. This surge in wasted energy is primarily attributed to a massive boom in solar deployment, which has led to midday production peaks that outpace current demand and grid flexibility. As solar generation increasingly triggers negative electricity prices, experts argue that commercial curtailment has become a structural byproduct of an energy transition where infrastructure and storage solutions are struggling to keep pace with rapid capacity growth.
The report, which monitors commercial curtailment across ten European markets, indicates that Germany, France, and the Netherlands accounted for over 80% of the total volume of discarded energy. This trend coincided with a record-breaking number of hours featuring negative day-ahead prices. The Netherlands led this metric with 584 hours, followed by Germany at 539 hours and France at 509 hours, highlighting a growing imbalance between supply and demand during peak production periods.
Germany recorded the highest volume of curtailed energy, totaling 1,749.7 GWh in 2025. This represents a nearly 25% increase compared to the previous year, surpassing the nation’s previous record set in 2020. Analysts noted that negative pricing events are occurring earlier in the year, with solar peaks now spanning from April through September. The report identifies the rapid installation of solar modules, residual inflexibility in the national fuel mix, and a lack of short-term storage as the primary drivers of this recurring oversupply.
A similar pattern emerged in France, where 1,429 GWh of renewable energy was curtailed. The analysis describes this as a rational market response to high solar penetration combined with an inflexible nuclear baseload and sluggish demand growth. Without significant advancements in electrification and the deployment of large-scale storage systems, researchers warn that curtailment will remain a permanent fixture of the French energy landscape.
In the Netherlands, 708.6 GWh of renewables were curtailed as the market reacted to persistent oversupply. While the country is making strides in electrifying heating, transport, and industrial sectors, the pace of these transitions has not yet matched the speed of solar capacity expansion. Elsewhere in Europe, Finland saw 296.9 GWh of curtailment, while Switzerland, Great Britain, and Poland recorded smaller volumes ranging from 172.7 GWh to 71.1 GWh.
Looking toward 2026, the industry is expected to shift toward market-based subsidy regimes, such as two-way Contracts for Difference (CfD). These structures are designed to suspend financial support during negative price hours, reducing market distortions and encouraging the integration of clean energy without fragmenting the grid. Experts suggest that Germany’s mature intraday market will likely serve as a benchmark for other European nations as they navigate the risks of overproduction and the necessity of increased system flexibility.