More energy price hikes feared as Europe searches for solution

Another round of record-breaking energy price increases throughout the continent could be looming. Europe is primarily placing its hopes on an increase of Russian gas supply, which would greatly ease the ongoing price ascent, but, for the time being, energy prices are continuing to rise at unfathomable rates.

Under the currently alarming conditions, shaped by an unfavorable combination of international market trends, including main supplier Russia’s subdued gas supply to Europe, Dutch TTF hub futures for November contracts are set to once again reach levels of 160 euros per MWh. This would skyrocket wholesale electricity prices to 350 euros per MWh, a 70 percent increase on the current record level of 204 euros per MWh and 300 percent higher than a year ago.

Russia has cut back on its gas supply to Europe as a means of pressuring the EU for approval of its Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, running through the North Sea to Germany. The project is opposed by some EU members as they would lose significant sums in transit revenues.

The EU has been left without a Plan B and greatly dependent on Russian gas supply for a number of reasons, including a gas reserve drop in many countries due to the summer’s prolonged heatwave, as well as increased LNG demand in Asia.

In Greece, roughly 50 percent of the country’s electricity generation is produced by natural gas-fired power stations, meaning gas price levels directly impact electricity prices.