Electricity prices on wholesale markets saw a significant increase in August 2026, with the average price on the SPOT market reaching 123 euros per megawatt-hour. This is double the average from the same period in 2025 and the highest since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in 2022. The surge is due to several factors, including higher-than-usual electricity consumption driven by intense heat and reduced output from thermal power plants in countries like France and Germany. These plants have faced cooling problems and low river levels, which are essential for their operation. To compensate for the drop in supply, gas power plants have been used more frequently, but gas prices have also risen due to the ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for oil. Despite the overall rise in electricity prices, negative electricity prices—where producers are paid to reduce their output—have become more common, especially between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. This is when solar power plants operate at full capacity, significantly lowering the demand for electricity from other sources. Storio, a French company specializing in battery energy storage, reported 750 hours of negative prices since the beginning of the year, more than the entire year of 2025. This situation is beneficial for battery operators, who can store electricity when prices are low and sell it when prices rise. Storio noted that a single battery generated 65 percent more revenue in August 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. The average spread, or the difference between the price at which electricity is bought and sold, is estimated at 134 euros per megawatt-hour. This growing gap highlights the increasing profitability of energy storage solutions in a market where prices fluctuate widely. The combination of high wholesale prices and frequent negative pricing periods has created a unique landscape for energy producers and consumers. While traditional power plants face challenges in maintaining supply, renewable energy sources like solar and battery storage are playing a more significant role in the energy market. This shift underscores the evolving nature of energy production and consumption in response to environmental and geopolitical factors.