Dark flauta (German: dunkelflaute – red) is a longer period of heavy cloud cover with no wind. This phenomenon between November 4 and 14, 2024 translated “into a significant increase in European electricity generation from fossil fuels” – I'm writing Polish Economic Institute (PIE). Germany was hit particularly hard by the dark flaut.
Dark flauta in Europe. Germany has a big problem
At our western neighbor fossil fuels were responsible for 66 percent. electricity produced and this is an increase by 29 percentage points. compared to the average share in 2024. PIE claims in its publication that “darkness in Europe undermines resistance energy mix” only for Renewable Energy Sources (RES). “The share of uncontrollable sources alone (wind and photovoltaics) in the German mix dropped from 43%. on average to just 15 percent Simultaneously German economyTo meet its energy needs, it had to import 1.9 TWh of energy at that time,” he informs Polish Economic Institute. Imports therefore covered 12%. Germany's entire electricity demand during this period.
The dark flaut took its toll. What about Poland?
PIE states that in Poland the share of uncontrollable sources was 6.7 percent in this period. production, “compared to average generation of 27% in 2024.” According to experts, however, this translated into a relatively small increase in energy imports from abroad border at that time – from 2 percent. up to 3 percent demand. Experts add, however, that it is lower production from photovoltaics and onshor, in turn, resulted in the need for Polskie Siecie Elektroenergetyczne to use the capacity market to fill the gaps. PIE emphasizes that the French economy was in a completely different situation during the dark market. “Due to the low share of uncontrollable sources (13 percent of generation per year), the decline in generation from these sources was only 6 percentage points.” – we read. France generates high surpluses every year electricity. From January to mid-November 2024, it exported net 80 TWh – 21%. demand and 17 percent electricity production during this period. Between November 4 and 14, it was also an exporter.
Balancing the power system is a big challenge during a dark storm
According to the Polish Economic Institute balancing the power system in periods of dark weather “this is one of the biggest problems related to the use of photovoltaics and wind farms in the construction of national energy mixes.” Experts say that system-stabilizing battery storage would require huge financial outlays to ensure system operation in such situations. “The dark trend indicates the importance of stable, low-emission generation (nuclear power plants, hydroelectric power plants, biogas plants) and available capacities, which, although in the future they may use climate-neutral biomethane and green hydrogen, today mainly consume fossil fuels,” the analysts conclude.