俄烏衝突推動歐洲再生能源擴張 負電價交易成常態

俄羅斯進攻烏克蘭改變了歐洲的能源格局，推動再生能源的快速擴張。隨著太陽能和風能發電量的大幅增加，歐洲的能源市場中負電價交易的頻率逐漸升高，甚至有幾個市場的電價跌至零元以下。例如，德國批發電價曾出現長達六小時的負電價情況。

Russia’s attack on Ukraine has changed Europe’s energy landscape, driving the rapid expansion of renewable energy. With the substantial increase in solar and wind power generation, the frequency of negative electricity price transactions in European energy markets has gradually increased, and electricity prices in several markets have even fallen below zero yuan. For example, wholesale electricity prices in Germany experienced negative electricity prices for up to six hours.

再生能源的崛起與負電價的出現

隨著再生能源在能源結構中的占比逐年增加，負電價的現象已在歐洲存在了約15年，這種情況通常發生在夏季太陽能發電量高的時候或冬季風力發電量高峰期。另外，假日期間電力消耗減少也是導致負電價的重要因素之一。當電力供應超過需求時，電價便會變成負值。去年，為了減少對俄羅斯天然氣的依賴，歐洲加大了綠色基礎設施的投資，導致負電價現象愈加頻繁。德國新增的太陽能發電能力已超出當地消費者的需求，進而多次出現負電價。截至2023年，德國的太陽能裝置容量達到了81.7吉瓦，超過了52.2吉瓦的需求負載，並且風力發電也達到了四個月來的最高平均值22.7吉瓦。

The rise of renewable energy and the emergence of negative electricity prices

As the proportion of renewable energy in the energy mix increases year by year, the phenomenon of negative electricity prices has existed in Europe for about 15 years. This situation usually occurs in summer when solar power generation is high or in winter when wind power generation peaks. In addition, reduced electricity consumption during holidays is also one of the important factors leading to negative electricity prices. When electricity supply exceeds demand, electricity prices become negative. Last year, in order to reduce its dependence on Russian natural gas, Europe increased investment in green infrastructure, leading to more frequent negative electricity prices. The new solar power generation capacity in Germany has exceeded the needs of local consumers, resulting in negative electricity prices on many occasions. Germany's solar installed capacity reached 81.7 GW in 2023, exceeding demand load of 52.2 GW, and wind power also reached a four-month high average of 22.7 GW.

對消費者電價的影響有限

Limited impact on consumer electricity prices

雖然批發市場的電價出現負值，但這並不會直接影響消費者的電價，因為家庭和企業的電費通常是提前商定的。儘管批發電價降低，家庭用戶仍難以享受負電價的好處，尤其是在非太陽能高峰期消耗更多能源時，這種情況更為顯著。

東歐的能源投資與儲能挑戰

Although electricity prices are negative in the wholesale market, this does not directly affect electricity prices for consumers because electricity bills for households and businesses are usually agreed in advance. Despite lower wholesale electricity prices, household users still struggle to enjoy the benefits of negative electricity prices, especially when they consume more energy during non-solar peak periods.

Energy investment and storage challenges in Eastern Europe

東歐國家如奧地利、保加利亞、匈牙利、羅馬尼亞和波蘭也在積極投資太陽能，僅今年前七個月，這些國家的公用事業太陽能發電量就同比增長了55%。然而，風能和太陽能的快速擴張也使得管理依賴間歇性再生能源的電網成為一大挑戰，特別是在風能和太陽能供應不足的時候，電網可能會面臨缺電的風險。

Eastern European countries such as Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Poland are also actively investing in solar power. In the first seven months of this year alone, utility solar power generation in these countries increased by 55% year-on-year. However, the rapid expansion of wind and solar energy also makes managing a grid that relies on intermittent renewable energy a major challenge. Especially when wind and solar supplies are insufficient, the grid may face the risk of power shortages.

隨著歐洲持續向綠色能源轉型，電價波動的問題將會更加頻繁，因此，發展儲能技術成為了當務之急。未來，通過整合電池儲存系統，將高峰期多餘的風能和太陽能儲存起來，並在再生能源供應不足時釋放，這將有助於平衡電價，確保電力供應穩定。

As Europe continues its transition to green energy, electricity price fluctuations will become more frequent, making the development of energy storage technology a top priority. In the future, by integrating battery storage systems to store excess wind and solar energy during peak periods and release it when renewable energy supply is insufficient, this will help balance electricity prices and ensure stable power supply.

美國再生能源的增長

The growth of renewable energy in the United States

不僅在歐洲，美國的再生能源發電量也在逐步增加，逐漸減少對煤炭的依賴。美國能源資訊署（EIA）的數據顯示，今年1至7月，風能和太陽能的發電量已連續七個月超過煤炭。專家認為，這種能源生產來源的轉變並非暫時現象，今年有望成為美國歷史上風能和太陽能發電量首次超過煤炭的一年，標誌著再生能源發展的一個重要里程碑。

Not only in Europe, but also in the United States, renewable energy power generation is gradually increasing, gradually reducing dependence on coal. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that from January to July this year, wind and solar power generation exceeded coal for seven consecutive months. Experts believe that this shift in energy production sources is not a temporary phenomenon. This year is expected to be the first year in U.S. history that wind and solar power generation exceeds coal, marking an important milestone in the development of renewable energy.