European solar PPA prices see Q4 hike

• Contract values raised 11.4% in the final quarter of 2022 and by 60% year over year, says LevelTen Energy

European solar energy purchase agreement (PPA) prices rose by greater than 11% in the 4th quarter of 2022, as demand for renewables PPA remained to outstrip supply.

LevelTen Energy's new report reveals that European P25 solar PPA prices enhanced 11.4% in the fourth quarter of 2022 to EUR76.84 per megawatt hour (MWh).

Year over year, solar prices increased 60%.

Wind permitting challenges affected wind PPA accessibility, with P25 wind prices varying between EUR66 and EUR69 per MWh in the fourth quarter.

Demand for renewable energy PPAs remained to surpass supply, and Europe's unsure governing environment is intensifying this imbalance, LevelTen Energy mentioned.

LevelTen's fourth quarter report, covering October to December 2022, consists of analysis of 125 PPA price offers on 94 projects in 16 countries.

All PPA price data in LevelTen's report is based upon the prices that developers are supplying for PPA contracts, not negotiated PPA prices.

In certain markets Solar PPA prices "skyrocketed", driven by economic, supply-chain, and also regulatory difficulties, raising 30% in the UK and also 20% in Italy-- the highest possible increases in Q4.

" Federal government auctions likely contributed to the steep price boost in the UK," said Frederico Carita, elderly manager of designer solutions, Europe at LevelTen Energy.

" More capacity mosting likely to federal government auctions implies less is available for corporate buyers, leading to higher PPA prices."

Carita said wind projects composed just 12% of all European offers on the LevelTen Energy Marketplace in the 4th quarter.

" An absence of available land and years-long lead times for turbine shipments are straining wind project business economics-- specifically in mature markets with high competitors.

" The market desperately needs permitting reforms to start much faster," Carita said.

In 2022, wind investments decreased by 47% according to industry group WindEurope.

Of the 6 European markets that had wind PPAs on offer, Spain had the highest possible volume, according to LevelTen's report.

Emerging European markets saw expanding solar supply, with a raising number of renewable resource designers are looking for to build projects in arising markets, presenting "unique possibilities" to buyers.

" PPA buyers seeking to prevent hypercompetitive markets should consider markets like Greece and also Hungary, which together created an excellent 21% of Q4 solar offer volume," said Carita.

In main and eastern Europe, PPA demand isn't as high because many buyers there are still more familiar with short-term gas and coal energy contracts, he added.

Kristian Lande, senior supervisor of European analytics, said: "From price caps on renewable generators to a cap on gas prices, policymakers are growing much more based on mounting guardrails to keep wholesale prices unnaturally low-- often at the expense of generators."