Germany, France and the Netherlands Curtailed 3.9 TWh of Renewable Energy in 2025

According to analysis by energy consultancy Montel Analytics, Germany, France and the Netherlands curtailed a combined 3.9 terawatt-hours (TWh) of renewable electricity in 2025, marking record levels of curtailment across all three markets. 

Montel’s European Price-Sensitive Curtailment Report, covering 10 European power markets, shows that these three countries accounted for over 80% of total commercial renewable curtailment in the monitored regions. Each country also recorded a new high in negative price hours: Germany (539 hours), France (509 hours) and the Netherlands (584 hours).

Germany alone curtailed 1,749.7 GWh of renewable generation in 2025, nearly 25% higher than in 2024 and exceeding its previous record from 2020. Montel notes that negative price periods are now appearing earlier in the year, with solar generation peaks stretching from April through late September, driven by rapid solar capacity expansion.

The report attributes these trends to fast renewable buildout, mismatches between generation and demand timing, limited system flexibility, and insufficient short-term balancing capacity. Montel analysts describe commercial curtailment as a structural outcome of the energy transition, where renewable capacity growth is outpacing the system’s ability to absorb power through demand growth, storage and flexibility solutions.

France showed a similar pattern, with 1,429 GWh of renewable energy curtailed in 2025. Montel characterizes this as a rational market outcome under conditions of high solar penetration, inflexible nuclear baseload, slow demand growth, and limited flexibility resources. The report warns that without faster electrification, more flexible demand, and large-scale storage deployment, curtailment could become a long-term structural feature of the French power market.

The Netherlands curtailed 708.6 GWh in 2025, driven by persistent supply surpluses and an imbalance between renewable capacity growth and demand-side flexibility. While electrification in heating, transport and industry is progressing, it remains insufficient to absorb rapid solar growth during peak production periods.

Looking ahead, Montel notes that European markets are moving toward more market-based support mechanisms such as Contracts for Difference (CfDs). The report highlights that two-way CfDs, which suspend subsidies during negative price periods, can help reduce market distortions, limit overgeneration, and better integrate clean energy into the power system.

Montel also points to Germany as the most mature market in managing negative prices and curtailment, suggesting that its day-ahead and intraday market behavior may serve as a reference model for other European markets in the future.