Snow Cuts Germany’s Solar Generation, Lifting Power Prices

Snow has blanketed Germany’s solar panels, sharply cutting renewable output and sending power prices surging this week.

A blast of Arctic air is driving power demand higher and delivering a hit to renewable generation at the same time. Solar output peaked at 6.9 gigawatts on Jan. 6, down from 9.4 gigawatts a day earlier and nearly 18 gigawatts a week ago, according to Fraunhofer ISE data.