Abstract
Overview
Introduction
The growing role of wholesale traded energy markets across Europe creates a
greater need for players throughout the value chain to be aware of the latest
market movements and developments. From the wellhead or power station gate to
the end-user, volatility in the spot and forward price of power and gas is
creating an increasingly challenging environment for all market participants.
Table of Contents
- DATAMONITOR VIEW
- ANALYSIS
- Competition is a key factor in delivering lower household bills
- Despite recent power price increases, the UK is Europe' s second
cheapest supplier, behind France
- In Europe, year ahead wholesale power prices provide a benchmark driver
- The UK heads the list of cheap European gas suppliers
- The NBP year ahead contract slipped below TTF contracts
- SSE leads the UK' s major power suppliers on price
- SSE offers the cheapest residential gas supplies in the UK
- European power markets stayed bullish as 2007 ended on a high
- In Belgium, month ahead contracts rose due to tighter conditions
- In France, all contracts except month ahead appear to have peaked
- In Germany, prices at the near-end of the forward curve spiked in
December
- In the Netherlands, month ahead contracts rose significantly
- UK power prices showed few signs of softening in December
- Gas prices showed bullish persistence, edging higher across Europe
- At the NBP, quarter ahead prices softened in December
- TTF displayed resilience as most contract prices continued to firm
- Zeebrugge, like the NBP, saw quarter ahead prices softenTTF displayed
resilience as most contract prices continued to firm
- APPENDIX
- This brief builds upon Datamonitor' s extensive pricing proposition
- Glossary
- This brief contains a number of industry standard terms
- Our analysis builds on other sources to provide greater insight
- Further Reading
- Extended Methodology
- We assess the profitability of fossil fuel plants across northwest Europe
- Our bespoke services can be tailored to your specific needs
- Ask the analyst
- Datamonitor consulting
- Disclaimer
- List of Figures
- Figure 1: When compared to its European counterparts, the UK' s
domestic power bills are the second cheapest, behind France
- Figure 2: Wholesale year ahead prices in Europe are a key element of
suppliers' energy portfolios
- Figure 3: The UK' s maturing retail supply market benefits from low
prices, which places it ahead of the EU' s major energy suppliers
- Figure 4: Since the end of 2005, prices at the NBP have been
consistently lower than at the TTF, the Netherlands' s main gas exchange
- Figure 5: Scottish and Southern Energy and EBICo offer the cheapest
bills in the UK residential power market
- Figure 6: SSE is able to keep its household gas bills on hold as its
main rivals are priced at a premium to the firm' s standard product
- Figure 7: European power markets stayed bullish as 2007 ended on a high
- Figure 8: In Belgium, month ahead contract prices continued to be
bullish during December 2007
- Figure 9: Month ahead contracts continued to accelerate upwards, in
contrast to the year and quarter ahead contracts
- Figure 10: Prices at the near-end of the forward curve increased, as
consistently colder temperatures challenged capacity
- Figure 11: With the exception of quarter ahead contracts, baseload
prices rose in response to short-term demands in the Dutch power market
- Figure 12: Although all contracts were bullish, the month ahead
contract made the most significant gains on the close of December trade
- Figure 13: Gas prices showed bullish persistence, edging higher across
Europe
- Figure 14: Despite bullish month and day ahead contracts, gas prices
softened on quarterly deliveries
- Figure 15: Although quarter ahead prices fell, this was the exception,
as day and month ahead contracts continued to firm
- Figure 16: Apart from the quarter ahead product, Belgian gas prices
have shown a gradual upward climb, much like the rest of Europe
- Figure 17: Energy pricing proposition
- Figure 18: Generation spread methodology