Across Europe, power prices are behaving in ways that are leaving even seasoned market participants questioning what they’re seeing. From negative prices to seemingly counterintuitive flows between some price zones, the electricity system is becoming harder to interpret, and certainly more complex.

On April 6, negative prices of EUR -15,000/MWh in Belgium´s balancing market highlighted just how volatile and weather-driven Europe’s power system has become. But are these signals a sign of dysfunction, or simply the reality of a system in transition?

So, what’s really going on beneath the surface?

In this episode, we unpack what’s driving so-called “odd” or “irrational” pricing across Europe, from the rise of renewables and battery storage to the increasing role of algorithmic trading and complex market design. We also explore whether market participants are equipped to handle this growing complexity, and what risks and opportunities lie ahead.

#EnergyMarkets #PowerMarkets #ElectricityPrices #EnergyTransition #Renewables #NegativePricing #EnergyTrading #Volatility #EuropeanEnergy #GridSystems #EnergyCrisis #ElectricityMarket #NetZero #BatteryStorage #AlgoTrading

Host:
Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests:
Alina Trabattoni – Italy Correspondent, Montel
Frank Boerman-Lima – Flow-Based Capacity Calculation Expert, TenneT
Julien Jomaux – Energy & Power Consultant

Editor:
Oscar Birk

Producer:
Alexandra Carlon

A fragile ceasefire in the Gulf offers a moment of relief; but is it already beginning to unravel and will it have lasting implications for gas supply in the region and far beyond?

Recorded on the morning of April 9, amid fast-moving geopolitical developments, this special episode examines what the latest developments mean for global energy markets, LNG flows, and Europe’s energy security.

Is this ceasefire a genuine turning point, or simply a pause before further escalation?

Host Richard Sverrisson speaks with Montel’s Deputy Editor-in-Chief Laurence Walker, before diving deeper with leading analysts Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz and Arne Lohmann-Rasmussen. Together, they unpack the reality behind halted LNG tankers, the uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, and the growing risks facing global gas markets.

As tensions remain high and clarity remains low, one thing is certain: energy markets are entering a new phase of volatility.

#EnergyMarkets #LNG #Geopolitics #GulfCrisis #Ceasefire #GasMarkets #EnergyCrisis #EuropeEnergy #StraitOfHormuz #GlobalEnergy #EnergySecurity #Commodities #Podcast #EnergyTransition

Host
Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests
Laurence Walker, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel News
Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz, Lead Energy Analyst (Europe), IEEFA
Arne Anders Lohmann Rasmussen, Chief Analyst, Global Risk Management

Editor
Oscar Birk & Alexandra Carlon

Producer
Alexandra Carlon

n this episode of Plugged In, we return to Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and their role in Europe’s energy transition.

After years of rapid expansion, the PPA market hit a slowdown in 2025. Falling capture rates, rising negative prices and increasing volatility have made deals harder to structure and price, forcing both buyers and sellers to rethink how risk is shared.

At the same time, renewable capacity continues to grow, reshaping price dynamics and pushing the market into a more complex and mature phase.

So is this a temporary slowdown… or a fundamental shift in how the PPA market works?

Richard speaks to Luca Pedretti, COO and co-founder of Pexapark, and Chirag Ahuja, Implementation Director at Broadpeak Partners, to break down the data, trends and structural changes shaping the market. Setting the scene is our Italy correspondent, Alina Trabattoni.

Host: Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests:
Alina Trabattoni – Italy Correspondent, Montel
Luca Pedretti – COO & Co-founder, Pexapark
Chirag Ahuja – Implementation Director, Broadpeak Partners

Editor: Oscar Birk
Producer: Alexandra Carlon

#EnergyMarkets #PPAs #Renewables #EnergyTransition #PowerMarkets #BatteryStorage #CleanEnergy #EnergyTrading #ElectricityMarkets #NetZero