Headlines
Most power and gas contracts rose this week as the UK domestic market reversed losses seen last week. Day-ahead gas rose 9.7% to 22.60p/th although an influx of LNG did see prices ease towards the end of the week. Day-ahead power rose 25.8% to £32.90/MWh, recovering from record lows to follow other markets higher this week. March 20 gas was up 9.0% at 22.50p/th and April 20 gas increased 5.4% to 21.84p/th. Seasonal gas contracts were mixed this week, but ultimately moved down 0.1% on average. Summer 20 gas increased 1.9% to 23.41p/th, while winter 20 gas dropped 0.4% to 36.54p/th. All seasonal power contracts boosted this week, up on average by 1.9%, as summer 20 and winter 20 lifted 2.5% and 0.3% respectively, rising to £34.36/MWh and £44.07/MWh. Brent crude oil rose 4.9% to $57.68/bl marking the first weekly increase of the commodity since early January, though prices dropped on Friday. EU ETS carbon gained 5.9% to €24.98/t to continue recent momentum with fewer EUAs auctioned this week. API 2 coal lost by 0.4% to $59.62/t with prices fluctuating this week on uncertainty of demand in China and increasing output from renewable sources (largely wind).
Baseload electricity | | |
- Day-ahead power rose 25.8% to £32.90/MWh to recover from record-low’s last week.
- March 20 power climbed 4.0% to £33.15/MWh and April 20 power increased 4.0% to £33.40/MWh.
| | - Q220 power moved 2.7% higher to £34.05/MWh.
- The Annual April 20 contract rose 1.3% to £39.22/MWh, 23.2% lower than the same time last year (£51.08/MWh).
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Forward curve comparison | | Annual October Contract |
Peak electricity | | |
- Day-ahead peak power was up 3.2% to £35.80/MWh, £2.90/MWh above its baseload counterpart.
- March 20 peak power gained 4.7% to £37.49/MWh, and April 20 peak power increased 2.7% to £44.95/MWh.
| | - The Annual April 20 peak power contract lost 2.7% to 44.95/MWh.
- This is 21.8% lower than the same time last year (57.46/MWh).
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Forward curve comparison
| | Annual October contract
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Seasonal power prices | | |
Seasonal baseload power contracts | | Seasonal baseload power curve
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- All seasonal power contracts boosted this week, up on average by 1.9%.
- Summer 20 and winter 20 gained 2.5% and 0.3% respectively, rising to £34.36/MWh and £44.07/MWh.
| | - All seasonal peak power contracts rose this week, up £2.9% on average.
- Summer 20 and winter 20 peak power increased 3.7% and 1.9% respectively, falling to £38.63/MWh and £51.27/MWh.
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Commodity price movements | | |
Oil and Coal | | Carbon
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- Brent crude oil rose 4.9% to average $57.68/bl, marking the first weekly increase of the commodity since early January, though prices dropped on Friday.
- Market fears over the impact of the coronavirus on Brent prices have eased in recent days, with the number of fresh cases of the virus reported daily decreasing.
- A lower than inspected rise in US crude inventories helped to lift prices this week.
- Focus also increased on weakened output from Libya, which dropped to an estimated 122,000 bpd.
- API 2 coal saw small losses this week, falling to average $59.62/t. Coal prices fluctuated this week on uncertainty of demand in China and increasing output from renewable sources (largely wind).
| | - EU ETS carbon increased 5.9% to average €24.98/t to continue recent momentum.
- Fewer EU auctions this week and a general rise in other markets lifted EU ETS prices to a near 2-month high of €25.72/t on 20 February.
- The high share of renewable generation in the generation mix due to high wind has pressed on prices in recent weeks.
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Wholesale price snapshot |