Question 1

Why do wholesale prices change every hour?

Accepted Answer

Electricity cannot be stored economically at scale, so supply must match demand in real-time. Every hour has different conditions: demand is low at night and high during morning/evening peaks. Solar generation peaks at noon, wind varies with weather. The price reflects this hourly balance — when supply is abundant (sunny midday, strong winds), prices drop. When gas plants must run to meet peak demand, prices spike. This is why you see such dramatic swings within a single day.

Question 2

What influences the price in this bidding zone specifically?

Accepted Answer

Each bidding zone has a unique price based on its local supply-demand balance and interconnector capacity with neighboring zones. Key factors for this zone include: the installed generation capacity (solar, wind, nuclear, gas, hydro), weather conditions affecting renewable output, demand patterns (industrial activity, heating/cooling needs), available import/export capacity through cross-border interconnectors, and fuel prices (especially natural gas, which often sets the marginal price).

Question 3

Can consumers benefit from low wholesale prices?

Accepted Answer

Yes, increasingly so. Many European countries now offer dynamic electricity tariffs that pass wholesale prices through to consumers (with a markup for network charges and taxes). On days with negative wholesale prices, consumers with dynamic tariffs can effectively be paid to consume electricity. However, most households are still on fixed-rate contracts where the wholesale price has only an indirect, delayed effect — typically reflected in annual price adjustments by the utility.

Wholesale electricity price in Ireland

Price Chart

Current Generation Mix

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