European power demand recovery feeble

摘要

The recovery in West European power demand remains feeble, despite some early-year bullishness. In Italy and the UK, the recovery is barely that, with grid-connected consumption bumping along at or near 2008 lows. While the bounce is more discernible in Spain and Germany, consumption levels have some way to go before regaining 2008 levels. Only France is near to its pre-recession consumption levels, having survived 2009 relatively unscathed, but even here the most recent figures suggest a slowdown.