Great Britain Negative Electricity Prices and Spikes, 2020

Day-ahead electricity prices in Great Britain were below zero for 91 hours (1.0% of hours) on 17 days in 2020 up to 2020-12-30 (30 December 2020). The lowest interval price was GBP -38.80/MWh on 2020-05-23 (23 May 2020) and the highest GBP 350.00/MWh on 2020-12-06 (6 December 2020). Prices are day-ahead, in GBP per MWh as published, and are not converted.

The latest day-ahead price ENTSO-E holds for Great Britain is for 2020-12-30 (30 December 2020). This page is a historical record and is not being updated.

Key Facts

Day-ahead electricity prices in Great Britain were below zero for 91 hours (1.0% of hours) on 17 days in 2020 up to 2020-12-30 (30 December 2020). The lowest interval price was GBP -38.80/MWh on 2020-05-23 (23 May 2020) and the highest GBP 350.00/MWh on 2020-12-06 (6 December 2020).
The longest streak of consecutive days with a price below zero in Great Britain in 2020 was 3 days, from 2020-05-22 (22 May 2020) to 2020-05-24 (24 May 2020).
In December 2020 up to 2020-12-30 (30 December 2020), Great Britain had 4 hours below zero on 1 day.
Since 2019-11-27 (27 November 2019), the lowest price in Great Britain was GBP -38.80/MWh on 2020-05-23 (23 May 2020) and the highest GBP 350.00/MWh on 2020-12-06 (6 December 2020).

Hours Below Zero

Delivery days to 2020-12-30, local time

December 2020 to date4 hours

2020 to date91 hours

Share of hours, 20201.0%

Days below zero, 202017 days

Great Britain negative prices and price extremes by period
Period	Days with data	Hours below zero	Share of hours	Days below zero	Longest streak of days
December 2020 to date	30	4 hours	0.6%	1	1 day (2020-12-27 to 2020-12-27)
2020 to date	365	91 hours	1.0%	17	3 days (2020-05-22 to 2020-05-24)
Since 2019-11-27	400	92 hours	1.0%	18	3 days (2020-05-22 to 2020-05-24)

Hours are time weighted, so 15 minute and 60 minute intervals count alike. Share of hours divides by 24 times the days with data, so it is approximate on clock change days. A streak is consecutive local days each with at least one interval below zero, not a continuous run of hours.

Source: ENTSO-E Transparency Platform (transparency.entsoe.eu), CC BY 4.0. Aggregated and converted by World Power Monitor; ENTSO-E does not endorse this site. (ENTSO-E Terms of Use plus CC BY 4.0 for listed data items) Data as of 2020-12-30. Computed by World Power Monitor from the day-ahead price statistics of each local delivery day.

Lowest and Highest Prices

GBP/MWh, single market interval

Great Britain lowest and highest day-ahead price by period, with delivery day
Period	Lowest price	Delivery day	Highest price	Delivery day
December 2020 to date	GBP -8.28/MWh	2020-12-27 (27 December 2020)	GBP 350.00/MWh	2020-12-06 (6 December 2020)
2020 to date	GBP -38.80/MWh	2020-05-23 (23 May 2020)	GBP 350.00/MWh	2020-12-06 (6 December 2020)
Since 2019-11-27	GBP -38.80/MWh	2020-05-23 (23 May 2020)	GBP 350.00/MWh	2020-12-06 (6 December 2020)

The lowest and highest prices are single market intervals of 15 or 60 minutes, not daily averages. The delivery day is the local day the interval belongs to.

Hours Below Zero Each Day

Local delivery days, 2019-11-27 to 2020-12-30

Hours per local delivery day in Great Britain with a day-ahead price below zero, from 2019-11-27 (27 November 2019) to 2020-12-30 (30 December 2020). The zone had 92 hours below zero over 400 days with data.

Daily hours through 2020-12-30

Great Britain hours below zero per delivery day, 2019-11-27 to 2020-12-30
Delivery day (local)	Hours below zero
2019-11-27	0 hours
2019-11-28	0 hours
2019-11-29	0 hours
2019-11-30	0 hours
2019-12-01	0 hours
2019-12-02	0 hours
2019-12-03	0 hours
2019-12-04	0 hours
2019-12-05	0 hours
2019-12-06	0 hours
2019-12-07	0 hours
2019-12-08	0 hours
2019-12-09	1 hour
2019-12-10	0 hours
2019-12-11	0 hours
2019-12-12	0 hours
2019-12-13	0 hours
2019-12-14	0 hours
2019-12-15	0 hours
2019-12-16	0 hours
2019-12-17	0 hours
2019-12-18	0 hours
2019-12-19	0 hours
2019-12-20	0 hours
2019-12-21	0 hours
2019-12-22	0 hours
2019-12-23	0 hours
2019-12-24	0 hours
2019-12-25	0 hours
2019-12-26	0 hours
2019-12-27	0 hours
2019-12-28	0 hours
2019-12-29	0 hours
2019-12-30	0 hours
2019-12-31	0 hours
2020-01-01	0 hours
2020-01-02	0 hours
2020-01-03	0 hours
2020-01-04	0 hours
2020-01-05	0 hours
2020-01-06	0 hours
2020-01-07	0 hours
2020-01-08	0 hours
2020-01-09	0 hours
2020-01-10	0 hours
2020-01-11	0 hours
2020-01-12	0 hours
2020-01-13	0 hours
2020-01-14	0 hours
2020-01-15	0 hours
2020-01-16	0 hours
2020-01-17	0 hours
2020-01-18	0 hours
2020-01-19	0 hours
2020-01-20	0 hours
2020-01-21	0 hours
2020-01-22	0 hours
2020-01-23	0 hours
2020-01-24	0 hours
2020-01-25	0 hours
2020-01-26	0 hours
2020-01-27	0 hours
2020-01-28	0 hours
2020-01-29	0 hours
2020-01-30	0 hours
2020-01-31	0 hours
2020-02-01	0 hours
2020-02-02	0 hours
2020-02-03	0 hours
2020-02-04	0 hours
2020-02-05	0 hours
2020-02-06	0 hours
2020-02-07	0 hours
2020-02-08	0 hours
2020-02-09	0 hours
2020-02-10	0 hours
2020-02-11	0 hours
2020-02-12	0 hours
2020-02-13	0 hours
2020-02-14	0 hours
2020-02-15	0 hours
2020-02-16	4 hours
2020-02-17	0 hours
2020-02-18	0 hours
2020-02-19	0 hours
2020-02-20	0 hours
2020-02-21	0 hours
2020-02-22	0 hours
2020-02-23	0 hours
2020-02-24	0 hours
2020-02-25	0 hours
2020-02-26	0 hours
2020-02-27	0 hours
2020-02-28	0 hours
2020-02-29	0 hours
2020-03-01	0 hours
2020-03-02	0 hours
2020-03-03	0 hours
2020-03-04	0 hours
2020-03-05	0 hours
2020-03-06	0 hours
2020-03-07	0 hours
2020-03-08	0 hours
2020-03-09	0 hours
2020-03-10	0 hours
2020-03-11	0 hours
2020-03-12	0 hours
2020-03-13	0 hours
2020-03-14	0 hours
2020-03-15	0 hours
2020-03-16	0 hours
2020-03-17	0 hours
2020-03-18	0 hours
2020-03-19	0 hours
2020-03-20	0 hours
2020-03-21	0 hours
2020-03-22	0 hours
2020-03-23	0 hours
2020-03-24	0 hours
2020-03-25	0 hours
2020-03-26	0 hours
2020-03-27	0 hours
2020-03-28	0 hours
2020-03-29	0 hours
2020-03-30	0 hours
2020-03-31	0 hours
2020-04-01	0 hours
2020-04-02	0 hours
2020-04-03	0 hours
2020-04-04	0 hours
2020-04-05	4 hours
2020-04-06	0 hours
2020-04-07	0 hours
2020-04-08	0 hours
2020-04-09	0 hours
2020-04-10	0 hours
2020-04-11	0 hours
2020-04-12	0 hours
2020-04-13	5 hours
2020-04-14	0 hours
2020-04-15	0 hours
2020-04-16	0 hours
2020-04-17	0 hours
2020-04-18	0 hours
2020-04-19	0 hours
2020-04-20	3 hours
2020-04-21	4 hours
2020-04-22	0 hours
2020-04-23	0 hours
2020-04-24	0 hours
2020-04-25	0 hours
2020-04-26	0 hours
2020-04-27	0 hours
2020-04-28	0 hours
2020-04-29	0 hours
2020-04-30	0 hours
2020-05-01	0 hours
2020-05-02	0 hours
2020-05-03	0 hours
2020-05-04	0 hours
2020-05-05	0 hours
2020-05-06	0 hours
2020-05-07	0 hours
2020-05-08	0 hours
2020-05-09	0 hours
2020-05-10	0 hours
2020-05-11	3 hours
2020-05-12	0 hours
2020-05-13	0 hours
2020-05-14	0 hours
2020-05-15	0 hours
2020-05-16	0 hours
2020-05-17	0 hours
2020-05-18	0 hours
2020-05-19	0 hours
2020-05-20	0 hours
2020-05-21	0 hours
2020-05-22	2 hours
2020-05-23	17 hours
2020-05-24	13 hours
2020-05-25	0 hours
2020-05-26	0 hours
2020-05-27	0 hours
2020-05-28	0 hours
2020-05-29	0 hours
2020-05-30	0 hours
2020-05-31	0 hours
2020-06-01	0 hours
2020-06-02	0 hours
2020-06-03	0 hours
2020-06-04	0 hours
2020-06-05	0 hours
2020-06-06	0 hours
2020-06-07	0 hours
2020-06-08	0 hours
2020-06-09	0 hours
2020-06-10	0 hours
2020-06-11	0 hours
2020-06-12	0 hours
2020-06-13	0 hours
2020-06-14	0 hours
2020-06-15	0 hours
2020-06-16	0 hours
2020-06-17	0 hours
2020-06-18	0 hours
2020-06-19	0 hours
2020-06-20	0 hours
2020-06-21	0 hours
2020-06-22	0 hours
2020-06-23	0 hours
2020-06-24	0 hours
2020-06-25	0 hours
2020-06-26	0 hours
2020-06-27	0 hours
2020-06-28	5 hours
2020-06-29	4 hours
2020-06-30	0 hours
2020-07-01	0 hours
2020-07-02	0 hours
2020-07-03	0 hours
2020-07-04	0 hours
2020-07-05	13 hours
2020-07-06	3 hours
2020-07-07	0 hours
2020-07-08	0 hours
2020-07-09	0 hours
2020-07-10	0 hours
2020-07-11	0 hours
2020-07-12	0 hours
2020-07-13	0 hours
2020-07-14	0 hours
2020-07-15	0 hours
2020-07-16	0 hours
2020-07-17	0 hours
2020-07-18	0 hours
2020-07-19	0 hours
2020-07-20	0 hours
2020-07-21	0 hours
2020-07-22	0 hours
2020-07-23	0 hours
2020-07-24	0 hours
2020-07-25	0 hours
2020-07-26	0 hours
2020-07-27	0 hours
2020-07-28	0 hours
2020-07-29	0 hours
2020-07-30	0 hours
2020-07-31	0 hours
2020-08-01	0 hours
2020-08-02	0 hours
2020-08-03	0 hours
2020-08-04	0 hours
2020-08-05	0 hours
2020-08-06	0 hours
2020-08-07	0 hours
2020-08-08	0 hours
2020-08-09	0 hours
2020-08-10	0 hours
2020-08-11	0 hours
2020-08-12	0 hours
2020-08-13	0 hours
2020-08-14	0 hours
2020-08-15	0 hours
2020-08-16	0 hours
2020-08-17	0 hours
2020-08-18	0 hours
2020-08-19	0 hours
2020-08-20	0 hours
2020-08-21	0 hours
2020-08-22	0 hours
2020-08-23	0 hours
2020-08-24	0 hours
2020-08-25	0 hours
2020-08-26	0 hours
2020-08-27	0 hours
2020-08-28	0 hours
2020-08-29	0 hours
2020-08-30	0 hours
2020-08-31	0 hours
2020-09-01	0 hours
2020-09-02	0 hours
2020-09-03	0 hours
2020-09-04	0 hours
2020-09-05	0 hours
2020-09-06	0 hours
2020-09-07	0 hours
2020-09-08	0 hours
2020-09-09	0 hours
2020-09-10	0 hours
2020-09-11	0 hours
2020-09-12	0 hours
2020-09-13	0 hours
2020-09-14	0 hours
2020-09-15	0 hours
2020-09-16	0 hours
2020-09-17	0 hours
2020-09-18	0 hours
2020-09-19	0 hours
2020-09-20	0 hours
2020-09-21	0 hours
2020-09-22	0 hours
2020-09-23	0 hours
2020-09-24	0 hours
2020-09-25	0 hours
2020-09-26	0 hours
2020-09-27	0 hours
2020-09-28	0 hours
2020-09-29	0 hours
2020-09-30	0 hours
2020-10-01	0 hours
2020-10-02	0 hours
2020-10-03	0 hours
2020-10-04	0 hours
2020-10-05	0 hours
2020-10-06	0 hours
2020-10-07	0 hours
2020-10-08	0 hours
2020-10-09	0 hours
2020-10-10	0 hours
2020-10-11	0 hours
2020-10-12	0 hours
2020-10-13	0 hours
2020-10-14	0 hours
2020-10-15	0 hours
2020-10-16	0 hours
2020-10-17	0 hours
2020-10-18	0 hours
2020-10-19	0 hours
2020-10-20	0 hours
2020-10-21	0 hours
2020-10-22	0 hours
2020-10-23	0 hours
2020-10-24	0 hours
2020-10-25	3 hours
2020-10-26	0 hours
2020-10-27	0 hours
2020-10-28	0 hours
2020-10-29	0 hours
2020-10-30	0 hours
2020-10-31	0 hours
2020-11-01	0 hours
2020-11-02	1 hour
2020-11-03	0 hours
2020-11-04	0 hours
2020-11-05	0 hours
2020-11-06	0 hours
2020-11-07	0 hours
2020-11-08	0 hours
2020-11-09	0 hours
2020-11-10	0 hours
2020-11-11	0 hours
2020-11-12	0 hours
2020-11-13	0 hours
2020-11-14	0 hours
2020-11-15	0 hours
2020-11-16	3 hours
2020-11-17	0 hours
2020-11-18	0 hours
2020-11-19	0 hours
2020-11-20	0 hours
2020-11-21	0 hours
2020-11-22	0 hours
2020-11-23	0 hours
2020-11-24	0 hours
2020-11-25	0 hours
2020-11-26	0 hours
2020-11-27	0 hours
2020-11-28	0 hours
2020-11-29	0 hours
2020-11-30	0 hours
2020-12-01	0 hours
2020-12-02	0 hours
2020-12-03	0 hours
2020-12-04	0 hours
2020-12-05	0 hours
2020-12-06	0 hours
2020-12-07	0 hours
2020-12-08	0 hours
2020-12-09	0 hours
2020-12-10	0 hours
2020-12-11	0 hours
2020-12-12	0 hours
2020-12-13	0 hours
2020-12-14	0 hours
2020-12-15	0 hours
2020-12-16	0 hours
2020-12-17	0 hours
2020-12-18	0 hours
2020-12-19	0 hours
2020-12-20	0 hours
2020-12-21	0 hours
2020-12-22	0 hours
2020-12-23	0 hours
2020-12-24	0 hours
2020-12-25	0 hours
2020-12-26	0 hours
2020-12-27	4 hours
2020-12-28	0 hours
2020-12-29	0 hours
2020-12-30	0 hours

Month by Month

First and latest months may be partial

Great Britain hours below zero, lowest and highest price by month
Month	Days with data	Hours below zero	Days below zero	Lowest price	Highest price
November 2019	4	0 hours	0	GBP 23.68/MWh	GBP 80.00/MWh
December 2019	31	1 hour	1	GBP -2.84/MWh	GBP 84.40/MWh
January 2020	31	0 hours	0	GBP 7.25/MWh	GBP 65.00/MWh
February 2020	29	4 hours	1	GBP -4.33/MWh	GBP 59.62/MWh
March 2020	31	0 hours	0	GBP 1.43/MWh	GBP 99.90/MWh
April 2020	30	16 hours	4	GBP -19.00/MWh	GBP 43.41/MWh
May 2020	31	35 hours	4	GBP -38.80/MWh	GBP 43.22/MWh
June 2020	30	9 hours	2	GBP -17.65/MWh	GBP 42.00/MWh
July 2020	31	16 hours	2	GBP -16.89/MWh	GBP 48.99/MWh
August 2020	31	0 hours	0	GBP 7.63/MWh	GBP 99.40/MWh
September 2020	30	0 hours	0	GBP 11.30/MWh	GBP 187.10/MWh
October 2020	31	3 hours	1	GBP -7.18/MWh	GBP 183.20/MWh
November 2020	30	4 hours	2	GBP -4.36/MWh	GBP 313.45/MWh
December 2020	30	4 hours	1	GBP -8.28/MWh	GBP 350.00/MWh

Prices are day-ahead, in GBP per MWh. A negative price means sellers pay to deliver electricity in that interval, usually when wind and solar output is high and demand is low; the explanation and the ranking of all zones are on the main page.