Voices from Europe - Emmanuelle Marshall, Europe HSE Director

Europe’s heatwave puts pressure on its grid - 26 Jun 2026

As of June 26, today’s news highlights Europe’s heatwave and the pressure it is placing on its grid, alongside significant shifts in European stock markets, particularly within the technology sector. Great Britain’s energy system operator raised the alarm over electricity supplies for the second time this week as the heatwave continued to test Europe’s energy markets. The National Energy System Operator issued a notice late on Thursday asking generators to provide any extra electricity possible on Friday evening to help meet rising demand as households turn on air conditioners and electric fans to cope with the heat. Meanwhile, European technology stocks experienced their worst weekly performance since March, largely due to shifting investor sentiment toward artificial intelligence. This downturn adversely affected metals and mining stocks, contributing to declining energy sector performance. Prysmian saw a fall of 3.5%, joining other underperformers like Safran and Sandvik, as industrial stocks faced pressure amid the broader market downturn. Meanwhile, some defensive sectors such as food and healthcare showed relative strength. Returning to Europe’s heatwave, Britain's energy regulator Ofgem advanced 16 long-duration energy storage projects designed to stabilize the power supply and contain costs amidst rising electricity demand due to a severe heatwave across Europe. This heatwave is stressing power grids, as demand for cooling systems escalates while utilities must curtail production to prevent outages. In another development, Edison has significantly upgraded its wind energy capabilities in Italy, doubling output and investing over 200 million euros in projects aimed at enhancing renewable capacity. Furthermore, EDF said that KKR agreed to buy its North American renewable power business, the latest landmark deal in the rush to amass electricity assets for the AI boom. Financial terms of the transaction weren’t disclosed in an EDF statement today. On the global front, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of breaching a ceasefire agreement following an attack involving drones during cargo transit in the Strait of Hormuz. This incident complicates ongoing diplomatic efforts and further strains the already tenuous U.S.-Iran relations.

AI investment surge keeps data center boom alive - 25 Jun 2026

As of June 25, today’s news features developments in artificial intelligence, energy infrastructure, and significant international incidents. Notably, the U.S. has proposed an AI partnership with the EU to enhance the supply chain for semiconductors amidst escalating competition with China. This initiative emphasizes the need for collaborative economic security and innovation in the sector, reflecting the growing geopolitical dimensions of technology. Meanwhile, the demand for artificial intelligence is justifying the substantial investments companies are making in data centers, with global AI sales, excluding China, surpassing 25 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2026. This figure has outpaced the estimated 21 billion dollars in depreciation costs associated with these investments for two consecutive quarters, indicating economic sustainability for AI firms, although margins remain thin according to Exponential View. In energy news, Sweden's government has announced its first financing package to develop new nuclear reactors in collaboration with Videberg Kraft. The Swedish state will hold a 60% stake in the project, aiming to bolster energy security and meet net-zero emissions targets by 2045. This comes alongside Vattenfall’s selection of Rolls-Royce to supply small modular nuclear reactors, marking a significant shift in Sweden's energy landscape after a 40-year hiatus in new reactor construction. Turning to market updates, tech stocks have surged, buoyed by strong earnings from Micron Technology and Qualcomm, which helped to ease concerns about the AI sector's valuations. Micron revealed client commitments totaling 22 billion dollars for memory chips, while Qualcomm projected 15 billion dollars in sales from its data center business by 2029. This resulted in substantial gains across Asian markets, with the Nikkei jumping over 4% and futures on the Nasdaq 100 also rising significantly. Analysts are cautiously optimistic, noting that sustained earnings growth is critical to maintaining this upward momentum. In terms of broader scenarios, a heatwave in Europe has led to a reduction in nuclear output in France, hampering energy production and driving up wholesale electricity prices. High temperatures are impacting cooling systems at several nuclear plants, resulting in a dip in electricity exports and raising concerns over energy supply stability. On the global stage, a devastating sequence of earthquakes in Venezuela has left thousands feared dead, causing widespread destruction around Caracas. Emergency teams are working to rescue trapped individuals as the nation grapples with the aftermath of this natural disaster.

Intesa lifts Prysmian target on stronger growth outlook - 24 Jun 2026

As of June 24, today’s news sees positive developments regarding Prysmian's market outlook and movements within the energy and technology sectors. Intesa Sanpaolo has raised its price target from 142 euros to 173 euros, reaffirming a "buy" recommendation for Prysmian's stock. Analysts suggest that Prysmian is on track to meet its 2028 targets a year ahead of schedule. Turning to market updates, Corning is evaluating South Korea as a potential site for producing semiconductor glass substrates, essential for advanced chip packaging. CFO Edward Schlesinger indicated that South Korea, alongside the U.S., Taiwan, and China, could establish a production hub, although he noted current challenges in cost-effectiveness and scalability. Corning views glass substrates as promising for future growth in the 2030s. On the international energy front, the UK's National Energy System Operator has rescinded an electricity margin notice that had previously requested additional power generation due to extremely high temperatures and low wind resources, which had prompted concerns about meeting demand. In a strategic move, Saipem has announced the sale of its Saudi shallow-water drilling business to ADES for 285 million dollars, focusing its efforts on deepwater and harsh-environment drilling activities. This transaction is part of Saipem's ongoing strategy to enhance its portfolio in higher-value segments and is expected to close by the third quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals. Finally, on the political stage, President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into "infinity," while Tehran said it had made no such concession in negotiations, raising questions about the viability of their fragile peace deal. Meanwhile, Trump has canceled a scheduled signing of a bipartisan housing bill, aiming to pressure Senate Republicans into advancing the SAVE America Act. This act includes provisions for voter ID requirements and aims to standardize voter registration across states, highlighting ongoing intraparty divides within the GOP.

Europe accelerates grid investment amid power strains - 23 Jun 2026

As of June 23, today’s news features developments surrounding U.S.-Iran relations, energy markets in Europe, and corporate movements within the power sector. The United States has officially waived sanctions on Iran for 60 days, following the first talks aimed at a potential peace deal. U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized that he would take necessary actions if Iran fails to adhere to the agreement. Conversely, Iranian officials have denied having discussions on their nuclear program or making arrangements for International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors, despite U.S. Vice President JD Vance's claims of a positive dialogue in Switzerland. Meanwhile, RWE has indicated that municipal shareholders' stakes will dip to approximately 12% following a share sale meant to finance a 3.6 billion euros acquisition aimed at increasing their stake in power grid firm Amprion. Turning to other market updates, the National Energy System Operator in Britain has assured that the country will have enough electricity supply this winter, even amidst disruptions due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. NESO projects a de-rated capacity margin of 5.5 gigawatts, indicating a sufficient buffer above peak demand, though electricity prices are expected to remain elevated compared to Europe. Meanwhile, in France, RTE's chair announced a pilot program aimed at expediting grid connections for projects, which is designed to attract high-powered industries reliant on nuclear energy while reducing lengthy wait times for connections. European spot electricity prices surged today, driven by reduced wind supply and rising demand spurred by warmer temperatures. The German day-ahead baseload prices saw an increase of 12.4% as low wind speeds continue during the current heatwave. Analysts have noted that this spike is influenced by strong evening cooling demands and curtailments of nuclear power generation. Finally, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is weighing the possibility of holding Italy’s next general election as soon as April, months ahead of the legal deadline before the end of 2027, according to people familiar with the matter. Meloni is worried that her approval rating could slide the longer she waits, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Bloomberg reported.

Prysmian secures major Greece and Tunisia links - 22 Jun 2026

As of June 22, today’s news is dominated by Prysmian's new projects announcement and the resignation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Prysmian has been awarded a framework agreement with the Greek electricity grid operator IPTO for a value of around 910 million euros for the development of electrical interconnections for the Dodecanese and North Aegean islands in Greece, the company said in a statement. The project will support energy infrastructure in Greece and will bring significant benefits to the islands and the national-economy overall thanks to the greater reliability and enhanced efficiency in the country's national grid. Meanwhile, Prysmian has received from Terna and STEG the Tunisian electricity grid and gas operator, the notice to proceed for the construction of the submarine power interconnection between Italy and Tunisia, ELMED. The value of the contract is about 460 million euros and will now be included in Prysmian’s backlog of projects, the company said in another statement. For this project, Prysmian will manufacture cables in Naples. In UK political news, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he would resign as Labour leader, paving the way for Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Manchester, to potentially succeed him. Following Starmer's announcement, Burnham and former Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed their intentions for a smooth transition of power, with Streeting endorsing Burnham. Starmer’s decision reflects a dramatic shift in Labour’s leadership narrative, marking an unstable period in UK politics with the potential for a fifth Prime Minister in just over a year. Turning to the energy market, spot prices for electricity in Europe soared above last winter's levels due to high temperatures and diminished wind power supply. In Germany, the day-ahead baseload contract reached 182 euros per megawatt hour, a 46.7% increase from the previous closing price. Similar upward trends were noted in France, where a fall in wind generation is expected amid escalating heatwave conditions, raising concerns about energy supply reliability across the continent. On the international front, discussions between the US and Iran revealed signs of progress, with both sides working towards a peace deal amid ongoing tensions. Negotiations in Switzerland, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, have led to an agreement on a roadmap for future cooperation and mechanisms to address conflicts in Lebanon involving Iranian-backed Hezbollah. Despite the backdrop of military threats and regional instability, officials expressed optimism about reaching a lasting agreement in the near future.