Datons Stories #9 - European Energy Data with python-entsoe

Result

A hands-on understanding of how to query, analyze, and visualize European energy data using the python-entsoe library — from installation to real insights across 35+ countries.

from entsoe import Client

client = Client(api_key="your-token")
gen = client.generation.mix(area="Spain", start="2026-02-01", end="2026-02-14")
prices = client.prices.day_ahead(area="Germany", start="2026-02-01", end="2026-02-14")
flows = client.transmission.flows(from_area="FR", to_area="DE", start="2026-02-01", end="2026-02-14")

The problem

European energy data is scattered across the ENTSO-E Transparency Platform with complex query parameters
The raw API returns XML with obscure area codes (EIC codes) that are hard to memorize
Most tutorials cover basic API calls but skip real analysis — renewables penetration, price correlations, cross-border dynamics
Energy professionals on LinkedIn often ask: “How do I actually get this data into Python?”

The solution

We walk through every step of using the python-entsoe library, from installation to publication-ready analysis.

Querying generation data

We start by querying the generation mix for Spain, Germany, and France — breaking down output by technology (nuclear, wind, solar, gas) and comparing renewable penetration across countries.

Day-ahead price analysis

We pull day-ahead electricity prices for multiple bidding zones and analyze price spreads, volatility, and correlations between countries. We explore how weather and generation mix affect price dynamics.

Cross-border flows

We query physical flows between interconnected countries — France to Germany, Spain to France — and visualize how electricity moves across borders in real time.

Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                  Your Python Code                    │
│  from entsoe import Client                          │
│  client = Client(api_key="your-token")              │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                         │
                         ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│              python-entsoe library                   │
│  • Area code resolution (ES → 10YES-REE------0)     │
│  • XML → DataFrame parsing                          │
│  • Automatic year-splitting for long ranges          │
│  • Retry logic & rate limiting                       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                         │
                         ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│           ENTSO-E Transparency Platform              │
│                                                      │
│  ┌─────────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐  │
│  │ Generation   │ │  Prices  │ │ Cross-border    │  │
│  │ by country   │ │ day-ahead│ │ flows           │  │
│  └─────────────┘ └──────────┘ └─────────────────┘  │
│           (35+ European countries)                   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Stack

Python 3.11+ · python-entsoe · Pandas · Plotly
ENTSO-E Transparency Platform API