Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP) said reservoir levels at its hydropower plants were close to seasonal averages despite prolonged drought and unusually low river levels. The stored water provides enough flexibility to support generation, while deteriorating river conditions are affecting hydropower availability across Southeast Europe. The country’s electricity system remains operational, but its supply balance is increasingly reliant on imported electricity during high summer consumption.
Hydropower conditions and heatwave demand management
HEP said it is covering demand through a mix of domestic generation and imports. The utility is paying particular attention to heatwave periods, when cooling demand rises at the same time that hydro production and river-cooled thermal generation may face restrictions.
HEP also highlighted that worsening river conditions can reduce generation not only in Croatia but across the region. The stored water at its plants supports near-term dispatch flexibility, but regional hydrology remains a factor for availability.
4 August import requirement and supply sources
The scale of Croatia’s import requirement was reflected in the regional balance for 4 August. Forecast consumption was 2,589 MW, while domestic generation was estimated at 1,391 MW. Average net imports were approximately 1,197 MW, meaning imports covered more than 46% of demand.
The largest scheduled supplies came from Slovenia and Hungary. Croatia imported approximately 672 MW from Slovenia and 424 MW from Hungary, with smaller volumes also coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. This pattern supported physical security while increasing exposure to market price dynamics in the region.
CROPEX prices and risks from regional hydrology
Croatia’s import structure exposed it to the evening scarcity premium emerging in Central and Southeast Europe. On CROPEX, the market cleared at €191.92/MWh, while the maximum hourly price reached €478.80/MWh. The higher prices coincided with declining solar generation and competition for flexible capacity.
HEP warned that further deterioration in regional hydrology could reduce generation in neighbouring countries and increase competition for imports. It cited Romania’s nuclear difficulties, weak Serbian hydro output, and tighter Hungarian availability as examples of risk extending beyond hydroelectric production alone.
Croatia’s reservoirs provide short-term operational flexibility, but they cannot fully insulate the system from regional market conditions. Under drought pressure, interconnection availability, reservoir dispatch strategy, and evening procurement are becoming key determinants of supply cost during high-demand periods.
