Croatia recorded a 54.3% decline in variable renewable generation in the week to 20 September, marking one of the steepest drops in the region, while the country increased its reliance on net electricity imports.
Hydropower generation provided a partial offset, rising 34.28% over the week. However, the increase was insufficient to prevent net electricity imports from climbing 4.20%, highlighting a shift in Croatia’s supply balance despite lower overall consumption.
Electricity demand fell 9.76% to 325.54 GWh, the largest percentage decline among the markets covered. The combination of weaker demand, sharply lower wind and solar output, and higher imports points to a notable change in the country’s weekly power mix.
The figures alone, however, do not show how the renewable shortfall was covered on an hourly basis. Hydro generation, domestic thermal plants and cross-border imports may have played different roles depending on generation availability, market conditions and system requirements.
The hourly profile is particularly important for market participants. Suppliers still need to meet contracted delivery volumes when wind and solar production drops, while hydro operators must decide when to deploy available water resources. Import prices and interconnector capacity can influence both decisions.
Croatia’s average weekly electricity price edged down by just 0.35%. The limited price movement contrasts with a much larger operational change, as renewable generation fell sharply and net imports increased even while electricity demand declined.
By Virtu.Energy
