Hungary recorded a 69.52% weekly increase in gas-fired electricity generation in the week ended November 1, as stronger electricity demand and declining wind and solar output boosted the need for dispatchable power sources. The development highlights the growing importance of conventional generation in maintaining supply security across Central and Southeast European electricity markets, according to the Institute of Energy for South-East Europe (IENE).
Total thermal electricity generation in Hungary increased by 46.45%, while variable renewable output declined by 11.6%. Electricity demand also rose by approximately 5.7%. Meanwhile, net electricity imports remained broadly stable at 268.85 GWh, indicating that higher domestic thermal generation helped accommodate the additional demand rather than being accompanied by a significant change in import volumes.
Hungary’s average day-ahead wholesale electricity price reached €284.63/MWh, marking a 5.90% increase compared with the previous week. Although the increase was more moderate than those recorded in Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia, Hungary remained among the four regional markets with average prices in the €284–287/MWh range. On October 29, the daily average price climbed further to €324.58/MWh.
The sharp rise in gas-fired generation coincided with an increase in Dutch TTF natural gas prices during the same week, highlighting the potential exposure of electricity producers and consumers to imported fuel costs. However, IENE’s analysis does not provide details on gas plant efficiency, fuel procurement arrangements or the hourly marginal generating units, meaning that a direct link between gas price movements and electricity price formation cannot be established from the available data.
Nevertheless, the figures underline the importance of monitoring fuel costs alongside wholesale electricity market exposure, particularly in markets where gas-fired power plants provide essential flexibility to balance fluctuations in renewable generation and electricity demand. For generators, suppliers and industrial consumers, coordinated fuel procurement and effective electricity portfolio hedging are becoming increasingly important as volatility across regional power markets intensifies.
