Hungary has started restoring generation at the Paks nuclear power plant after improving Danube water levels eased cooling limits. The restrictions had driven the facility’s output to historic lows. The restart follows a period when river conditions deteriorated during drought and extreme heat.
Danube low levels cut Paks generation
Prolonged drought and extreme heat pushed the Danube to record-low levels, leading Paks to run at around 10% capacity. During the lowest point of the disruption, only one of the plant’s eight turbines was operating. With Paks typically supplying nearly half of Hungary’s electricity demand, the reduced output increased pressure on the national power system.
The river level has since increased by 19 centimeters from its recent low. Operators began restarting a second turbine on 10 August, with generation expected to resume later that day. Additional rainfall in Austria could raise Danube flows over the coming days, though it is unclear how sustained the improvement will be .
Cooling constraints raise questions for Paks 2
The disruption has renewed concerns about Hungary’s long-term energy security and how nuclear generation can be affected by extreme weather conditions. Hungary’s government is reassessing elements of the planned Paks 2 expansion. The reassessment is linked to the fact that the new reactors would also rely on the Danube for cooling .
The recent drought underscored risks associated with exceptionally low river levels for future nuclear operations. The government’s review reflects uncertainty over whether cooling conditions could be maintained during similar weather events. No further details on which aspects of Paks 2 are being reconsidered were provided in the source facts.
Wind capacity plans alongside solar-dominated renewables
Hungary is also working to diversify its electricity mix beyond existing generation sources. The government plans to offer 700 MW of new wind capacity by the end of August. This forms part of a broader target to expand Hungary’s wind fleet to 4 GW by 2030.
Installed wind capacity in Hungary is currently around 300 MW, while solar power exceeds 8.5 GW. The resulting imbalance leaves renewable generation heavily concentrated in photovoltaic capacity. It also aligns with efforts to accelerate wind development within the country’s generation portfolio.
