In Week 23, Southeast Europe’s power system faced a balancing challenge as demand increased, wind output weakened and solar generation did not cover evening needs. Dispatchers relied more heavily on hydro and thermal generation, shifting the regional electricity mix. The changes reflected how supply availability moved against rising load.
Renewable generation falls as demand rises
Across the region, variable renewable generation fell 8.9% week on week, from 3,377 GWh to 3,075 GWh. Wind accounted for most of the decline, dropping 15.5%. Solar output decreased by 5.1%, while regional electricity demand rose 8.2% to 15.15 TWh.
The largest renewable declines were recorded in Romania, Croatia and Serbia, driven mainly by weaker wind generation. Bulgaria and Hungary also saw lower renewable output, with weaker solar performance contributing. In Greece, total renewable generation fell 6.1%, with wind down 16.5% offsetting a 1.8% increase in solar.
Türkiye was the exception, with total renewable output rising 1.2%. The increase came alongside a 61.0% jump in solar generation. The regional pattern showed wind weakness occurring alongside only a moderate solar decline.
Wind weakness affects hourly pricing dynamics
The decline in wind influenced the hourly price profile during Week 23. Solar can depress prices during midday, while wind can support more hours and reduce evening marginal pressure when available. With wind weaker, residual demand became harder to cover during non-solar hours.
This contributed to prices maintaining a steep evening ramp even where midday prices were softer. The shift aligned with the timing of reduced wind contribution relative to evening needs.
Hydropower rises overall but varies by country
Hydro generation provided the main renewable stabiliser during the week. Regional hydropower output increased 10.1% week on week to 3.97 TWh. Türkiye drove much of the increase, with hydro rising 15.4%, or 356 GWh, to 2.66 TWh.
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
[Hydro and thermal dispatch define SEE balancing as wind output falls]
Thermal generation increases to meet higher load
Total SEE thermal output rose strongly in Week 23, increasing by 24.5%
