Hydropower generation in Southeast Europe declined in Week 22, with total hydro output falling 10.2% from 3.98 TWh to 3.57 TWh. The drop was heavily driven by Türkiye, where hydro generation decreased 19.2%, equivalent to 549 GWh. Outside Türkiye, weekly hydro performance was more resilient. As reported by Electricity.trade, the week highlighted how hydro divergence can influence SEE power spreads.
Country-level hydro changes and regional balancing
Italy recorded a hydro increase of 26.5%, reaching 696 GWh. Croatia saw hydro output surge by 75.4%, while Greece rose 12.1% to 97 GWh. These shifts occurred alongside differing demand and generation conditions across the region. The overall regional decline therefore reflected a concentrated weakness in Türkiye rather than uniform lower output.
How hydro availability interacts with prices and dispatch
Hydro provides controllable generation that solar and wind do not always match on their own. Reservoir and run-of-river production can soften peak prices, reduce thermal dispatch, and support exports depending on water conditions and system operation. In a market environment where gas prices remain elevated and coal fleets face operational and environmental pressure, hydro availability can still affect market outcomes. This role is reflected in how national price levels moved during the week.
Greece, Croatia and Italy: prices, renewables and trade flows
Greece benefited from higher hydro output combined with stronger renewables and LNG-backed flexibility. Prices in Greece stayed at €86.77/MWh, while exports increased by 35.7% to 241 GWh. In Croatia, a major hydro rebound supported market pricing despite higher demand. Croatia’s weekly price fell by 5.5% to €100.94/MWh, alongside the 75.4% hydro rise.
Italy’s hydro increase to 696 GWh was substantial, but it did not prevent prices from rising. Wind weakness and higher demand led to more gas-fired generation during the week. The different outcomes across the three markets show that hydro strength does not operate in isolation within each country’s generation mix and trading position.
