Power prices in Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania reached close to €300/MWh on 4 November, keeping Southeast European prices above western European levels despite expanding renewable capacity. Constrained firm generation, scarce flexibility and transmission limits contributed to the premium.
EPCG’s memorandum with Japan’s PowerX sets an indicative target of about 500 MWh of battery storage over an initial three-year period. The commercial opportunity is to coordinate batteries with hydro, rising solar output and cross-border trading, rather than rely on standalone arbitrage.
Romania is considering a voluntary common buyer for electricity used or lost across transmission and distribution networks, with procurement for up to 70% of participating operators’ needs. The proposal could allow eligible costs to be recovered through regulated network charges under rules set by ANRE.
Eurostat data show household electricity prices remained comparatively low across much of the Western Balkans, while Romania recorded the EU’s sharpest increase in the first half of 2026. Retail tariffs do not capture differences in procurement, balancing and fiscal costs.
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Southeast Europe faces a growing power-system flexibility shortage as grids, storage and dispatchable capacity lag behind project growth and rising volatility. Country-level pressures range from heavy imports in Serbia to negative prices in Croatia and faster battery deployment in Bulgaria.
Kosovo enters its highest-demand months with the 260 MW B1 unit still unavailable, increasing reliance on electricity imports. The operator has not set a return date as regional prices and interconnector availability remain key variables.
Austria's Verbund has signed a power-purchase agreement for the first project selected in Albania's first wind auction to reach construction readiness. Commercial operation is targeted for the first quarter of 2028.