Eastern Europe Faces Power Outages Due to the Heat Wave
Eastern Europe is facing the risk of power outages due to extreme heat and record-low water levels in major rivers. The low water levels in the Danube are already affecting the operation of nuclear and hydroelectric power plants in several countries.
Hungary, Romania, and Serbia are preparing for possible electricity consumption restrictions, while energy officials are warning of a difficult situation due to a lack of water needed to cool reactors and operate hydroelectric power plants.
The prolonged heatwave in Europe has led to a sharp drop in water levels in the Danube and other major rivers. As a result, the operation of some nuclear and hydroelectric power plants is at risk, and some countries have already begun preparing for a possible electricity shortage.
The situation is currently most critical in Hungary. The Paks Nuclear Power Plant, which supplies over 40% of the country’s electricity needs, has been forced to reduce its output due to a lack of water for cooling the reactors.
The plant’s operator has warned that if the situation worsens further, the plant could shut down completely within 72 hours. Hungarian authorities are already developing plans to potentially reduce electricity consumption by large industrial enterprises.
Risks for Romania and Serbia
Problems have also arisen in Romania. There, due to low water levels in the Danube, one of the two reactors at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant has been shut down. As a result, the country has had to purchase more expensive electricity from abroad. If water levels continue to fall, a decision may be made to shut down the second reactor.
Serbia is also preparing for a difficult period. Hydrologists are forecasting possible water supply restrictions in August, and the country’s largest hydroelectric power plant, “Džerdap-1,” is currently operating at only about one-third of its normal capacity.
The low water levels have also affected other countries
In July, the Slovak capital of Bratislava recorded the lowest average flow rate of the Danube in 125 years of observations. As a result, some vessels can no longer navigate the river normally. Slovakia’s nuclear reactors are currently operating without restrictions thanks to autonomous cooling systems. At the same time, the country’s hydropower sector is suffering losses. At the Gabčíkovo hydroelectric power plant, only one of the eight turbines is currently operational.
Heat-related problems have also arisen in Western Europe. In France, some nuclear power plants have also had to limit their operations, as excessively warm water from reactor cooling could harm river ecosystems. Experts note that the current situation highlights just how heavily Europe’s energy sector depends on weather conditions. Prolonged heat waves and droughts may increasingly create problems for power plants in various countries. This is reported by Bloomberg.
European Commission Vice President Thérèse Ribère sharply criticized politicians who deny climate change. According to her, such statements mislead the public and hinder Europe’s ability to prepare for increasingly dangerous natural disasters, particularly large-scale wildfires.
