Romania’s net electricity imports rose 82.08% to 135.72 GWh in the week to 20 September, as variable renewable generation fell and the country drew more heavily on cross-border supply.
Romanian wind and solar output declined 25.9%, while hydropower generation fell 13.50%. Demand was also lower, down 5.83% to 866.61 GWh, but the reduction in consumption did not prevent imports from rising.
The shift widened the difference between Romania and neighbouring Bulgaria. Bulgaria remained a net exporter of 247.47 GWh, although its export balance fell 9.90% from the previous week. Romanian day-ahead power averaged €177.36/MWh, compared with €162.07/MWh in Bulgaria, a premium of about €15/MWh.
Those figures describe a trading opportunity, not a guaranteed return on a cross-border transaction. Available transmission capacity, hourly prices and the cost of securing capacity determine whether a weekly price gap can be captured.
Romania’s weekly average price was nearly unchanged despite the import increase. That makes the volume shift the clearer market signal: weaker domestic renewable and hydro output raised reliance on neighbouring systems even as electricity consumption fell.
By Virtu.Energy
