Southeast Europe’s variable renewable generation fell faster than electricity demand in the week to 20 September, limiting the price relief that weaker consumption might otherwise have provided.
Wind and solar generation together declined 8.0% to 3,381.01 GWh, while regional electricity demand fell 6.37% to 16,542.31 GWh. Wind output dropped 10.3% to 1,407.02 GWh and solar declined 6.2% to 1,973.99 GWh.
The change was far from uniform. Serbia’s variable renewable output fell 69.6% and Croatia’s declined 54.3%. Romania recorded a 25.9% fall. Hungary moved in the opposite direction: its combined wind and solar output rose 3.0%, supported by a 5.3% increase in solar generation.
Those differences help explain why falling regional demand did not produce a consistent drop in power prices. Each market had to balance its own hourly generation, consumption and import options.
For suppliers and plant operators, the week was a reminder that the relevant exposure is the timing of renewable output as well as its weekly total. A sharp production decline can change purchases, scheduling and balancing needs before it becomes visible in the weekly average price.
By Virtu.Energy
