Renewable generation became the main price-setting factor in Southeast Europe during Week 24, even as electricity demand rose into the summer period. Across the analysed markets, combined wind and solar output increased to 3.64 TWh, up 518.6 GWh or 16.6% week on week. The increase was large enough to offset the effect of higher seasonal consumption, so rising demand did not coincide with higher electricity prices.
Wind and solar output expands across the region
Wind power accounted for the largest part of the renewable increase. Regional wind generation rose by 308.4 GWh, or 28.1%, to 1.40 TWh. Solar generation increased by 210.2 GWh, or 10.4%, reaching 2.23 TWh. Together, wind and solar provided a larger share of the regional generation mix during the early stages of the summer demand season.
Variable renewables rise in most markets
Türkiye recorded the strongest change in variable renewable generation, with a 67.1% week-on-week increase driven by a recovery in wind output. Serbia also saw a sharp rise, with renewable generation up 76.8% week on week. Other markets posted gains including Hungary (+21.2%), Bulgaria (+12.8%), Romania (+6.1%), and Italy (+6.1%). In Greece, overall variable renewable generation increased by only 1.9%, after solar rose by 22.8% while wind fell by 31.4%.
Croatia shifts toward hydropower as renewables fall
Croatia was the only market showing a decline in variable renewable generation, down 35.9%. The decrease was attributed to weaker wind conditions. With variable renewables lower, Croatia relied more on hydropower, with hydro generation increasing by 43.5%. This resulted in a different balancing structure compared with neighbouring systems where wind and solar were the main contributors to supply growth.
Wholesale prices decline despite higher demand
The impact of renewables was reflected in wholesale electricity prices across Southeast Europe. Most markets recorded lower prices even with stronger demand conditions, consistent with a larger role for variable renewable generation in setting market outcomes. Weekly average prices fell to €78.22/MWh in Serbia, €93.58/MWh in Bulgaria, and €92.02/MWh in Croatia. Prices also declined to €97.38/MWh in Romania and €98.71/MWh in Hungary.
Renewables influence dispatch and cross-border trading dynamics
The Week 24 developments point to a shift in how market behaviour is shaped across the region’s power system. Wind and solar were described as no longer marginal contributors to price formation during this period. They increasingly influenced price spreads, dispatch decisions, cross-border flows, and trading opportunities ahead of situations where hydro shortages or thermal constraints would dominate outcomes.