Regional and local factors push up spot electricity price above EUR 400 per MWh in Romania
<p>A recent blackout in the Western Balkans states, the heatwave, and the nuclear plant Nuclearelectriva operating only one of its reactors pushed up the average electricity price on Romania’s day-ahead market (DAM) above EUR 200 per MWh for the delivery day June 25.&nbsp;The hourly price peaked above EUR 420 per MWh in the evening hours, <a href="https://www.economica.net/preturile-la-energie-electrica-spot-din-romania-ajung-la-maximul-anuluim-maine-seara-pretul-sare-de-400-de-euro-mwh_756091.html?mc_cid=b766dee5ca&amp;mc_eid=cd1f92f96c" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Economica.net</a> reported.</p>

<p>Both the average and the spike prices are new records for this year.</p>

<p>Higher average prices on the DAM market for June 25 were reported in Hungary and particularly Croatia, however, according to <a href="https://www.profit.ro/povesti-cu-profit/energie/grafic-canicula-si-problemele-regionale-spulbera-recordurile-pe-piata-de-electricitate-21641219?mc_cid=b766dee5ca&amp;mc_eid=cd1f92f96c" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Profit.ro</a>.</p>

<p>Last Friday, there was a widespread blackout affecting four Western Balkan states - three in total (Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and one in part (Croatia).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The flows during the peak consumption Unit 1 of the nuclear power plant from Cernavodă have been under review for a month, until June 25. Until then, Nuclearelectrica produces less than 700 MW, operating at half capacity.</p>

<p>Furthermore, the intermittent nature of the production in solar and wind power generating capacities, in the absence of storage capacities, is deepening the difference between the peak prices during the 20:00 to 22:00 period when a large amount of electricity is used for cooling during the heatwave period and the mid-day period when the PV panels of the dispatched power installations and the panels on prosumers’ homes are producing at their maximum capacity.</p>

<p><em>iulian@romania-insider.com</em></p>

<p><em>(Photo source: <a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">17s/Dreamstime.com</a>)</em></p>