Europe’s electricity system remains stable despite extreme heat and drought, according to European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen. However, the European Union must stay vigilant as conditions remain challenging in certain parts of the bloc, he warned.
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy has said in a statement that there are no short-term adequacy risks, but that the situation is expected to remain “tight” in the forthcoming week.
The statement was issued following an ad hoc meeting of the Electricity Coordination Group, which comprises experts from the European Commission, EU countries, Ukraine, Moldova, the Energy Community Secretariat, and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).
The situation is expected to remain “tight” in the upcoming week
Electricity generation has been reduced in some countries due to low water levels or high water temperatures. However, coordination within the single electricity market is allowing electricity to flow to the regions of Europe where it is most needed, according to the statement.
“Our interconnected electricity market is working: cross-border cooperation is helping deliver power where it is needed,” Jørgensen wrote in a LinkedIn post.
The Electricity Coordination Group also highlighted the significant role of high solar output in easing the pressure on electricity prices during the central hours of the day, while reiterating that the deployment of energy storage remains critical to ensure that the excess electricity produced during peak solar hours can be used during the evening consumption peaks, the Directorate-General said.
According to Jørgensen, the lesson is clear – the EU needs more flexibility and storage to make the most of clean electricity and manage peaks in demand.
In addition, voluntary demand-side measures in some EU countries, particularly in Hungary, have helped the electricity system tackle the tight generation-demand balance, the Directorate-General added.
Romania has requested to keep unit 5 at Turceni coal power plant operating after August 31
Romania, whose power output has been severely affected by the heatwaves and low water levels in the Danube, has requested a postponement of the planned closure of unit 5 at its Turceni coal-fired power plant, slated for August 31, according to Romanian media.
