European Drought Slashes Hydropower and Forces Nuclear Power Down

A severe summer drought across Europe has driven hydropower levels in the Alpine region toward an all-time low, disrupting the continent's clean energy mix. In July, hydropower production in Switzerland dropped to 48% of normal levels, while Austria reached 51% and Germany fell to 63%. These declines forced an 8% increase in EU gas generation over the last year to compensate for the lost output.

Michael Strugl, CEO of Verbund, reported that hydropower plants are missing one-third of the water volume they would normally process. The crisis extended beyond renewables, as the Government of Hungary powered down the Paks nuclear plant because record-low water levels in the Danube river hindered operations. France also reported reduced hydropower production alongside devastating wildfires.

To mitigate future weather-driven energy shortages, energy experts and organizations like Ember are advocating for hybridisation. This strategy involves combining wind, solar, and storage at single grid connections to diversify the renewable mix and reduce reliance on fossil fuels during extreme climate events.