Between August 10, 2026 and August 16, 2026, 70 articles were published in the Market News Roundup CW33. Coverage across Serbia and Southeast Europe included electricity trading, nuclear and hydropower impacts, gas developments, and renewables project updates. Most-read items during the period included a report on SEE power markets on August 11, a Danube-flow-linked risk to Cernavoda 2, and Romania’s day-ahead price move in July.
Electricity trading: solar output, scarcity pricing and cross-border constraints
On August 11, SEE power markets were reported to show solar gains offsetting rising demand. A separate trading update on August 11 said Romania’s day-ahead electricity price fell 2.3% to €120.14/MWh in July. On August 13, Southeast Europe power prices were described as surging as evening scarcity outweighed stronger renewables.
Trading reports also tracked how price patterns changed across the day. On August 14, Greece was reported to avoid negative prices as solar cannibalisation continued. The same day, Romania’s market was described as swinging from zero prices to scarcity pricing, while wider Southeast Europe price swings were linked to solar-driven midday lows.
Cross-border capacity constraints were highlighted in a separate analysis dated August 15. ACER was cited as pointing to cross-border capacity limits driving SEE electricity price spikes. Another August 15 report said grid capacity, rather than generation, had become the key energy-transition constraint for the region.
Week-ahead pricing updates showed easing conditions later in the period. On August 16, a trading report said SEE power prices eased in Week 33 despite persistent evening supply tightness. Another August 14 update said Southeast Europe power prices fell as stronger solar output weighed on midday markets.
Nuclear and hydropower pressures tied to water shortages and outages
Water availability issues featured across multiple sectors during the week. On August 16, coverage said water shortages were putting pressure on Europe’s nuclear and hydropower generation. In parallel, a Markets item dated August 16 reported that Romania’s nuclear outage escalated a hydrological crisis into a regional power-supply risk.
A specific outage-related development was also reported for Serbia. On August 12, Serbia’s Kostolac A2 unit was described as being kept out of service by fire damage. The same unit remained offline amid an EPS-Siemens Gamesa dispute in a separate update dated August 13.
Nuclear-related system dynamics were also linked to river conditions earlier in the period. On August 12, low Danube flows were reported to put Cernavoda 2 at risk of shutdown. Hungary meanwhile restarted Paks nuclear generation on August 11 as Danube levels recovered.
Hydropower procurement activity continued alongside these constraints. Montenegro’s EPCG launched a third tender for a 2.6 MW Otilovići small hydropower plant on August 11. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EPBiH launched a tender for the main design of a 16 MW Janjici hydropower plant on the same date.
Gas developments: Bulgaria price proposal and interconnector progress
Bulgaria’s gas pricing update came on August 13. Bulgargaz proposed a 4.77% gas price increase for September to EUR 41.30/MWh. A court order dated August 12 required Bulgargaz to revisit its request for BOTAS contract data.
The Croatia-Bosnia gas interconnector was also in focus on August 13, with reporting that talks continued on US participation. These updates were listed within the gas coverage alongside Bulgaria’s regulatory and pricing steps.
Renewables build-out: solar permits and battery storage projects
Solar project momentum included permitting progress for large-scale capacity in Romania. A most-read item dated August 13 said Romania’s Dama Solar, described as a 1.2 GW project, secured its final permit and moved toward financing. On August 13, Econergy started its 59 MW Iancu Jianu solar plant and planned a 70 MWh battery for 2027.
Batteries were also highlighted through multiple country updates during the week. Montenegro launched a strategic partner process for large-scale battery storage on August 13. Bulgaria’s Sunotec connected a 150 MW/379 MWh battery storage system on August 11.
The market context around solar output was reflected in trading items dated August 12 through August 14. On August 12, coverage noted that a 9.7 GW solar decline reached an already tight evening market. Separate reports dated August 13 described Romania’s battery market entering a new phase as large-scale storage attracted institutional finance, while Bulgaria’s battery boom turned the country into a regional storage hub.
Wind projects: financing signals and operational disputes
The wind segment included both financing updates and operational issues across Serbia and the wider region. Serbia’s Kostolac wind farm with 66 MW remained offline amid an EPS-Siemens Gamesa dispute in an update dated August 13. Earlier on August 11, EPS launched a tender for supervision of the same 66 MW Kostolac wind farm.
Bulgaria’s wind pipeline featured financing support for new capacity during the period. A report dated August 13 said Bulgaria’s wind market gained momentum as an EUR 78 million loan backed the 70 MW Strazhitsa project. Another wind-related update dated August 13 said Southeast Europe faced a growing gap between potential and delivery.
A first turbine installation was reported in Romania during this window as well. On August 12, Helleniq Energy installed its first turbine at its 96 MW Galati wind farm. In parallel, Eurowind Energy advanced a 288 MW wind farm project in Romania on August 11.
CfDs and additional solar tenders across Southeast Europe
An item dated August 13 said Romania’s second CfD auction accelerated solar growth across Southeast Europe. Also on August 13, Bitola 3 was described as North Macedonia turning a former coal site into its largest solar project.
Tender activity extended beyond utility-scale projects into distributed generation programs. Croatia: HEP ESCO launched a €5.3 million tender for 90 rooftop solar plants on August 11; Montenegro’s EPCG launched tender work for design of a 41.8 MW Krupac solar plant, also dated August 11; Montenegro additionally launched another tender for design of an unspecified scope related to small hydropower at Otilovići with EPCG reporting on that same date.
Nuclear finance signals and grid upgrade spending between Romania and Bulgaria
Nuclear-related financing items appeared alongside grid investment updates during the week ending August 16 . An analysis dated August 15 said Southeast Europe’s new nuclear race began with financing taking centre stage; it also referenced Romania’s Cernavodă loan of €800 million. Another Markets item dated the same day said pumped storage emerged as a billion-euro flexibility asset in Southeast Europe.
A separate infrastructure update dated August 15 pointed to CARMEN driving a €208 million smart-grid upgrade between Romania and Bulgaria. Danube drought reshaped hydropower economics in another Markets item dated August 15 .
Bilateral power trade, corporate moves and mining support activity
Evolving electricity trade positions were also reported during this period . Bosnia and Herzegovina kept power trade surplus while import spending halved in an update dated August 12; Bulgaria’s generation surplus strengthened its regional role in another report from the same date.
Bulgaria saw corporate activity tied to energy assets as well. Nomad Capital sought clearance to acquire control of Maritsa East 3, according to an update dated August 12; separately, court action required Bulgargaz to revisit BOTAS contract data earlier that week.
The oil sector update involved logistics along the Danube corridor: JT Grup Oil planned a new fuel terminal on the Danube in Romania on August 12 . Mining coverage during the period included subcontracting mining equipment engineering and manufacturing to Serbia on August 16 .
