Danube - Central European Times

When the Danube runs dry - How CEE's power systems are coping with the 2026 heat-drought

5 min read Central Europe, Danube, Heatwave, renewables, Energy security, climate change, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland

Hungary and Romania are living through their most serious energy crisis in decades, as record-low Danube levels have all but shut down two of the region's nuclear plants.

Why Have Czech and Slovak Nuclear Power Plants Been Able to Withstand the Heat While Paks Has Run into Trouble?

3 min read nuclear energy, climate change, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Temelín, Dukovany, Cernavodă, Krško, Danube, Paks II

In Hungary, low Danube water levels and a prolonged heatwave have created an acute energy crisis, while other countries in the region appear to have weathered the situation more easily. Part of the explanation lies in the differences between the cooling systems used by their nuclear power plants.