中欧和东欧地区正面临严重干旱危机，多瑙河水位跌至历史新低，直接威胁区域电力供应。[1]匈牙利帕克斯核电站受影响最为严重，目前仅以12%的产能运行，该电站原本占匈牙利发电总量约50%和消耗电力三分之一。[1]布达佩斯8月6日气温达43摄氏度。[1]为应对危机，罗马尼亚采取爆破岩石等措施向多瑙河支流引水。[1]干旱还导致多国工业企业被迫减产。[1]
各国面临的电力困境程度不一。塞尔维亚约65%电力由燃煤电厂发电，约25%来自水电，因此水位下降对其冲击更大。[1]保加利亚相对稳定，因其拥有3.4吉瓦的储能容量和8.6吉瓦时的储能容量，占该国总装机容量的16%，同时约40%电力来自科兹洛杜伊核电站。[1]奥地利受影响较小，约60%电力来自水电。[1]
Central and Eastern European countries are facing a severe energy crisis as an ongoing drought has driven the Danube River to historic lows, forcing major reductions in nuclear and hydroelectric power generation.[1] Hungary's Paks nuclear power station, which accounts for approximately 50% of the country's total electricity generation and one-third of its power consumption, is currently operating at only 12% capacity due to insufficient cooling water from the river.[1] The crisis intensified as temperatures soared, with Budapest reaching 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit) on August 6.[1]
The impact extends across the region's energy infrastructure, with Romania taking emergency measures including blasting rocks to divert water into Danube tributaries in an effort to maintain water levels.[1] Serbia relies heavily on thermal generation, with approximately 65% of its electricity produced from coal-fired plants and 25% from hydroelectric sources, making it particularly vulnerable to the drought's effects.[1] Industrial enterprises across multiple countries have been forced to reduce production as electricity supplies tighten.[1]
However, the crisis has revealed divergent vulnerabilities among nations based on their energy portfolios and infrastructure design. Bulgaria maintains greater stability due to its substantial battery storage capacity of 3.4 gigawatts and 8.6 gigawatt-hours, which represents 16% of the country's total installed capacity, while approximately 40% of its electricity comes from the Kozloduy nuclear power station.[1] Austria, with roughly 60% of its power derived from hydroelectric sources, and Slovakia have experienced comparatively less severe impacts due to their energy structures and cooling system designs.[1]