European energy security

Warns that an energy crisis could start within days. He says the shutdown and the cost of the emergency imports could have been avoided if the previous Orbán government had built a new pumping station. The problem of low water in the Danube, he says, has been known for years. If reserves, imports and voluntary restraint are not enough, large users can be disconnected in rotation, and the government is preparing the legislation for it.

”Ez azt jelenti, hogy legkésőbb hétfőtől 2000 megawatt kiesik a magyar energiatermelésből, miközben a fokozódó hőség miatt folyamatosan nő a lakossági és közületi villamosenergia-felhasználási igény.”This means that from Monday at the latest 2,000 megawatts will drop out of Hungarian energy production, while residential and public electricity demand keeps rising because of the intensifying heat.

Says the Commission is watching Hungary and Romania and stands ready to convene an ad hoc meeting of its Electricity Coordination Group. That group, the Commission says, would help share information and coordinate next steps in the region. She stressed at the same time that there are currently no immediate energy security concerns.

”Although the operator has emergency measures in place to guarantee nuclear safety, an event of this kind could further strain the regional electricity balance”Although the operator has emergency measures in place to guarantee nuclear safety, an event of this kind could further strain the regional electricity balance

Declared a nationwide energy alert for August and put the numbers in public. Romania is covering its evening deficit with imports of about 1,700 megawatts. If the second Cernavodă reactor stops as well, the country loses about 20 percent of national generation, which is what the whole plant supplies. He says every neighbouring country is in the same position, with demand for imported power just as high, and he has asked Ukraine for emergency evening supply.

”Față de un consum normal de peste 7.000 MW în orele de seară, importăm aproximativ 1.700 MW. Dacă se oprește și grupul doi, ar trebui să importăm peste 2.500 MW.”Against a normal consumption of over 7,000 MW in the evening hours, we are importing around 1,700 MW. If the second unit stops as well, we would have to import over 2,500 MW.

Puts Hungary's loss from Monday at 25 to 30 percent of the country's output, which is less than the half of generation the plant claims for itself. He calls it a serious test of Hungarian and regional supply alike. He says imports from neighbouring countries can cover part of that loss, though hydropower availability is itself limited across the region.

”Although the situation in Hungary is stretched, I don't expect this to cause serious regional problems”Although the situation in Hungary is stretched, I don't expect this to cause serious regional problems

Says Romania lacks a coherent national energy strategy. He says the country should have refurbished its hydropower plants, built new generating capacity and expanded wind and solar. Those, he says, could provide an alternative when the nuclear plant cannot run at full capacity.

”Above all, Romania should have invested in developing electricity storage capacity. This is an area where the country remains significantly underdeveloped”Above all, Romania should have invested in developing electricity storage capacity. This is an area where the country remains significantly underdeveloped

Attacked a Danish support plan in May 2025, fifteen months before Vattenfall won this tender. He argued that offshore wind should be tendered at the pace private investors are willing to fund it. Guaranteed prices, he wrote, leave neither politicians nor voters able to see what the final bill will be. The plan he was writing about was three gigawatts for up to 50 billion Danish kroner before VAT.

”Hvis havvind skal være støttefri, skal man skal belave sig på at udbygge i den takt og det omfang, der er markedsmæssig interesse for, og ikke beslutte udbygningstakten blandt folketingspolitikere omkring et forhandlingsbord.”If offshore wind is to be subsidy-free, you have to be prepared to build out at the pace and on the scale there is market interest for, and not decide the pace of build-out among members of parliament around a negotiating table.