The record-low water levels of the Danube are no longer simply an environmental or agricultural concern. A new regional analysis warns that the drought is putting energy security under growing pressure across Central and Eastern Europe – and highlights the need for countries along the river to tackle the crisis together.
The Danube drought has exposed how closely water management, electricity generation, transport and energy security are interconnected. Hungary, Romania and Serbia have been among the countries hardest hit, while Austria, Slovakia and Bulgaria have so far proved more resilient, according to a new analysis by the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs (HIIA).
The study argues that the extreme conditions of summer 2026 have revealed a vulnerability extending far beyond traditional water management. Exceptionally low river levels can reduce hydropower generation, limit the cooling capacity of nuclear power stations, disrupt the transport of fuel and other goods, and increase countries’ dependence on electricity imports.
For the countries sharing the Danube, the crisis also underlines the importance of coordinated regional action. Because electricity grids are interconnected and the river crosses multiple countries, measures taken by one state can affect its neighbours – particularly when drought affects several countries at the same time.
Hungary among the countries hardest hit by the Danube drought
Hungary is particularly exposed because the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, the country’s only nuclear facility, relies on Danube water for cooling. The plant normally provides around half of Hungary’s electricity, making its operation a crucial issue for national energy security.
During the most severe phase of the drought, exceptionally low water levels and unusually warm river water forced Paks to cut its output dramatically. Although a temporary rise in the Danube allowed another turbine to restart earlier this week, the improvement proved short-lived.
On 15 August, Paks was operating at only around 25 percent of its capacity, with the government preparing emergency measures to prevent further reductions. Hungary plans to sink two 80-metre barges near the plant to raise the local water level temporarily, while a submerged structure in the riverbed is being prepared as a longer-term solution.
The situation demonstrates the difficulty of replacing nuclear generation at short notice. Hungary has rapidly expanded solar power, while gas-fired generation and electricity imports can help compensate for some of the lost output. However, these sources cannot necessarily replace a large nuclear plant immediately or consistently throughout the day.
The crisis is also raising questions about future nuclear investments. Hungary is reviewing aspects of the planned Paks II project, as the proposed facility would likewise depend on the Danube for cooling.
Romania forced to shut down both nuclear reactors
Romania has faced an even more dramatic situation. The country’s two nuclear reactors at Cernavodă, which normally provide around one fifth of Romania’s electricity, both ended up offline as the Danube continued to fall. One reactor was shut down in late July, while the operator began disconnecting the remaining reactor from the grid on 13 August.
Romanian authorities took extraordinary measures in an attempt to keep the final reactor operating. These included dredging the riverbed, removing a rock obstruction and using rock-filled barges to redirect more water towards the nuclear plant. However, the continuing fall in Danube levels ultimately made a controlled shutdown unavoidable.
Romania declared an energy emergency for August and asked households and companies to reduce electricity consumption during peak evening hours. The government has also increased reliance on other sources, including wind power, hydropower and a lignite-fired power plant.
The shutdown has consequences beyond Romania’s borders. Moldova, which has relied heavily on Romanian electricity imports, now faces the possibility of having to obtain electricity from more expensive alternative sources or introduce power cuts.
Never miss a headline: join Daily News Hungary’s official WhatsApp channel!
Serbia faces both energy and transport problems
Serbia’s challenges are somewhat different but are also closely linked to the Danube. Lower water flows have reduced production at major hydropower facilities, while the river’s role as a major transport corridor has created additional difficulties for energy security.
With water levels exceptionally low, cargo vessels are unable to operate at their normal capacity. This complicates the transport of diesel and other strategically important goods, potentially putting additional pressure on domestic supplies.
According to the HIIA analysis, Serbia has responded by releasing fuel reserves and seeking to strengthen alternative electricity-generation capacity.
The situation illustrates why the Danube drought cannot be treated as an isolated problem affecting individual countries. The same river is simultaneously a source of cooling water, hydropower and drinking water, as well as a crucial transport route.
Austria, Slovakia and Bulgaria have proved more resilient
Austria, Slovakia and Bulgaria have also experienced pressure from the drought, but their energy systems have so far been better able to absorb the shock. Austria has been able to compensate for weaker hydropower production partly through solar and wind generation and increased electricity imports.
Slovakia’s nuclear power plants are less directly dependent on Danube water for cooling because they use cooling towers, reducing their vulnerability to low river levels. Bulgaria’s Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant also has dedicated infrastructure designed to cope with exceptionally low river levels, providing greater resilience than facilities that depend more directly on the river’s flow.
These differences show that the impact of the same climate event can vary considerably depending on national energy infrastructure and the availability of alternative sources.
If you missed it: PM Magyar: Hungary begins sinking two huge barges to raise Danube water levels near Paks
Why countries along the Danube need to act together
The bigger lesson of the 2026 drought is that water security is becoming energy security. The same water resources may be needed at the same time for nuclear cooling, hydropower, irrigation, drinking water, shipping and the preservation of natural ecosystems. As climate change increases the likelihood of prolonged heatwaves and droughts, competition between these needs could become more frequent.
The HIIA analysis therefore points to the need for long-term investment in diversified energy systems, improved water retention, more resilient cooling technologies and stronger cross-border cooperation.
Regional coordination could become particularly important during simultaneous crises. Central and Eastern European electricity markets are closely interconnected, meaning that a shortage in one country can quickly affect neighbouring states. At the same time, when drought hits several countries simultaneously, the countries that normally provide emergency electricity imports may also be struggling with reduced generation.
This means the countries along the Danube have a shared interest in preparing for future droughts together. Coordinated water management, information sharing, emergency planning and electricity-market cooperation could help reduce the risk that a local water crisis develops into a regional energy crisis.
The 2026 drought has provided a grave warning: the future resilience of the Danube region will depend not only on how individual countries manage their own water and energy systems, but on how effectively they can respond together.
For Central Europe, the Danube is no longer just a river running through the region but a critical part of the region’s shared energy and security infrastructure.
