Renewable energy emerged as the dominant price-forming force in Southeast Europe during Week 24, reshaping market dynamics despite a concurrent rise in electricity demand. Across the analysed markets, combined wind and solar generation increased to 3.64 TWh, up 518.6 GWh or 16.6% week on week. The scale of this increase was sufficient to offset the impact of higher seasonal consumption, creating a market environment in which rising demand did not translate into rising electricity prices.
Wind power provided the strongest contribution to the renewable surge. Regional wind generation climbed by 308.4 GWh, or 28.1%, reaching 1.40 TWh, while solar generation increased by 210.2 GWh, or 10.4%, to 2.23 TWh. Together, these technologies supplied a significantly larger share of the regional generation mix, strengthening the renewable cushion that supported wholesale markets during the early stages of the summer demand season.
Türkiye was the standout performer, recording a 67.1% increase in variable renewable generation, largely driven by a sharp recovery in wind output. Serbia also delivered an exceptional result, with renewable generation rising 76.8% week on week. Other markets reported solid gains as well, including Hungary (+21.2%), Bulgaria (+12.8%), Romania (+6.1%), and Italy (+6.1%). Greece experienced only a modest overall increase of 1.9%, as a strong 22.8% rise in solar generation was partially offset by a 31.4% decline in wind production.
Croatia was the notable exception to the regional trend. Variable renewable generation declined by 35.9%, primarily due to weaker wind conditions. As a result, the Croatian power system relied more heavily on hydropower, with hydro generation increasing by 43.5%. This created a different balancing structure compared to neighbouring markets, where wind and solar were the primary drivers of supply growth.
The influence of renewables was clearly reflected in wholesale electricity prices across the region. Most Southeast European markets recorded lower prices despite stronger demand, highlighting the growing market impact of variable renewable generation. Weekly average prices declined to €78.22/MWh in Serbia, €93.58/MWh in Bulgaria, €92.02/MWh in Croatia, €97.38/MWh in Romania, and €98.71/MWh in Hungary.
The developments of Week 24 underline a broader structural shift in the Southeast European power market. Wind and solar generation are no longer marginal contributors to price formation. They are increasingly becoming the first source of market volatility, influencing price spreads, dispatch decisions, cross-border flows, and trading opportunities before hydro shortages or thermal generation constraints begin to dominate market behaviour. As renewable penetration continues to rise, their role in shaping regional electricity prices is expected to become even more pronounced.