Romania’s energy system is under pressure because of the exceptionally low flow of the Danube and the loss of capacity at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant. Romania’s National Administration “Apele Române” announced that the river’s level in the Cernavodă area had fallen to minus 227 centimeters yesterday.
The minimum level set for the plant’s operation is minus 230 centimeters. The current decline is making it more difficult to operate the second reactor, while one of the two reactors is already offline. As a result, 680 megawatts of nuclear power generation capacity are unavailable.
Emergency measures are being taken along the Danube
Romanian authorities are carrying out emergency interventions along the river to preserve the operating time of the reactor in service. Barges loaded with rocks were sunk into the Danube to increase the flow into the canal that supplies water to the plant.
The intervention led to a brief rise in the water level. However, after rising by 4 centimeters over the weekend, the river fell by another 5 centimeters. Hydrological indicators point to a narrowing operating margin at the plant.
Water level could fall to minus 236 centimeters
Authorities expect the level at Cernavodă to fall by about 2 centimeters each day through August 14. After that date, the rate of decline is expected to slow to 1 centimeter per day, with the river level projected to reach approximately minus 236 centimeters on August 16.
High electricity demand during the summer months, deteriorating hydrological conditions and low flow on the Danube are increasing the load on Romania’s electricity grid.
Large industrial consumers could face power cuts
The Romanian government has introduced a new mechanism in case current generation fails to meet projected demand. Under the arrangement, the grid operator will be able to cut electricity to some large industrial consumers with 24 hours’ notice.
Households, hospitals and some energy infrastructure facilities are excluded because they are among the sites whose operations must not be interrupted.
