Danube drought shuts nuclear plants
Analysis based on 202 articles · First reported Jul 22, 2026 · Last updated Aug 22, 2026
The shutdowns reduced nuclear power generation in Hungary and Romania, forcing increased reliance on expensive electricity imports and raising energy costs. The crisis highlights the vulnerability of nuclear power to climate change, potentially affecting future investment and operational costs for utilities across European Union — Europe.
A severe drought and record heatwaves across European Union — Europe in summer 2026 caused the Danube River to fall to historic lows, threatening nuclear power generation in Hungary and Romania. Hungary's Paks Nuclear Power Plant, which provides about half of the country's electricity, was forced to shut down completely for the first time in its 44-year history due to insufficient cooling water. Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, operated by Nuclearelectrica, shut down both of its reactors, cutting about 20% of the country's power output. Both countries declared energy emergencies, imposed conservation measures, and relied on imports. Hungary undertook emergency engineering measures, including building a riverbed sill and sinking barges, to raise water levels. The drought also disrupted river shipping, exposed WWII shipwrecks, and affected other European Union — European countries, including Serbia, France, and the Netherlands. Scientists attribute the extreme conditions to human-induced climate change.
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