Serbia moved from a net electricity export position to net imports in the week to 20 September, with a steep fall in wind and solar generation altering the supply balance despite stronger hydropower output. The country recorded 14.89 GWh of net imports, down from 23.84 GWh of net exports a week earlier. The change reflects movements in variable renewable output alongside higher hydro generation.
Variable renewable generation fell 69.6%, the largest percentage drop among the markets covered. Hydropower output rose 74.14% to 42.98 GWh, but it did not prevent Serbia’s trade position from switching to imports. Demand also eased, falling 4.12% to 552.38 GWh.
Serbia’s average day-ahead price declined 2.72% to €151.46/MWh, making it the second-cheapest market in the report after Türkiye. The import shift does not, on its own, indicate a shortage or a price spike. The weekly figures show how quickly Serbia’s trading position can change when renewable output varies.
Implications for balancing supply coverage
The data point to how producers and suppliers may need hydro, thermal generation and imports to cover swings at competitive prices as more wind and solar capacity enters the system. Serbia imported power during a relatively cheap week, according to the same set of weekly figures. A similar generation swing during a regional price surge would present different exposure for market participants.