Hungary cuts output at Paks nuclear plant as Danube water temperature hits critical level

Hungary’s sole nuclear facility, the Paks plant, reduced the output of one of its four reactors by 243 MW after the Danube’s water temperature rose to 29.7 °C, exceeding the 25 °C limit set for cooling. The operator, MVM, said the high temperature was measured downstream of the plant, forcing a safety‑driven shutdown of reactor 3. Paks supplies roughly 40 % of the country’s electricity, so the reduction could influence power prices and grid stability.

The heatwave that raised river temperatures also spurred the energy minister, István Kapitány, to ask households to cut consumption between 16:00 and 19:00 GMT to avoid overloading the grid. Experts cited the incident as evidence of the vulnerability of energy infrastructure to climate change and urged greater investment in resilient and renewable sources.

The incident highlights the challenges faced by Hungary’s energy sector as extreme weather becomes more frequent, potentially prompting regulatory reviews of cooling‑water limits and broader climate‑adaptation measures.