Summer 2026 was tough for Italian hydropower due to low water levels

Hydropower generation in Italy dropped by 38.5% in May compared to last year due to low water levels. Over the first five months, output declined by 19.3%. Edison reports that reservoir water levels are currently about 40% below long-term averages. In northern Italy, the main hydropower region, precipitation from March to May was 30–50% below normal, and June was extremely hot.