Romania has a huge potential to produce energy from offshore wind sources, which could more than quadruple the amount of electricity generated nationally each year, according to a study by the Energy Policy Group (EPG).

The study entitled “Romania’s Offshore Wind Energy Resources: Natural Potential, Regulatory Framework, and Development Prospects” analyzes Romania’s offshore wind energy potential, identifying a potential natural capacity of 94 GW, of which 22 GW using fixed turbines. The resulting annual energy production could reach 239 TWh, of which 54.4 TWh produced by fixed turbines.

For comparison, the country’s total annual energy production is between 50 and 60 TWh.

“Offshore wind energy can be a pillar in achieving the European continent’s climate neutrality target in 2050. Europe has significant offshore wind resources and a significant technological advantage globally. Unlocking this potential is the goal of the European Commission’s future Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy, to be published in November. The EU Strategy is expected to support the rapid development of offshore wind resources, from a current installed capacity of 20 GW to an estimated maximum of 450 GW in 2050”, say the authors of the study, according to Agerpres.

The production of energy from offshore wind sources offers important advantages: a high number of operating hours, low variability and, implicitly, lower forecast errors and reduced balancing costs compared to onshore and photovoltaic wind energy.

The exploitation of offshore wind resources implies the development of nearby ports, these being essential both in the manufacturing stage of certain components, but also in the installation, operation and maintenance phases. This potential also offers an opportunity to invest in clean hydrogen production and consumption capacity, as well as to create national value chains in the field of offshore wind energy and hydrogen, with a positive impact on the number of jobs at national level. In view of the multiple financing opportunities, both public and private, available for Romania, the current moment is conducive to launching investments in offshore wind capacities located in the Black Sea, the study also states.