The Italian company Fortza Solar has developed two factories in Romania where it builds the infrastructure on which photovoltaic panels are installed, but the market is developing slowly because many small and medium-sized companies lack the necessary funds, said Giuliano Raccanello, the company’s general manager.
“Four years ago we invested 4.5 million euros because we knew it was coming (the second wave of renewables – editor’s note). We have a factory in Mediaș and a total of 150 employees. At full capacity, we could have an infrastructure production for photovoltaic capacity of 25 MW per month,” Raccanello said, at the conference “Digitalization and Energy Efficiency – Cluj-Napoca” organised by Energynomics and the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Romania – CCIpR.
He added that, thanks to the simplified assembly used, the company has reduced its production costs by 10-30 euro/kW. So far, the company has helped to install about half a GW in solar power plants. The company-owned factory workshops cover a total area of 15,000 square metres. The company also exports its products to Italy.
Although the market is booming, Raccanello is sceptical that too many PV plants will be built because few companies can afford the cost.
“The market in Romania is boiling, bubbling. In the future, there is a lot of interest, demand is high, but there is no money. Everybody stops at money. That’s the reality. Apart from some big players, who are also foreigners, there is no money. There are 7,000 MW with approved ATRs, but I don’t think more than 0.5% will be made,” he added.
In his view, if Romania does not develop a strategy that includes energy storage, the green energy sector will be “a bubble that will burst very quickly”.
“We all know that in the private sector if 1+1 doesn’t make at least three, things don’t move forward,” Raccanello added.
The conference “Digitalization and Energy Efficiency – Cluj-Napoca” was organised by Energynomics and the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Romania – CCIpR, with the support of our partners: ADC, ABB, BCR, CRC Energy, Datacor, Eaton Electric, Elektra Renewable Support, EnergoBit, Exim Banca Românească, Fortza Solar, MET Energy Romania, Polytrade Global, Nofar, WALDEVAR Energy.