Actis Energy Infrastructure has already committed more than 1 billion euros to the development of renewable energy projects in Romania, which are currently under construction. The company has also successfully participated in the Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions, and through Rezolv, its operating platform in Romania, it will deliver a new project in 2026, which will have “the most competitive price,” said Jaroslava Korpanec, Partner and Head of Central and Eastern Europe at Actis Energy Infrastructure.
“Last year, it was estimated that 13 trillion euros in infrastructure investments are needed for Central and Eastern European countries to reach the same level as Western Europe. This situation presents an enormous opportunity for infrastructure investors and industry players. In 2020, Actis committed to investing in the energy sector of Central and Eastern Europe, recognizing both the need for decarbonization and the importance of investments in this sector,” Korpanec stated, at the conference “International Approach: Catalyzing Romania’s energy future”, organised by Energynomics in London.
She added that Actis is looking for stability in Romania’s political and economic sectors to be able to provide the necessary funding for the energy transition.
The need for energy investments in Central and Eastern Europe is not only driven by the transition to cleaner sources and the reduction of dependence on Russian gas and oil but also by economic growth. According to Korpanec, this region is a growth engine, a hub for Europe’s future industries, with an average GDP growth rate twice as high as that of Western Europe.
The demand for electricity is fueled by the electrification of transport, the development of smart technologies, the rollout of 5G networks, and the expansion of fiber optic infrastructure. This level of consumption will remain significantly higher than in Western Europe, making infrastructure investments absolutely essential.
According to Korpanec, Central and Eastern European countries must acknowledge their historical reliance on coal, especially considering that over 38% of the region’s electricity is still coal-generated. The European Union has set strict targets to reduce hydrocarbon use by up to 50%, with penalties for non-compliance.
Achieving these objectives requires massive investments, primarily from the private sector. Moreover, these investments must be economically sustainable and ensure market competitiveness.
The renewable energy market in these countries is still fragmented, and large-scale development is crucial to ensuring competitive energy costs.
“What makes this region attractive to an international investor? The most important aspect is that we deliver concrete results to our investors, those who support us and are our financial partners (LPs – Limited Partners). Where do we see opportunities as international investors? Actis Energy, although originally linked to the UK government, is now a private company owned by our American partners at GA. To date, we have invested over 8 billion dollars in energy infrastructure in emerging markets—regions that will drive the most significant global economic growth and will have the highest energy consumption. These markets, including Latin America, Southeast Asia, India, and Africa, have been heavily underinvested in and represent a massive potential for development,” she added.
The conference “International Approach: Catalyzing Romania’s energy future” was organised by Energynomics in London with the support of our partners AJ Brand, Elektra Renewable Support, Adrem Asset Management, Enexus, Nofar Energy, Parapet, Wiren.