The solar roof systems market will grow by 50% annually, and the surfaces available in parking lots can become sources of green energy production and charging spaces through CAR-PORT type roofs, says Andrei Ivan, Managing Director, 4ENVIGO. “Multiannual subsidy programs are needed to help SMEs cover part of the costs of installing photovoltaic systems. Also, the implementation of fiscal facilities to reduce local taxes for buildings that have renewable energy production sources would help to install new green energy production capacities on the roof of buildings faster.”
How did the rooftop solar market evolve in 2022 and how do you foresee it evolving in 2023 and in the medium term? How have raw material prices evolved?
The rooftop PV system market has doubled in the year 2022. We anticipate strong development over the coming years, with significant increases of over 50% each year. The prices of raw materials have stabilized, following which the market will become stable also in terms of deliveries of essential components, panels, inverters, structures. The amortization term of roof-top systems is of 4-5 years, considering the capped price of energy.
What are the main barriers to the development of prosumer solar projects in Romania? What can be done?
The main barriers to development are related to the ability to connect newly built systems to the distribution network, financing arrangements for new installations, and labor availability restrictions. Multiannual subsidy programs are needed to help SMEs cover part of the costs of installing PV systems. Also, the implementation of fiscal facilities to reduce local taxes for buildings that have renewable energy production sources would help to install new green energy production capacities on the roof of buildings more quickly.
What should Romania do to allow an acceleration of investments?
Romania and primarily local authorities can contribute decisively to the transition to green mobility by enforcing existing laws regarding the number of parking spaces and minimum charging stations for new and even existing homes and commercial spaces. Available surfaces in parking lots can become sources of green energy production and charging spaces through CAR-PORT type roofs. These are integrated solutions for the production and supply of electric vehicles with green energy, using much more usefully asphalted or concrete parking surfaces, currently used only as parking.
How do you see the evolution of 2023 for the business environment in Romania?
The year 2023 is the year of changes, in which I chose entrepreneurship after 15 years of experience in real estate, through which I contributed to the successful development of some of the most sustainable projects, with teams that had a major positive impact in improving standards work, quality and safety. In a difficult year like 2023, with the challenges of the economic situation, I believe that the business environment will experience a maturation, in which values, financial discipline and reputation management will make the difference between successful companies and those that will need reorganization. Sustainability is the tool through which companies will be analyzed by investors, customers and partners, since the delivery of profit is now also measured through the prism of non-financial indicators, using the structure of environmental, social and corporate governance parameters – ESG (Environment, Social, Governance ); today it is essential to be able to explain with concrete data how we deliver profit if we want the business plan for the coming years to show sustainable growth.
By developing on a sustainable basis we can intelligently invest the limited resources of the planet. The Romanian business environment is constantly discovering and adapting to ESG models and methods.
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This interview first appeared in the printed edition of Energynomics Magazine, issued in June 2023.
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