Project Carmen, aimed at the development of a smart grid with the modernization and digitalization of the transmission and distribution networks, will mark a revolution in the energy sector.
„This will be a revolution in the power sector in the Romanian distribution grid. We have no choice; this is the way forward and we all have to contribute. All we need is stable and predictable legislation because this way profits are going to come and also benefits for our customers”, said Livia Stan, Director of Public Affairs and EU Funds at E.ON Romania, at the conference “Spring Cocktail 2023”, organized by Energynomics.
The project, led by Romanian electricity and gas distribution operator Delgaz Grid and the transmission operator Transelectrica in partnership with the Hungarian TSO MAVIR, is eligible as one of the European Commission’s ‘projects of common interest’.
Project CARMEN is valued at approximately 120 million euros over the period 2023-2026. Stan said that E.ON will try to get 250 million euros in European funds in the next five years for its projects.
The company, which last year invested over 650 million lei in the networks „even if the tariffs were frozen”, is set to increase this amount to 900 million lei in 2023.
„I think 2023 will be a year of investments; this is for sure our target at E.ON. We are about to invest more than 900 million lei in networks this year”, she said.
The past two years have been challenging for the company, which has to support the scheme created by the government to lower the pressure caused by the increasing energy prices on consumers from its own funds and from loans from the banks. For the German company, 2023 is a year of „rebuilding the trust”, after a difficult 2022.
„We had huge costs and we were on the edge for about two months but at the end of last year we had a very constructive discussion with the government and we found the right solutions. Now, as the market is stabilized, we are in a better situation”, Stan concluded.
„Spring Cocktail 2023” was organized by Energynomics. with the support of our partners, among which Electrica Furnizare, Enery, E.ON, Huawei, Photomate, Renomia-Gallagher și Alexandrion Group.