Many local authorities want to have renewable energy projects in their area of responsibility, but not all have the institutional capacity to approve and implement them, said Radu Enache, Managing Director of Aukera Energy Romania.

“There are all the prerequisites to do projects here, but not everyone has the capacity to implement them. They don’t have the strength to do everything that is needed. And it’s frustrating that we waste time preparing paperwork. We have to struggle with every project instead of simplifying things,” he said, at the conference “2024: A defining year for the renewable energy sector in Romania”.

The company entered the Romanian market in 2019 and was founded by former members of the Carlyle investment fund. The company is also funded by Atlas Invest.

Since entering the local market, the company has started to develop greenfield projects and has steadily increased its number of employees. Most of the company’s projects are expected to be ready-to-build by the end of this year.

Enache said the company entered the market “confident”, but ran into some problems, especially with the interpretation of the legislation by some local authorities.

“In reality it’s a bit different. What’s a bit frustrating is that the law changes depending on who you talk to. Everyone reads it differently. There are authorities that give opinions after a year, and some authorities no one responds,” Enache said.

The conference “2024: A defining year for the renewable energy sector in Romania” was organized by Energynomics with the support of our partners: ADC, Alive Capital, CRC Energy, Elektra Renewable Support, EnergoPower, Ensys, Extro, Horváth, ING Bank, LONGi Solar, Monsson Operation, Nofar Energy, OX2 România, Photomate, PNE Romania, Polytrade Global, REI Grup, Renomia, Sph3ra Management Solutions, Transelectrica, WALDEVAR Energy, Wiren Romania. On this occasion, Energynomics launched its first report under the initiative “Monitor of the Romanian Photovoltaic Projects”.