Romania’s future energy strategy will be based on three main pillars: renewables, nuclear energy and natural gas. The new strategy entails “accelerated decarbonization” of the energy system, including by increasing the share of renewable energy in consumption by one percentage point to 37.2%, said Dan Drăgan, secretary of state in the energy ministry.
“Following reviews and suggestions from market participants, the decarbonization target for the national energy system has increased by one percent to 37.2%. We are moving towards accelerated decarbonization of the national energy system. A large part of the decarbonization will be achieved in the home heating sector and transportation. We hope that in the coming weeks we will be in a position to present to the Executive the government decision to adopt the strategy. The strategy has been updated based on feedback from companies,” said Drăgan at the Energy Strategy Summit 2024, organized by Energynomics.
The first pillar of the new energy strategy, renewables, involves the installation of 3 GW of offshore wind by 2030-2031. Romania aims to finalize long-started and commercially viable hydropower projects, which are also essential for balancing the national energy system. These projects total 10 GW, which will have to be commissioned by 2030.
On the nuclear energy side, Romania plans to rehabilitate reactor 1 of the Cernavodă plant between 2027 and 2029. Between 2031 and 2032, reactors 3 and 4 are planned to be commissioned. As for natural gas, Romania covers 80% of its consumption from onshore national production, but from 2027, with the first gas extracted from Neptun Deep, the country could “reach self-sufficiency”.
Drăgan also hopes that the Iernut plant will be commissioned in the fourth quarter of this year. Other important projects include the 1,700 MW Mintia plant and CE Oltenia’s two cogeneration projects, the 475 MW Turceni unit and the 850 MW Ișalnița unit.
Romania is planning to increase renewable energy transmission capacity through the 2.5 GW cable to Hungary, as well as to launch new financing opportunities for energy storage projects. “Energy storage is very important. So far we have had requests for 5 GWh and we are considering launching a similar new call,” the official said.
Regarding interconnectivity, Mr. Dragan emphasized the need to ensure regional stability and security by ensuring the energy security of Moldova and Ukraine. He added that he is convinced that energy consumption in Romania will also increase once energy becomes more available and commercially accessible to end consumers.
Energy Strategy Summit 2024 was organized by Energynomics, with support from our partners: ABB, ADC, Alive Capital, BayWa r.e, BCR, Best Tools Company, CRC Energy, Distribuție Energie Electrica Romania, DRI, Eaton Electric, Electrica Furnizare, Elektra Renewable Support, EnergoBit, Energo Power, Enevo Group, Evryo, Exim Banca Românească, Hidroelectrica, Horvath, Huawei, Jinko Solar, Keno Energy, MET România Energy, Nofar Energy, Nuclearelectrica, OX2, Photomate, PNE, Polytrade, Renomia Gallagher, Romgaz, Schneider Electric, SolaX Power, TDP Partners, ThinkBlu Solution, Transelectrica, Vertis, WALDEVAR Energy. With the support of Alexandrion Group, Mobexpert.
Strategic partners: ACUE, AFEER, AIIR, AHK România, ARPEE, CNR-CME, CRE, EFdeN, EPG, HENRO, FPPG, PATRES, ROMATOM, RPIA, RWEA, SAMER.
Media partners: CISOLAR, The Voice of Renewables