WWF-Romania (World Wide Fund for Nature), Declic, Bankwatch and 2Celsius sent the Ministry of Energy a series of observations and recommendations regarding the organization of the public consultation process, as well as the measures, actions and environmental impact of the investments proposed in Romania’s Energy Strategy 2025 -2035. The strategy was published on the website of the Ministry of Energy on May 14, 2024, and the public consultation process ended on July 13, 2024.

The organizations drew attention to the fact that Romania continues to base its transition plans on the massive increase in fossil fuel consumption, through new thermal power plant projects, fossil gas distribution networks, but also new exploitation capacities, in this case Neptun Deep, which will leads to an increase in carbon emissions, climate impact, as well as Romania’s dependence on fossil gases. The organizations thus propose the reduction of planned fossil gas-based capacity and more ambition regarding energy from renewable sources, efforts to lower gas consumption together with investments in energy efficiency.

The strategy proposes a low renewable energy target of 36% until 2030. Environmental organizations remind the recommendations of the European Commission regarding the new renewable energy target of at least 41% until 2030. They consider that Romania still has many opportunities to introduce renewable energy in the heating-cooling sector, transport, but also in electricity production, if part of the planned gas capacity is abandoned and more emphasis is placed on network modernization and storage.

In this sense, the organizations requested the introduction of a sub-objective for the acceleration of renewable energy projects and inter-institutional collaboration. In parallel, they emphasized the need to abandon destructive hydropower investments, for which the very strategy reminds that Romania has reached and exceeded its sustainability limit. NGOs rather support the promotion of hydropower retrofitting and pumped storage in low-impact locations.

Although the strategy integrates storage, digitization of networks and consumer engagement, for some of these initiatives it does not propose concrete targets or necessary legislative measures – a simple example would be the adoption of smart meters. In the context of the energy transition, different energy governance and the designation of a competent authority are needed, as well as the adoption of a Climate Law to ensure the integration of energy and climate change.

Environmental organizations have requested clarification and specific measures also in the area of ​​heating and cooling, including the role of renewable resources and the share of fossil gas in the future. Recommendations include diversifying the energy mix with heat pumps and solar power and adopting renewable energy technologies at community level and reducing the role of solid biomass, alongside financial schemes for vulnerable communities dependent on firewood. Moreover, the need to integrate the targets of the Long-Term Renovation Strategy for the energy efficiency of buildings, which is missing from the content of the document, was emphasized.

Although more emphasis is placed on prosumers, with a target of 2.5 GW installed in 2030, the energy strategy does not propose clear targets for creating energy communities and reducing energy poverty by 2030. Therefore, among the recommendations are the establishment of concrete indicators , but also financial incentives, such as energy efficiency programs and the change of heat sources, for the protection of vulnerable consumers. Environmental organizations have asked the authorities that energy subsidies be directed exclusively to vulnerable consumers and that the process be transparent to ensure fair access to energy.

The organizations also pointed out that the strategy proposed by the Government lacks concrete and measurable objectives, which makes it difficult to evaluate the change produced by this document. The strategy mentions measurement indicators, but these are general and do not include benchmark data for comparison. That is why the organizations requested the clarification of the specific targets, as well as the institutionalization of the just transition as a distinct objective, essential for the decarbonization process, but which is currently missing from the strategy.

Through the recommendations and observations submitted, environmental organizations reiterated the need for a more transparent and participatory approach in regulatory processes, to successfully implement the proposed energy strategy and to ensure public and stakeholder engagement.