As outlined in our first article from Brussels, the conversations at the SolarPower Summit 2025 made it clear: solar has entered a new era, with flexibility, storage, and smart grid integration at its core. But while Europe focuses on acceleration, each member state must translate this momentum into national-level action. For Romania, this is not just a challenge—it is an opportunity to reposition itself as an industrial and strategic contributor to the continent’s energy future.
From ambition to execution
In Brussels, the conversation is no longer about feasibility, but urgency. From agrisolar deployments to grid-integrated storage, the technologies are ready. What matters now is how quickly countries can move from vision to delivery.
For Romania, this means creating the conditions that investors recognize as safe, scalable, and predictable. As counterintuitive as it may sound, Romania must become boring — in the most productive sense of the word. That means eliminating uncertainty and friction from every stage of project development.
To do this, action is required on three critical fronts:
- Permitting: Streamline and digitize permitting processes. Investors in renewables and storage are discouraged not by lack of interest or capital, but by bureaucracy. It is essential that Romania harmonizes interpretations and approvals across counties and institutions in order to stay ahead of the EU curve.
- Infrastructure planning: Accelerate grid reinforcement and digitalization — not only for utility-scale solar, but for rooftop, agrovoltaic, and flexibility-enhancing assets. Strategic investment is urgently needed in transformers, substations, and connection points for both energy export and storage capacity.
- Long-term policy alignment: Romania must fully align its national frameworks with key European initiatives like the Net-Zero Industry Act, the Clean Industrial Deal, and the forthcoming EU Storage Action Plan. But alignment on paper is not enough. Authorities must pair these declarations with predictable support schemes — including the long-awaited second wave of Contracts for Difference (CfDs) — and with coherent fiscal and taxation policies that reflect the strategic value of clean energy investments.
Where the business opportunities lie
In this unfolding European realignment, Romania has a rare industrial window. As it seeks to diversify its supply chains with clean technologies that do not come from China, Europe is ready to welcome new suppliers, from manufacturing to execution, from engineering to services of integration. Romanian companies can step in—if they move fast.
- Solar manufacturing: Romania has potential to increase capacity in mounting systems, cabling, junction boxes, and other BOS (balance of system) components where EU demand is growing rapidly.
- Agrovoltaic structures: With growing EU support for rural and dual-use energy solutions, Romanian firms in agriculture and light industry can deliver customized PV infrastructure for farms, greenhouses, and cooperatives.
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): Romania is well positioned to develop logistics and installation solutions for BESS, particularly as the EU Storage Action Plan approaches. Integrators and EPCs should prepare now for scaling this offering.
- Software and grid automation: Romanian IT and engineering firms should seize the chance to partner with energy companies across Europe to deploy AI-based grid tools, home energy management systems, and smart control platforms. As PV penetration increases, intelligent coordination and robust cybersecurity frameworks will become critical.
- Green hydrogen infrastructure and services: As IEA’s Laura Cozzi noted in Brussels, “Hydrogen… the battle is open. There is no winner yet. Europe should push ahead.” Romania’s legacy in heavy industry, coupled with its gas transmission infrastructure and export potential, gives it a real chance to play in this emerging market.
The energy transition is no longer a matter of “if” or “when,” but a matter of “how fast.” And judging by the tone and clarity of the conversations in Brussels, the answer is simple: as fast as possible.
