A number of big players in the market for electricity generation from renewable sources say they no longer need the subsidies granted by the state through the green certificate scheme because they have already amortized their investments.
“Big players in the market say that they no longer need support because the technologies are mature and there are projects that can be done without support from the state. Banks should support this sector and also assume the reasonable share of risk they avoid”, said Silvia Vlăsceanu, Executive Director of HENRO, during the “More renewables for Romania” conference, organized by Energynomics.
Vlăsceanu added that a period of recovery of the investment in a wind or photovoltaic plant in one year or even in a four-year interval is atypical considering that in the energy sector the recovery of investments is usually done in longer periods of time.
At the same time, the energy market does not currently operate on the principle of supply and demand in a competitive and fair way, and the companies in the field cannot conclude long-term contracts also due to the lack of legislative predictability.
“Until the market starts working again without administrative and legislative interventions, I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk about a new support scheme”, said Vlăsceanu.
According to Vlăsceanu, 15 years ago, Romania introduced a support scheme for renewable energies and the “greed of some” ultimately led to distortions in its application. Currently, Romania is creating a context in which investments in renewable energies are attractive again, including for individuals.
“There is no nation that is prepared for prosumers. Some have outright prohibited the connection of prosumers, at least natural people. This is due to the fact that the system, particularly the networks, is not completely prepared”, she stated.
In order to reduce the overloading of electrical networks, investors in energy capacities from renewable sources should ensure that the places of consumption are as close as possible to the place of production.
HENRO’s member companies, namely Nuclearelectrica, Hidroelectrica, Elcen, CE Oltenia and Romgaz, provide approximately 70% of the electricity delivered to the national electricity system (SEN).
“More renewables for Romania” conference was organized by Energynomics, with the support of our partners among which Alive Capital, Astrasun, BCR, Elektra Renewable Support, EnergoBit, Eximprod, Ensys Renewable Solution, ING Bank, LAPP Romania, Metacon, Noark, Photomate, REI Grup, TAW Energy, Volt, Wiren.