The second day of the Romanian Energy Symposium – SIREN 2021, with the theme “Romanian Energy Sector – The chance for a new beginning”, organized by the Romanian National Committee of the World Energy Council (CNR-CME), under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy and The National Authorities in the field took place on September 7 and included two working sessions.

The Working Session „New technologies in the evaluation of the energy mix in Romania, was moderated by Teodor Chirica-Chairman of the Nuclear Power Board and Mihai Albulescu – Vice-Rector of UPG Ploiești, and the presentations were sustained by: Gabriela Dan – President of ACROPO, Sorin Călin Gal – general director of ANRM, Volker Raffel – chairman & CEO, E.ON Romania, Mădălin Apostol, director of OMV-Petrom, Lăcrămioara Diaconu-Pinţea, Board member of the Oltenia Energy Complex.

The main aspects analyzed mainly referred to:

• The need to accelerate the development, exploitation and capitalization of gas resources in the Black Sea, given that after 2030 their value could be significantly reduced, oil and natural gas demand will decrease, and they will no longer be commercially profitable;
• The importance of deep sea gas exploration;
• The importance of elaborating studies on the opening of new quarries for the exploitation and preparation of uranium deposits in Romania;
• The need for investments in energy systems infrastructure and the importance of connecting users to the electricity distribution network;
• The need to digitalize the Romanian energy sector;
• Compliance by energy market operators with the recommendations of the Fit for 55 Package launched by the European Commission, which represents challenges for all European countries;
• The existence within the Oltenia Energy Complex of an ambitious restructuring plan until 2026, which also aims at the decarbonization process by making investments in production capacities, which can be successfully developed, but for which state aid is needed.

The Working Session was followed by a Discussion Panel consisting of: Petru Rușeț- general manager of Siemens Energy, Silvia Vlăsceanu-executive general manager of HENRO, Elena Cardadea- director of the National Center for Hydrogen, ICSI Romania, Bogdan Belciu-partner VALOREM Business Advisor, Georgian Albu -general manager FEL Romania.

The discussions focused on: the development of the necessary innovative technologies (energy storage, Power to X, hydrogen); the need for pro-restrictive legislative measures); supporting hydrogen technology given the increasing share of this source in the energy mix.

The last Working Session, “Consumer-centered strategies/actions in a liberalized energy market and integrated into the European market”, moderated by Ion Lungu – AFEER President, included presentations by specialists: Zoltan Nagy-Bege, ANRE Vice President, Ondrej Safar – country manager – CEZ Romania, Cristina Șetran – director of the Project Development-Implementation Program, OPCOM, Horia Necula – vice-rector of UPB.

Important issues highlighted during this Session:

• Focusing on the final consumer, which must be an important concern of the energy system;
• Predictable price evolution for specialists;
• The high profits obtained by the production companies will allow important investments in the Romanian energy sector;
• Romania took part in setting the current decarbonisation targets, as an EU member state;
• Electricity suppliers must not abuse the contracts concluded in the liberalized energy market, but must bring their consumers closer by gaining their trust;
• The liberalization of the energy market was achieved on the basis of clear and transparent rules;
• The Romanian market is characterized by significant competition

The session was followed by the Panel consisting of: Adrian Borotea, RWEA Vice President, Corina Drumeanu – Director of Portfolio Management Electrica Furnizare, Cristian Secoșan – General Manager of Siemens Romania, President of the Council of Foreign Investors (FIC), Alina Rușanu – ALRO Energy Department Manager and Bogdan Leu – community manager FEL Romania.

The discussion panel highlighted the following:

• Industry needs to support engineering school much more;
• The interaction with energy consumers has greatly improved, and the personalized relationship with users is particularly important for the energy sector;
• Humanization of energy involves other additional services, in addition to energy delivery;
• There are special concerns for smart metering projects;
• The young members of the FEL Romania program within CNR-CME have serious concerns regarding new pilot projects for the new infrastructure development strategies.

The panel’s conclusions highlighted the need for consumer focus, the need for further efforts to make customers aware of energy costs, and the fact that equipment manufacturers are ready for the new stage of energy system development.