For almost two years, investors’ interest in renewables has grown stronger, so there’s already talk about the new investment wave in this sector. The reference data is based on the technical approvals for connection and the connection contracts are they are summarized by the national power grid operator, Transelectrica.
Romania currently has about 3,077 MW in 135 wind power plants (68 in dispatchable regime and 47 non-dispatchable) and about 1,400 MW in photovoltaic power stations (612 MW in 55 dispatchable groups and 780 MW in 574 non-dispatchable groups). About 55 MW in biomass are added, for an installed power in renewable energy production capacities of about 4,524 MW. Summing up Transelectrica data corresponds to the latest figures communicated by the National Regulatory Authority for Energy – ANRE at the end of November.
1,245 MW in 16 new wind power projects
The public information from Transelectrica website shows that in the first 9 months of 2021 technical approvals of connection (ATR) were issued for wind power projects with a capacity of about 1,245 MW. Seven projects, totaling 897.7 MW, will be connected to Transelectrica’s grid, four in that of SDEE Muntenia Nord, three to Delgaz Grid and two to E-Distribuție Dobrogea. Of these projects, only one was scheduled for completion in 2021 – 22.8 MW in Neamț County (PE Carlig SRL), six are due for commissioning in 2022 and the larger ones, all seven above 50 MW, will become operational after 2024. The project of 365.8 MW developed by Pechea Eolian depends on the construction of the 400 kV Gutinaș-Smârdan line, at which works have started only this summer, so its commissioning is estimated for 2026.
The third largest project among those endorsed is developed by PNE Wind Romania – 115 MW in Constanța County. This summer, PNE announced the completion of negotiations for the sale to a strategic investor of three wind parks in Romania. “Together we will work further to implement them”, mentioned Markus Lesser, CEO of PNE, quoted by zf.ro. “PNE will also focus on the development of solar projects in Romania”, he also said.
Few large projects in the photovoltaic segment
In the PV segment, the number of large projects that have an ATR obtained is small, and the “large” projects are defined otherwise. A single project exceeds 100 MW, the group of 134 MW for which Blauer Group Bucharest has obtained the approval and which will be commissioned by 2025, in Studina, Olt County.
In Satu Mare, two companies controlled by Emanuel Muntmark, owner of Monsson Group, have obtained the ATR. Camre Energy has a project of 67.5 MW and Sunwind Energy has one of 27 MW, both with estimated commissioning date in 2022. The total estimated value of investments necessary to build the two solar parks exceeds EUR 46mln, Profit.ro wrote, and each of them will be equipped including with electricity storage systems.
Therefore, considering large those of over 9 MW, we barely identify seven such projects approved in 2021, totaling about 350 MW. One of them is the group of 65 MW for which Sun Challenge SRL has obtained the ATR – building a photovoltaic park in Călugăreni, Giurgiu. Not much is known about this initiative for the moment. However, for Giurgiu there is also information about a large-scale project of Simtel Grup. The Romanian engineering and technology company listed on AeRO market of the Bucharest Stock Exchange has purchased an industrial land of 837,866sqm in the incorporated area of Giurgiu city, where it plans to develop a photovoltaic park with a total installed power of 40-60 MW. Simtel is already a name in the renewable market, due to the experience gained following the turnkey construction of over 150 photovoltaic projects for clients and ensuring the full maintenance in photovoltaic parks with an installed power of over 125 MW.
Among the ATRs inventoried by Transelectrica there are also those granted for the projects of Comcris Energy – 45.6 MW, in Sălaj County, Serg Company – 15 MW, in Gorj County, and Melicon Solar – 9 MW, in Buzău County.
Prosuming is at a standstill
However, large projects make a difference in the photovoltaic segment, in 2021 compared to the previous year. Comparing the first 9 months of this year with the entire year 2020, we notice an increase by 80.12% in the installed capacity for which ATRs have been granted – 400.5 MW, compared to 222.3 MW. The total number of ATRs issued fell sharply, by over 78%, from 1,408 to 304 – situation which will improve by the end of the year, but without changing the trend.
If we exclude the large projects, we notice an increase by 82% in the installed capacity for small-sized photovoltaic systems, in which we also include the groups with capacities between 0.8 MW and 9 MW. And if we refer only to household equipment, of less than 0.8 MW, in which the vast majority are of 0.003 MW, we notice a slight decline in the total capacity for which ATRs have been granted and a significant decline in terms of number – around 280 ATRs in the first 9 months of 2021, compared to about 1,400 for the whole year 2020.
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This article first appeared in the printed edition of Energynomics Magazine, issued in December 2021.
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