Over 170 representatives of the Romanian energy community celebrated industry performance at the 11th edition of the Energynomics Awards for excellence in energy. In a gala evening, once again hosted by the National Military Circle in Bucharest, the Energynomics communication platform rewarded the most deserving companies, projects and personalities of the year in energy. Secretary of State in the Ministry of Energy Dan Drăgan (see VIDEO!) and ANRE President George Niculescu (see VIDEO!) opened the evening with messages to the industry and congratulations for Energynomics. HE Gavin Buchan, Canada’s Ambassador to Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova (see VIDEO!), Mark Bowman, EBRD Vice President for Policy and Partnerships (see VIDEO!), and Anna Akhalkatsi, World Bank Country Manager for Romania and Hungary (see VIDEO!) then spoke at the Energy Gala evening.
This was followed by the Energynomics Awards to the winners decided by an independent jury, made up of Alexandru Pătruți, CNR-CME advisor, Elena Popescu, Director at the Ministry of Energy, Radu Dudău, founder and director of EPG, Radu Bădiță, Director General at ANRE, Mihai Drăghici, Director | Business Consulting EY, Vasile Iuga, founder Valorem Business Advisors, Dragoș Fundulea, Principal Roland Berger Romania, Adrian Ghiță, Executive Director FREE, and Diana Robescu, Dean of the Faculty of Energetics at the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest.
The evening aslo included an intervention by Alexandru Chiriță, General Director of Electrica SA (see VIDEO!).
Corporate Social Responsibility – E.ON Energie România
In the Corporate Social Responsibility category, supported by Nofar Energy, the award was won by E.ON Energie Romania for the “Energy in Children’s Schools” programme. E.ON has invested around €4.4 million to improve learning conditions and make energy consumption more efficient by lighting classrooms using LED technology. By the end of this year, the Energy in Childhood Schools programme will cover 83 educational institutions and 50,000 beneficiary pupils and teachers.
Among the companies nominated were Adrem, CEZ România, Nuclearelectrica and Wiren.
Deal of the Year – Polenergia
The Deal of the Year award was won by Polenergia for the acquisition of 60% of the project company developing the NX4 wind farm from Naxxar Group. The NX4 project involves the construction of wind farms with a total capacity of up to 685.6 MW, located in Tulcea county. Enery Power Holding, Eurowind Energy, TotalEnergies and Premier Energy were also nominated.
Green Energy Achievement Of The Year Award – TMK Hydroenergy Power
TMK Hydroenergy Power, part of the CEZ Group, convinced the jury with the completion of construction on Lake Grebla for the first floating photovoltaic system. The initiative is pioneering and represents a significant step towards sustainability by harnessing the power of the sun and water in an innovative way. Other projects nominated in this category are from Delgaz Grid, Elektra Renewable Support, EnergoBit, nextE, Nofar Energy and Waldevar Energy.
SEE THE EXTENDED GALLERY WITH PHOTOS FROM THE 2023 ENERGYNOMICS AWARDS !
Financing of the year – Hidroelectrica
The award for Financing of the Year was won by Hidroelectrica. The company attracted €1.9 billion from the market by listing on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, the largest IPO ever carried out on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. The listing “represents a crucial moment for Hidroelectrica, opening up new opportunities for development and growth,” according to Bogdan Bodea, CEO of Hidroelectrica, at the time of the listing. Four other companies were nominated in this category: Delgaz Grid, Ensys, Photon Energy and Shikun and Binui Energy.
Manager of the Year Award – Cosmin Ghiță, Nuclearelectrica
The Manager of the Year Award was won by the CEO of Nuclearelectrica, Cosmin Ghiță, who contributed to the advancement of the investment projects – the refurbishment of Unit 1, the realisation of Units 3 and 4, as well as the establishment of the strategy for the development and implementation of SMR in Romania. Also nominated in this category were Alexandru Chiriță, CEO Electrica SA, Elena Popescu, CEO Elektra Renewable Support, Favieli Stelian, CEO Nofar Energy, Giacomo Billi, CEO Alive Capital, Ion Sterian, CEO Transgaz, and Sebastian Crișan, CEO Ensys.
Best newcomer – PPC
In the Best newcomer category, supported by Photomate, the award went to PPC for entering the Romanian market by taking over Enel’s assets. There were 4 other nominated projects: the Renewables Map (Delgaz Grid), the first storage plant in Romania to enter commercial operation (LSG Group), the inauguration of the 155 MW Rățești PV Park project (Nofar Energy) and the first hybrid park in Romania dedicated to research on electricity production and storage (PARAPET & INCDTIM & TREC).
Energy efficiency – Siemens
In the Energy Efficiency category, supported by Parapet, this year’s award went to Siemens for projects using digitised energy efficiency solutions in the water and water treatment industry. There were also nominations from Energo Power, ENGIE Romania and TMK Hydroenergy Power.
The Outstanding Development Award – OMV Petrom and Romgaz
The Outstanding Development Award was won by OMV Petrom and Romgaz for their decision to invest in the Neptun Deep project. By its scale, this project is a decisive element in the relaunch of the national oil and gas industry, starting with the human force, it will give a new dynamic to the whole national sector and will transform Romania into a major player at regional level. OMV Petrom and Romgaz will jointly invest up to €4 billion for the development phase of the project, which will bring on stream around 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas. First production is expected in 2027 and production on the plateau will be around 140 kboe/day for almost 10 years.
Two other applications were submitted in this category: Ensys, which installed almost 4,500 residential PV systems in 2023 alone, and XP (formerly Expert Petroleum), the first Romanian company to join the OGMP Gold Standard, which guarantees a credible and explicit path to the highest quality of methane emissions reporting.
Outstanding Career Achievement Award – Teodor Chirica
The Outstanding Career Achievement Award was presented to Mr. Teodor Chirica, a leading figure in the Romanian nuclear industry, a doctoral engineer with extensive experience in the Romanian energy industry, both technically and managerially, specializing in nuclear energy, having been actively involved in engineering activities for the development of CANDU projects in Romania since the early 1980s.
Best Initiative For Energy Transition Award – ADC
The Best Initiative For Energy Transition category, supported this year by Alive Capital, was won by ADC for the Photovoltaic Training Hub. The initiative is a first for this segment and offers not only a platform to showcase the latest photovoltaic panel installations, financial advice and technical assistance, but also educational solutions following an investment estimated so far at over €100,000.
Projects proposed by Elektra Renewable Support, FPPG, ProCredit and Wiren also competed in this category.
Young energy professional – Emanuel Lehaci, VOLT EVSE Distribution
The winner of the 2023 edition in this category, supported by E.On Romania, is Emanuel Lehaci, Project Manager at VOLT EVSE Distribution, for 15 distinct photovoltaic projects coordinated in one year, with proven previous experience in site management, coordination and electrical installation design. Other nominees in this category included Gina-Maria Andrei (Alive Capital), Lucian Ene (Schneider Electric), Mihaela Popescu and Tudor-Alin Alexe (Revicon) and Nicușor-Constantin Toma (Delgaz Grid).
Mihnea Constantinescu Award for Excellence in Public Service – Tatiana Iosiper
By the collegial decision of the Mihnea Constantinescu Association and Energynomics, Tatiana Iosiper is the 2023 winner in this category. Tatiana Iosiper was part of the team that served the common good with dedication and the conviction that Romania must transform itself according to the aspirations and potential of its citizens. She contributed to the Euro-Atlantic anchorage and the democratisation of Romania. In 2002 he received the Diploma of Merit awarded by the President of Romania for his contribution to Romania’s accession to NATO.
She is Minister Plenipotentiary and began his career in 1992 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has carried out diplomatic missions in Washington, DC (1996-2000 and 2001-2006) and Tel Aviv (2007-2013). In the Central Ministry of Foreign Affairs he was spokesman and director of the Media Relations Directorate (2000-2001). He represented Romania in the Committee of Senior Officials of the BSEC (2013-2016).
Tatiana Iosiper is currently part of the ANRE team.
Since 2013, the Energynomics awards are designed to recognise and reward success and best practices in the Romanian energy sector. This year’s Energynomics partners were ADC, Alexandrion Group, Alive Capital,CIS Gaz, CEZ Romania, Datacor, E.On, Electrica, EnergoBit, EnergoPower, Enevo Group, Ensys, Exim Banca Românească, Huawei, ING Bank Romania, Kawasaki Gas Turbine Europe, Noark, Nofar Energy, OMV Petrom, OX2, Photomate, Renomia Gallagher, Rezolv Energy, Romgaz, Transelectrica, Transgaz, Volt, Waldevar, XP. With the support of Imsol, Sixt.
Strategic partners for the Energynomics Awards 2023 were ACCER, ACUE, AFEER, AIIR, CRE, EFdeN, EPG, FPPG, HENRO, PATRES, RPIA, RWEA.