The National Electricity Transmission Company Transelectrica SA continues its strategic investments for the modernization of the energy infrastructure, with the objective of ensuring the safety of the National Electricity System (SEN) and the resilience of the Electricity Transmission Network (RET). Transelectrica inaugurated the completion of the refurbishment process of the 220/110/20 kV Baru Mare substation, an important project for the safe and stable operation of the electricity network in the region. With this investment, the Company completed the modernization process of all electrical transformer substations in Hunedoara County, consolidating the energy infrastructure in the area.
The investment inauguration event was held in the presence of the Company’s management, namely the members of the Supervisory Board, Teodor Atanasiu and Rareș Stelian Rusu, the President of the Directorate, Ștefăniță Munteanu, and the members of the Directorate Vasile Cosmin Nicula, Cătălin Constantin Nadolu and Victor Moraru, with the participation of the representatives of the contractors, as well as the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Energy, Casian Nițulescu, the Vice President of ANRE, Gabriel Andronache, and local officials, namely the Prefect of Hunedoara County, Constantin Fulga, the President of the County Council, Laurențiu Nistor, the Mayor of Hunedoara Municipality, Dan Boboutanu and the Mayor of Baru Mare, Daniel Răducanu.
Hunedoara occupies an important place in the energy transport infrastructure, being the county with the largest number of electrical transformation stations in the country. The six stations, namely 400/220/110 kV Mintia, 220/110/20 kV Peștiș, 220/110 kV Hășdat, 220/110/20 kV Baru Mare, 220/110 kV Paroșeni, 220 kV Oțelărie Hunedoara, ensure the efficient transport of electricity on the Jiu Valley corridor and contribute to the stability of the entire national electrical energy system.
The modernized 220/110/20 kV Baru Mare substation is an investment of over 73 million lei that allows for a more secure connection of electricity produced from hydroelectric power plants in the Hunedoara area, while also contributing to the connection of new consumers, production units and storage facilities, which will support the economic development of the region.
“The modernization of the 220/110/20 kV Baru Mare substation marks the completion of an investment effort by Transelectrica in recent years, necessary for the stability and operational safety of an important area of the system. Hunedoara County has a significant number of electrical transformer substations that have been completely refurbished, the last being the Baru Mare substation, and the success of these investments is due to the professional excellence of dozens of specialists involved in the implementation of the refurbishment projects. An important aspect that we take into account when making such investments is that they bring tangible benefits to the community, but also to the economic environment. Our commitment to developing and consolidating the national energy infrastructure remains equally firm in terms of making all the investments already underway or that we are about to start for Romania’s energy security and for a resilient energy infrastructure adapted to new standards and requirements”, said Ștefăniță Munteanu, President of the Company’s Board of Directors.
The works for this investment were carried out by the Siemens Energy SRL and Electrogrup SA Association, with Siemens Energy SRL as the association leader. The refurbishment of the 220/110/20 kV Baru Mare substation brings significant benefits, contributing to the reduction of specific energy consumption and polluting emissions, as well as to the optimization of operating and maintenance costs. The refurbishment and modernization process of the Baru Mare substation included the implementation of complex systems based on digital technology, aimed at optimizing the operating activity of the substation. Thus, through the advanced monitoring and automation systems installed, the 220/110/20 kV Baru Mare substation will be managed efficiently through centralized remote operational management (remote control), reducing the risks of interruptions and optimizing operating, exploitation and maintenance costs.
The 220/110/20 kV Baru Mare substation was put into operation in 1977 and plays an important role for the electricity network in Hunedoara County, ensuring the evacuation of energy produced in the hydroelectric power plants in the area and the supply of local consumers, including coal mines, along with the substations in the Târgu Jiu Nord – Paroșeni – Baru Mare – Hășdat axis.
CNTEE Transelectrica SA focuses its efforts on strategic investments for the re-engineering and modernization of the Electric Transmission Network (RET). According to the Electric Transmission Network Development Plan for the period 2024 – 2033, approved by the National Energy Regulatory Authority, with a total value of 9.4 billion lei, the projects intended for the re-engineering and modernization of electrical installations planned for the next 10 years by the National Electric Transmission Company Transelectrica SA have the largest share of the value of the Development Plan, equivalent to approximately 2.9 billion lei.