Hybridisation can reduce the operating risks of existing renewable energy capacity, said Elena Popescu, CEO of Elektra Renewable Support. There is already experience in this area, she added. “We can reduce the risks even for new projects, using all existing technologies,” said Elektra Renewable Support representative during the “More renewables for Romania” conference, organized by Energynomics.

According to Elena Popescu, existing renewable energy projects can be hybridised, i.e. they can be complemented with other energy sources or storage units, but such projects should be financed by banks or the government.

“It’s harder to put a battery in a PV plant because other issues come into play, such as permitting. But it’s easier to attach photovoltaic panels or a storage unit to a wind turbine,” she said.

According to Elena Popescu, the development of new renewable energy production capacity is hampered by a lack of market equipment, which is imported from China. “We are facing the case that inverters have somehow reached maturity. There are situations where the manufacturer of an already installed inverter no longer exists. But we can no longer find even simple components in Romania, such as a 0.5 lei diode, so we have to import from China,” said Popescu.

In response, Elektra Renewable Support has developed its own inverter repair department.

“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