Photo: Elsemargriet from Pixabay
According to data from a new survey, more than half of the population of Romania (52.2%) intends to install photovoltaic systems in the next two years, and 40% expect they would need EUR 3,000 to EUR 4,000 to start producing electricity for self-consumption.
The results of a public opinion poll about solar energy demonstrate that the solar boom in Romania isn’t slowing. Earlier this year, the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) said that it expects the number of prosumers in the country to hit 100,000 by the end of 2023 after tripling in 2022 to more than 40,000.
In comparison, only 303 households, firms, and institutions had such a status at the end of 2019.
Apart from the 52.2% of Romanians who intend to install solar panels within two years, a significant part, around 24.11%, plan to do it in the next three to five years, according to the survey conducted by Atu Tech. The firm mainly installs security systems, but it also offers the installation of PV systems among its services.
The main reason for installing PV systems is not subsidies
Cost reduction and energy independence are the main reasons respondents install solar panels, while only 16% named government subsidies. The incentives are distributed via the Casa Verde Fotovoltaice mechanism.
Respondents believe installing solar panels cannot increase the value of their real estate.
About 40% of respondents believe that an investment of EUR 3,000 EUR 4,000 is enough to become prosumers. Slightly more, about 42% favor a hybrid system, in which they would be connected to the grid but would still have the technical ability during outages to use the electricity they produce.
The government has prepared subsidies worth EUR 2 billion
The survey was conducted online between August and September 2023 with 1,292 participants over the age of 18 and from urban and rural areas. Subsidies are not the primary motive for households to install solar panels; Romania is providing substantial sums. Prime Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciucă said in March that the government decided to double subsidies for households to EUR 2 billion. He estimated it would be sufficient for up to 80,000 beneficiaries.
Of note, according to data from 2021, Romania’s population is 19.1 million.
Be the first one to comment on this article.