Romania has designed two battery support programs, earmarking EUR 150 million for standalone facilities and EUR 76.2 million for existing prosumers to add storage systems. Acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan argued that expanding photovoltaic capacity without them harms the electricity system. He said batteries should be mandatory for future prosumers.
In light of this summer’s persistent energy crisis, Romania’s Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Ilie Bolojan complained that around midday there is overproduction of electricity in the country, because of renewables, pushing prices lower or even into negative territory, versus a deficit at the evening peaks, which prompts expensive imports. He proposed making battery storage mandatory for new prosumers and stimulating the installation of such systems alongside existing small photovoltaic units. On that note, two grant schemes are in the pipeline.
Solar power expansion without storage harms the system, Bolojan warned. There are 350,000 prosumers in Romania, of which a third have storage installations, he noted. The outgoing premier attributed the said electricity system imbalances to the lack of legislation supporting storage.
Bolojan: Dynamic pricing would stimulate PV unit owners to install batteries
Dynamic pricing would stimulate PV unit owners to install batteries, as they would benefit from delivering stored electricity to the grid in the evening, when prices are very high, Bolojan explained.
On that note, electricity supplier, distributor and solar power plant operator Electrica earlier introduced a bonus for prosumers that own battery storage units, for delivering power to the grid between 19:00 and 21:00 local time.
The measure lasts until the end of the month. The government controls just under 50% of the company.
Romania, Greece pushing to match Bulgaria’s pace
Notably, the country is already adding substantial capabilities. Romania and Greece are looking to catch up with neighboring Bulgaria, which became a global champion with its battery energy storage systems – BESS.
Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association (RPIA) has calculated that domestic operating power amounted to 1.1 GW two weeks ago, with 2 GWh of storage capacity. The figures are for dispatchable, utility-scale BESS, while prosumers operate another significant segment, on the low-voltage level. According to the Association of Prosumers and Energy Communities (APCE), they accounted for more than 800 MW in late February.
Much smaller Bulgaria hosts a whopping 5.4 GW or 16.2 GWh, Capital reported, citing data from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) for August 17. Total operating power surged 1 GW just since July 10!
There was 530 MW on Greece’s transmission grid last month. Entire capability, including batteries on the power distribution level, was 630 MW.
Meanwhile, Western Balkan countries are barely beginning to introduce the technology. Only a few BESS facilities have been built so far.
Grants scheme for standalone battery storage facilities targets 2.17 GWh
Separately, Bolojan highlighted the new guide for grants for standalone BESS projects. The government has allocated EUR 150 million. It aims to support the installation of 2.17 GWh in battery capacity.
The projects will be selected through a tender, where the participants requesting the least state aid would win, Bolojan added. Support is capped at EUR 69,000 per MWh and EUR 15 million per company.
According to the calendar, applications will be received from September 1 until October 30. By the end of February, contracts need to be signed, after which the beneficiaries have four years to commission their facilities.
Support to prosumers that add BESS aims to strengthen Romania’s power system
The Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests launched the public consultation process for its draft program guide for co-funding batteries for existing prosumers. The Environment Fund Administration (AFM) would be tasked with implementing the mechanism, which has a budget of RON 400 million (EUR 76.2 million).
“Recent weeks have made it very clear that Romania could import much less energy at peak times if it only invested in storage systems… This is an investment that directly helps people and, at the same time, increases the resilience of the national energy system,” Minister Diana Buzoianu said.
Eligible are battery storage projects for at least 12 kWh in capacity. The systems would need to be properly sized relative to the production and consumption needs of prosumers, reducing the pressure on the national power system.
Applicants can get up to RON 15,000 (EUR 2,860), including value-added tax, and cover a maximum of 75% of eligible expenses, and no more than RON 1,250 per kWh.
Own contribution carries up to 40 points in the ranking, the capacity of the storage system is worth up to 40 points, and the PV unit’s capacity is worth a maximum of 20 points.
