Photo: R.Power
Poland-based R.Power began work on its Lazuri photovoltaic plant of 55 MW in peak capacity in Satu Mare county in northwestern Romania. The company is energizing four solar parks of more than 23 MW overall, its first operational assets in the country. In addition, it is about to break ground on its 254 MWh Scornicesti battery energy storage system.
Notably, Electrica recently commissioned its Satu Mare 2 solar power plant, of 21.7 MW.
Romania is set to appear on the map of renewable energy plants and battery energy storage systems (BESS) operated by Poland-based R.Power. The company also has such assets in its home market and Portugal and projects under development in Germany, Spain and Italy. In line with the schedule, R.Power is energizing its first photovoltaic plants in Romania – Stâlpu, Suseni, Dudești and Punghina – and is preparing to begin the construction its first BESS in the country, in Scornicești.
The four solar parks in central and eastern Romania have more than 23 MW altogether in peak capacity. R.Power’s contractors are Nomad Electric and Waldevar. The former has also just begun the construction of the Lazuri solar park in northwestern Romania for the same client.
The PV park in the commune of the same name in Satu Mare county would have 55 MW in peak capacity. The company won a 15-year contract for difference (CfD) for 48 MW in connection terms at Romania’s first renewable energy auction.
Lazuri was part of a group of five solar power projects with support approved for 73.1 MW, or 85 MW in peak capacity. Its annual output is estimated at 70 GWh, equivalent to the consumption of more than 48,000 households in the country.
Major BESS project up for sale
The Scornicești project in Olt county, west of Bucharest, is for 127 MW in operating power. The BESS would have a duration of two hours, translating to 254 MWh in capacity. The project received EUR 15 million in funding via the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP or, in Romanian, PNRR).
R.Power has sold a 49.99% stake last month to Eiffel Investment Group. The transaction follows the two companies’ previous cooperation in photovoltaic projects.
The Polish firm recently said it would divest of a ready-to-build project for a battery energy storage system of 200 MW and 400 MWh. The move is part of an asset rotation and portfolio diversification strategy, according to the update.
The company added that the future facility near Bucharest would provide flexibility for the grid. It is known as Project Tessara.
Solar-battery hybrids in project pipeline
As of August, R.Power had over 1.2 GW of projects for standalone BESS in Romania. It said it would set up PV-BESS hybrid configurations as well.
“The start of construction of the Lazuri solar farm highlights our commitment to expanding operations in Romania, which is one of our key markets. Alongside Lazuri, we are developing additional photovoltaic and battery energy storage (BESS) projects there,” the company’s Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder Przemek Pięta said.
Satu Mare county also hosts several new solar parks. Romanian power supplier and distributor Electrica recently commissioned its Satu Mare 2 unit of 27.1 MW in peak capacity, in the Botiz commune.
The company partially funded the investment, worth more than EUR 20 million, from NRRP. The project included a 110/20 kV transformer station and grid connections.
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