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An executive order drafted by Romania’s Ministry of Energy includes provisions for a mandatory cyber audit of solar power plants to prevent cyberattacks on the country’s power grid.
Inverters and all IT components in photovoltaic systems, small and large, will undergo a cybersecurity audit due to concern they are sending data to third countries, the Ministry of Energy said.
The ministry has launched a public debate on an executive order changing the Law on Electricity and Natural Gas law and the Law on the Establishment of the System for Promoting the Production of Energy from Renewable Sources.
The proposed decree aims to create a solid and sustainable framework for the development of energy storage capacities, the establishment of a regime, in the national interest, for strategic electricity production projects, and the implementation of cyber audit measures for the safety of photovoltaic systems, according to the ministry.
The measure intends to protect national infrastructure against digital vulnerabilities
The order establishes the mandatory cyber audit of newly built photovoltaic plants. Cybersecurity audits of inverters and all IT components of PV facilities would be done periodically.
The measure intends to protect national infrastructure against digital vulnerabilities, having in mind risks from imported equipment and its potential to transmit data to state and non-state parties hostile to Romania without the operators’ consent, the ministry underlined.
The document also covers pumped storage technologies by introducing clarifications for the operation of pumped storage hydropower plants.
Burduja: The energy transition is no longer a long-term goal, but a national emergency
Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja said the draft executive order provides a framework to turn green transition ambitions into reality and strengthen energy security through innovation.
“The energy transition is no longer a long-term goal, but a national emergency. We are opening the doors wide for investments in pumped storage hydropower plants and electricity storage projects,” Burduja stated.
Romania hosts solar power plants of 3,700 MW in total capacity. About 2,000 MW are photovoltaic systems owned by more than 100,000 prosumers – households, firms and institutions.
As for pumped storage hydropower plants, the country recently announced that it is negotiating with the Itochu-EDF consortium regarding the construction of the Tarnița-Lăpuștești facility.
In July, Burduja said the government would sign contracts for 1.5 GWh in battery capacity.
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