Romania to significantly increase 2030 renewables target

Romania intends to significantly increase its 2030 renewable energy target, currently set at 30.7 percent, said Dan Drăgan, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Energy.

The new goal will be determined during the revision of the national energy and climate plan (NECP), which will start this year.

The current target of 30.7% for renewable energy by 2030 will be significantly increased, Drăgan said during the Energy Focus conference, organized by Finmedia, local media reported.

The achievement of the new goal would be backed by the several billion euros that Romanian companies can use from the Modernization Fund and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP or PNRR in Romanian).

Under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Romania has EUR 1.6 billion for the energy sector

Under the NRRP, Romania has EUR 1.6 billion for the energy sector, out of which EUR 460 million is allocated for renewable energy and EUR 300 million is for high-efficiency cogeneration. The public call for renewables was launched two weeks ago. There is a lot of interest in the call, Drăgan said and added that the goal is to install renewable power plants with a total capacity of 950 MW by 2024.

Transelectrica and distribution companies to receive EUR 1.5 billion

Under the Modernization Fund, transmission system operator Transelectrica will receive EUR 400 million to strengthen the grid. One of the projects is the modernization of the Constanţa Nord – Medgidia Sud power line to enable the connection of wind and solar power projects with an overall installed capacity of 600 MW.

Drăgan said there is another EUR 1.1 billion in the Modernization Fund for the upgrade of the distribution grid, with the possibility to integrate renewables. Public calls for these funds will be launched soon, he added.

He also highlighted a EUR 1 billion investment planned by state-owned coal and power producer CE Oltenia. The committee responsible for the Modernization Fund recently approved the transaction, intended for the construction of a gas-fired power plant and renewable energy facilities.