Wind farm developers advance projects of 609 MW in total in eastern Romania

Low Carbon and Rezolv Energy are preparing a 450 MW project, which would make it the second-biggest wind power plant in Romania. Furthermore, Sweden-based OX2 intends to build a 99.2 MW unit and domestic firm ACK Pașcani is looking to install up to 60 MW.

Romania is rushing to boost its wind farm capacity, including offshore facilities, to meet tight deadlines for European funding, increase energy independence from Russia, mitigate the effects of the global energy crisis and decarbonize its economy. With sufficient progress, the country can even statistically transfer some of its renewable energy share to other European Union member states.

Investors have recognized the opportunity and projects keep piling up. News of three major wind power projects in eastern Romania emerged just within the past week.

UK investors aim to install 450 MW northeast of Romania’s capital city

Clean energy power producer Rezolv Energy said it is working with renewables investment and asset management firm Low Carbon, also based in London, to deliver a 450 MW onshore wind farm in Romania. The site for the Vis Viva unit is near Buzău, northeast of Bucharest.

The projected size would make it the second largest in Romania – behind only the Fântânele-Cogealac wind farm, which is also the biggest onshore wind power plant in Europe.

Rezolv Energy has acquired a 51% stake in the Vis Viva project

Rezolv, which acquired a 51% stake in the project, is focused on Central and South-Eastern Europe, according to the update. It was recently established by Actis, an investment firm.

“Rising energy costs, heightened security concerns, demand to meet climate targets, and stakeholder expectations, are causing a rethink on energy usage – and production. Today, private companies, as well as public utilities, are finding their traditional reliance on fossil fuels far less viable. The Vis Viva project will play a major role in accelerating this transition in Romania, whilst providing long-term, stably priced electricity to commercial and industrial consumers across the region,” said Chief Executive of Rezolv Energy Jim Campion.

OX2 from Sweden starts wind power endeavor of almost 100 MW

Swedish company OX2 is developing a EUR 120 million wind farm project in Romania. The location for the 99.2 MW unit is in the communes of Frumuşita, Cuca and Smârdan in Galati county in the country’s east, close to the borders with Moldova and Ukraine.

OX2 is working on the endeavor through its local project firm Green Breeze, Ziarul Financial reported. The wind power plant is envisaged to consist of 16 turbines. There are numerous other wind and solar projects under development in the area. The neighboring region of Dobrogea or Dobruja is the country’s main wind power hub.

Projects of 260 MW are underway near Iași

ACK Pașcani revealed it would install nine turbines in an area it owns near the town of Hârlău in Romania’s northeast in Iași county, Apix.ro reported. The machines would be set up on 13 hectares of land and their combined capacity would be up to 60 MW.

Of note, the same media outlet learned in June that Semnal Media and GTX Power, which are affiliated, are developing projects of 22 and nine wind turbines near the city of Iași. Total investment amounts to over EUR 200 million, the article added.

The two projects span almost 160 hectares and their combined capacity is 130.2 MW, the news website learned.