RENEWABLE ENERGY

Daily Report
Luni, 15 Mai 2023

CUPRINS

CUPRINS ................................................................................................................................... 1
GENERAL, LEGISLATIE ...................................................................................................... 2
De teama esecului, Romania a depus la Comisia Europeana doar un draft privind planul de
eficienta energetica, RePowerEU ........................................................................................... 2
BCR a iesit pe piata internationala cu prima emisiune de euroobligatiuni verzi, in valoare de
700 de milioane de euro. Fondurile vor fi directionate catre proiecte de energie regenerabila,
credite ipotecare verzi si cladiri verzi ..................................................................................... 4
CCIpR Energy Forum: Valul investitiilor europene care asigura tranzitia energetica – fara
precedent ................................................................................................................................. 4
ENERGIE EOLIANA .............................................................................................................. 6
Care sunt tarile europene care produc cea mai multa energie din vant? Danemarca, Germania
si Marea Britanie conduc, insa tari precum Romania, Bulgaria, Republica Ceha si Letonia
trebuie sa fie puse „pe harta dezvoltarii” ................................................................................ 6
ENERGIE HIDRO.................................................................................................................... 8
Profitul Hidroelectrica si-a continuat ascensiunea si in 2023, dupa rezultatul record de anul
trecut ....................................................................................................................................... 8
BIOMASA, BIOCOMBUSTIBILI .......................................................................................... 9
De la 1 iunie, biocombustibilul devine obligatoriu in Romania. Acesta majoreaza consumul
de carburant ............................................................................................................................. 9
INTERNATIONAL ................................................................................................................ 11
Senator Anca Dragu: “Romania needs a national strategy for energy transition” ................ 11
Ondrej Safar, CEZ Romania: “Everyone wants to be a prosumer, but our networks weren’t
built for everyone to be a prosumer” .................................................................................... 11
Photon Energy Group’s EBITDA drops despite breaking Q1 revenue record ..................... 12
CCIpR Energy Forum: The wave of European investments ensuring the energy transition –
unprecedented ....................................................................................................................... 12
Pagina 1 din 22
15 Mai 2023

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 BEF 2023: Western Balkans must get financial support to decarbonize .............................. 14
Winds of change: Which European countries are generating the most energy from wind? . 21

GENERAL, LEGISLATIE

De teama esecului, Romania a depus la Comisia Europeana doar un draft privind planul de
eficienta energetica, RePowerEU
Surse din cadrul Comisiei Europene si ministrul Investitiilor si Proiectelor Europene dezmint
respingerea planului RePowerEU al Romaniei. Este planul prin care putem primi 1,4 miliarde de
euro pentru proiecte menite sa ne creasca independenta si eficienta energetica, finantat din bani
europeni. Ministrul Investitiilor si Proiectelor Europene a declarat pentru Europa Libera ca
institutia pe care o conduce a trimis Comisiei Europene doar un draft al proiectului Repower EU.
Marcel Bolos a explicat ca, potrivit regulilor europene, proiectul cu investitiile propuse de
Romania pentru o eficienta energetica mai mare trebuie depus pana pe 31 august. „Am ales sa
depunem mai intai un draft pentru a evita alte solicitari ale Comisiei si a grabi aprobarea. Am
depus draftul in termen, adica in luna aprilie”, spune ministrul Investitiilor Europene. Ca atare,
adauga Marcel Bolos, „nu putea fi respins ce nu am depus inca.” Aseara, eurodeputatul REPER,
Dragos Pislaru, coraportor al PNRR, din care face parte programul RePower EU, a scris pe pagina
sa de Facebook: „Comisia Europeana respinge incercarea Guvernului Romaniei de a directiona 1
MLD EUR (n.r. un miliard de euro) catre clientela politica a PSD-PNL. Intr-o totala lipsa de
transparenta si pe repede inainte, Guvernul a cerut finantare pentru proiecte venite pe filiera de
partid, precum: investitii ineficiente pe lacuri aflate in fiefurile PSD-PNL din Oltenia sau pe
canalele de irigatii din Braila pentru a servi clientela locala sau investitii ale companiilor de stat,
inclusiv cele care au fost exceptate de impact de mediu intr-un mod abuziv.” In aceasta dimineata,
eurodeputatul liberal Siegfried Muresan, coraportor al RePowerEU din partea Parlamentului
European, a scris si el pe contul sau de Facebook, ca UE nu a respins planul Romaniei. „Informatia
referitoare la faptul ca Planul "REPowerEU" al Romaniei - prin care vom investi 1,4 miliarde de
euro, fonduri europene nerambursabile, in sectorul energetic - ar fi fost respins de Comisia
Europeana nu este corecta. Romania nu a depus inca acest plan la Comisie, astfel ca nu avea cum
sa fie respins. De altfel, am fost informati oficial inca din luna aprilie, intr-o sedinta publica a
Parlamentului European, ca doar Franta si Estonia vor depune planurile pana la sfarsitul lunii
respective.” Ulterior, dupa ce autorii declaratiilor de mai sus s-au contrazis public, copresedinta
REPER, Ramona Strugariu i-a cerut ministrului Investitiilor si Proiectelor Europene sa publice
scrisoarea Comisiei Europene si a acuzat ca s-a ajuns la un „ val ridicol de acuze si de un circ
public din care romanii nu au absolut nimic de castigat, ba dimpotriva, pierd un miliard de euro.”
Pagina 2 din 22
15 Mai 2023

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Intrebat despre proiectele incluse in RePowerEU reclamate de Dragos Pislaru ca ar fi menite sa
multumeasca unii politicieni locali, printre care cele de irigatii si investitii pe lacuri, ministrul
Investitiilor si Proiectelor Europene, Marcel Bolos, a explicat ca in draftul proiectului RePowerEU,
Romania a propus intr-adevar investitii in irigatii la Giurgiu-Rasmiresti si pe un lac, dar aceste
proiecte ar fi doar o mica parte din planul mare, care cuprinde alocari masive de fonduri pentru
reabilitari energetice ale cladirilor si sprijin pentru IMM-uri. Planul RePOwerEU a fost adoptat
dupa invadarea Ucrainei de catre Rusia, ca o completare a planurilor de redresare economica post
COVID. Potrivit Comisiei Europene, pentru a elimina importurile de combustibili fosili din Rusia,
statele membre trebuie sa investeasca pana in 2027, 210 miliarde de euro.
Ce prevede RePowerEU
• Noi planuri nationale REPowerEU in cadrul Fondului de redresare si rezilienta modificat
– pentru a sprijini investitii si reforme in valoare de 300 de miliarde de euro;
• Stimularea decarbonizarii industriei cu proiecte concentrate la inceputul perioadei, in
valoare de 3 miliarde EUR, in cadrul Fondului pentru inovare;
• Noi acte legislative si recomandari pentru o autorizare mai rapida a surselor regenerabile
de energie in special in zone specifice, propice dezvoltarii surselor regenerabile de energie,
cu risc redus pentru mediu;
• Investitii intr-o retea integrata si adaptata de infrastructura de gaz si energie electrica;
• Cresterea nivelului de ambitie in ceea ce priveste economiile de energie prin stabilirea unei
valori mai ridicate, de la 9 % la 13 %, pentru obiectivul UE in materie de eficienta pentru
2030;
• Stabilirea unei valori mai ridicate, de la 40 % la 45 %, pentru obiectivul UE in materie de
energie din surse regenerabile pentru 2030;
• Noi propuneri ale UE pentru a asigura accesul industriei la materii prime critice
• Masuri de reglementare pentru sporirea eficientei energetice in sectorul transporturilor;
• Un accelerator de hidrogen in vederea construirii unor electrolizoare cu o capacitate de
17,5 GW pana in 2025 pentru alimentarea industriei UE cu o cantitate de 10 milioane de
tone de hidrogen produs in UE din surse regenerabile de energie;
• Un cadru modern de reglementare pentru hidrogen.
(Europa Libera Romania, Agerpres 12 mai)
https://romania.europalibera.org/a/romania-a-depus-la-comisia-europeana-draftul-planului-de-
eficieta-energetica-repowereu/32408745.html
https://www.agerpres.ro/economic-intern/2023/05/12/bolos-planul-repowerue-al-romaniei-nu-a-
fost-respins-ci-este-in-faza-de-consultare-informala--1106655
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Pagina 3 din 22
15 Mai 2023

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BCR a iesit pe piata internationala cu prima emisiune de euroobligatiuni verzi, in valoare de
700 de milioane de euro. Fondurile vor fi directionate catre proiecte de energie regenerabila,
credite ipotecare verzi si cladiri verzi
Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR) a anuntat vineri ca a iesit pe piata internationala--- cu prima
emisiune de euroobligatiuni verzi senior nepreferentiale, in valoare de 700 de milioane de euro,
iar fondurile vor fi directionate catre proiecte de energie regenerabila, credite ipotecare verzi si
cladiri verzi. Euroobligatiunile au o maturitate de 4 ani, cu posibilitatea rascumpararii anticipate
dupa 3 ani. Emisiunea urmeaza sa fie listata la Bursa de Valori din Viena si Bucuresti si este,
totodata, prima emisiune internationala de euroobligatiuni verzi a unei banci din Romania. Pana
la momentul acestei emisiuni, in ultimii trei ani, BCR a emis obligatiuni in valoare de 4,1 miliarde
de lei, fiind unul dintre principalii emitenti activi de la Bursa de Valori Bucuresti. Se estimeaza ca
emisiunea va primi un rating de Baa2 din partea Moody’s (in linie cu ratingul acordat Programului
Multi Emitent de Obligatiuni pentru astfel de emisiuni) si BBB+ din partea Fitch. Interesul
investitorilor a fost ridicat, astfel incat in primele ore dupa deschidere au fost inregistrate ordine
de peste 1 miliard de euro, valoare care a crescut la peste 1,9 miliarde de euro la inchiderea
registrului, in doar cateva ore, ceea ce a permis stabilirea unui cupon de 7.625%, semnificativ
redus fata de nivelul indicativ initial de 8.00%-8.25%. Emisiunea de obligatiuni a inregistrat un
volum semnificativ de ordine, de 1,9 miliarde de euro, cu mult peste suma minima vizata de 500
milioane de euro. Aceasta a dus la cresterea valorii emisiunii la 700 milioane de euro. Au existat
peste 155 de investitori, atat straini, cat si locali. Peste 60% din emisiune a fost alocata
investitorilor institutionali interesati de active verzi, cu participarea notabila a International
Finance Corporation (IFC) si a Bancii Europene pentru Reconstructie si Dezvoltare (BERD). De
altfel, veniturile obtinute din emisiunea de euroobligatiuni vor fi directionate catre proiecte de
energie regenerabila, credite ipotecare verzi si cladiri verzi. (Economedia.ro, 12 mai)
https://economedia.ro/bcr-a-iesit-pe-piata-internationala-cu-prima-emisiune-de-euroobligatiuni-
verzi-in-valoare-de-700-de-milioane-de-euro-fondurile-vor-fi-directionate-catre-proiecte-de-
energie-regenerabila-credite-ipo.html#.ZGDtz3ZBy3A
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CCIpR Energy Forum: Valul investitiilor europene care asigura tranzitia energetica – fara
precedent
Joi, 11 mai, Camera de Comert Italiana din Romania (CCIpR) a organizat Energy Forum –
Regenerabile un eveniment dedicat investitorilor italieni, pentru o perspectiva asupra foii de
parcurs a tranzitiei energetice a Romaniei, precum si asupra planurilor imediate care decurg din
realitatile energetice nationale. Lucrarile conferintei au fost deschise de Roberto Musneci,
Presedintele CCIpR, care a anuntat programul de conferinte pentru acest an, care va include in
toamna alte doua evenimente axate pe noua infrastructura, petrol si gaze si nuclear (octombrie) si
economie circulara (noiembrie). ”Sunt tot mai multi investitori italieni care vin in Romania,
Pagina 4 din 22
15 Mai 2023

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interesati in special de sectorul regenerabilelor, dar si de celelalte sectoare. Camera de Comert
Italiana din Romania incearca sa ofere oportunitati de afaceri si sa faciliteze relatii de afaceri cu
partenerii locali”, a spus Roberto Musneci. ”Valul investitiilor europene care asigura tranzitia
energetica este unul fara precedent. Sectorul energiei regenerabile din Romania este unul extrem
de important, iar noi primim cel putin o propunere de investitii pe saptamana in ultimele 18 luni.
BEI a finantat proiectele tranzitiei energetice cu 17 miliarde de euro in 2022 (din care 700 milioane
euro in Romania – n.r.). Din acestea, o treime au fost proiecte regenerabile, o treime investitii in
retea si stocare si o treime in eficienta energetica. Efortul in dezvoltarea capacitatilor de stocare
este foarte important, pentru ca ne permite sa reducem costurile si sa echilibram reteaua. De
asemenea, trebuie sa investim mai mult in tehnologiile inteligente, pentru ca o retea inteligenta ne
permite sa reducem costurile. Mesajul meu pentru investitori- sa nu reducem investitiile in
productie, dar sa aruncam o privire si la retea, la transmisie si la capacitatea de stocare”, a spus
Lara Tassan Zanin, Head at EIB Group Office in Romania. ”Romania a devenit una dintre cele
mai atractive piete din regiune. Obiectivul Romaniei de a implementa 10 GW de tehnologii cu
emisii scazute de carbon pana in 2030 poate fi revizuit la mult mai mult, in conformitate cu
modificarile Planului Energetic National (PNIESC – e.n.). Obiectivul are multe sanse sa fie
depasit, avand in vedere tendinta de crestere fara precedent de pe piata si apetitul investitorilor si
pipeline-ul proiectelor in dezvoltare. Acesta este, insa, un efort pe termen lung. Fondurile UE,
alaturi de alte scheme de sprijin, cum ar fi Contractele pentru Diferenta (CfD) ar ajuta cu siguranta
investitorii, important este sa fie disponibile in timp util. Ca intotdeauna, piata se confrunta cu o
suma de provocari, mai ales in ultimii ani, cand am avut o volatilitate neasteptata a preturilor, care
s-a adaugat costurilor crescute ale lanturilor de aprovizionare si intarzierilor in achizitionarea
echipamentelor. Lipsa de lichiditate a pietei PPA din Romania este un alt obstacol care trebuie
depasit in urmatorii ani, pe masura ce piata devine mai sofisticata si mai deschisa catre acest tip
de instrumente”, a declarat Varinia Radu, partener fondator Energynomics – partener media al
evenimentului. In acelasi timp, Dan Dragos Dragan, secretar de stat in cadrul Ministerului
Energiei, a anuntat ca Romania va inlocui capacitatile pe carbune cu 10.000 MW de energie
regenerabila, dar si prin utilizarea reactoarelor de mici dimensiuni (SMR) si a noilor capacitati pe
gaz, combustibil de tranzitie atat de necesar pentru echilibrarea retelei. Totodata, Mircea Man,
vicepresedintele ANRE, a anuntat o serie de masuri care ”sa modifice ordinele existente, tocmai
pentru flexibilizarea retelelor de transport si distributie in vederea racordarii mai facile la retea”.
Printre vorbitori s-au numarat Pasquale Silvestro, Partener, Tonucci & Partners, Vincenzo
Moderno -fondator Modvin, Massimo Ceccariglia, Sef adjunct al departamentului de dezvoltare a
proiectelor, Mytilineos, Mario Tocco, Country Manager Romania, Alerion Clean Power, Federico
Cianciosi, COO Prysmian Romania, Radu Dudau, Co-fondator si presedinte al EPG, Lorena
Voicu, CFO, Alive Capital si Catalina Dragoi, sef de operatiuni pentru Romania si Bulgaria, ERG
Power Generation Spa. (Energynomics, 12 mai)

Pagina 5 din 22
15 Mai 2023

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https://www.energynomics.ro/ccipr-energy-forum-valul-investitiilor-europene-care-asigura-
tranzitia-energetica-fara-precedent/
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ENERGIE EOLIANA

Care sunt tarile europene care produc cea mai multa energie din vant? Danemarca,
Germania si Marea Britanie conduc, insa tari precum Romania, Bulgaria, Republica Ceha
si Letonia trebuie sa fie puse „pe harta dezvoltarii”
Danemarca, Germania si Marea Britanie au condus istoric trecerea la energia eoliana si sunt inca
puteri in acest sector, pentru ca au legi stabile si obiective clare, insa tari precum Romania,
Bulgaria, Republica Ceha si Letonia trebuie sa fie puse „pe harta dezvoltarii”, scrie Euronews. Iata
care sunt tarile europene care conduc revolutia energiei eoliene si ce putem invata de la ele.
Incepand cu anii 1980, energia eoliana a devenit din ce in ce mai importanta in productia de energie
electrica din Europa. De la primele parcuri eoliene construite la sfarsitul secolului al XX-lea,
energia eoliana a furnizat in prezent 17% din consumul total de energie electrica al Europei in
2022. Ideea este simpla: vantul roteste paletele unei turbine, iar aceasta miscare este transformata
in energie electrica. In conditiile in care guvernele si corporatiile energetice sunt presate sa treaca
de la petrol si gaze la energie curata, ce rol poate juca vantul? „Energia eoliana este poate cea mai
importanta tehnologie pentru decarbonizarea Europei, in multe tari fiind cea mai ieftina si potential
cea mai mare sursa interna de electricitate care poate inlocui combustibilii fosili importanti
volatili”, spune Paweł Czyżak, analist senior de date privind energia si clima la think tank-ul
Ember…
Care sunt tarile europene care conduc trecerea la energia eoliana?
Danemarca, Germania si Marea Britanie au condus istoric trecerea la energia eoliana si sunt inca
puteri in acest sector. Potrivit datelor grupului industrial WindEurope, Danemarca a ocupat primul
loc anul trecut, cu cea mai mare contributie a energiei eoliene la consumul de energie (55%).
Irlanda s-a clasat pe locul al doilea (34%), Marea Britanie pe locul al treilea (28%) si Germania pe
locul al patrulea (26%). In ceea ce priveste instalatiile viitoare, Germania este in continuare lider,
desi altii recupereaza din urma. Suedia si Finlanda depasesc Germania in ceea ce priveste energia
eoliana terestra, iar Regatul Unit este de departe cea mai puternica piata pentru energia eoliana
offshore. Unul dintre motivele pentru care aceste tari se descurca bine este faptul ca au legi stabile
si obiective clare pentru energia eoliana. „Principala lectie pe care as trage-o de la tari precum
Danemarca, Germania si Regatul Unit este ca trebuie sa ai o strategie clara si stabila si obiective
ambitioase. Apoi, trebuie sa aliniezi toate celelalte politici, precum si planificarea spatiala,
acordarea de autorizatii, planificarea retelelor etc. in acest sens”, a declarat Czyżak. El
Pagina 6 din 22
15 Mai 2023

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mentioneaza alte tari, cum ar fi Letonia, care au un potential ridicat pentru energia eoliana, dar nu
au obiective care sa le transforme in realitate. De asemenea, Italia se confrunta cu dificultati,
deoarece procesul de autorizare ofera autoritatilor puteri de veto. Acest lucru duce adesea la
proiecte anulate si la un mediu incert pentru dezvoltatori, potrivit lui Christoph Zipf, purtator de
cuvant al WindEurope. Pe langa politica, o prezenta industriala puternica poate contribui la
stimularea dezvoltarii eoliene, spune Po Wen Cheng, seful departamentului de energie eoliana de
la Universitatea din Stuttgart. „Tari precum Germania, Danemarca si Spania au o industrie
manufacturiera puternica, cu multe companii specializate in productia de turbine eoliene si alte
tehnologii conexe. Pe de alta parte, Tarile de Jos si Belgia au o industrie puternica in domeniul
exploatarii marine si offshore, ceea ce a dus la dezvoltarea de noi tehnologii pentru energia eoliana
offshore”, explica el.
Mai multi bani, mai multa energie eoliana
Inovarea in tehnologia eoliana plutitoare – turbine care nu sunt fixate pe fundul marii – a scos la
iveala, de asemenea, ape noi si mai adanci, deschizand calea pentru mai multa energie eoliana in
tari precum Portugalia, Spania si Grecia. Intre timp, tari precum Bulgaria, Romania, Republica
Ceha si Letonia trebuie sa fie puse „pe harta dezvoltarii” si sa fie mai bine recunoscute, potrivit lui
Czyżak. „Din ceea ce spune industria din aceste tari, este destul de greu sa atragi atentia, sa atragi
investitorii, sa obtii finantare. Cu atat de multe blocaje in ceea ce priveste autorizarea in unele
dintre cele mai mari tari, cum ar fi Germania, ar fi cu siguranta bine sa folosim potentialul acolo
unde nu este inca utilizat si unde nu exista atat de multa congestie in retea”, adauga el. Este esential
ca toate tarile UE sa contribuie la acest proces daca Uniunea Europeana doreste sa isi atinga
obiectivul privind energia regenerabila pentru 2030. „Blocul comunitar trebuie sa adauge anual cu
cel putin 50% mai multa capacitate decat se preconizeaza – 31 GW fata de 19-20 GW. Acest lucru
este posibil doar daca tarile care nu si-au folosit inca intregul potential, precum Estonia, Letonia,
Lituania, Romania si Bulgaria, isi intensifica jocul si implementeaza cantitati mari de energie
eoliana offshore”, spune Czyżak.
UE este pe cale sa rateze obiectivele pentru 2030
Potrivit WindEurope, UE este pe cale sa isi rateze obiectivul pentru 2030. Pentru ca UE sa o atinga,
tarile trebuie sa implementeze peste 30 GW in fiecare an pana in 2030. In 2022, au fost pusi in
functiune 16 GW si se asteapta ca tarile sa continue sa ramana in urma. Pentru a debloca cu
adevarat potentialul energiei eoliene, tarile din UE, chiar si cele care se descurca bine, trebuie sa
abordeze procedurile lungi de autorizare. Acest lucru va deveni din ce in ce mai important pe
masura ce turbinele ajung la finalul duratei de viata si trebuie inlocuite cu altele noi, ceea ce se
numeste „repowering”. De asemenea, tarile europene trebuie sa investeasca in retelele lor electrice
pentru a evita ca sursele de energie regenerabila sa fie refuzate din cauza lipsei de capacitate. Chiar
de Pastele trecut, compania energetica ceha a fost nevoita sa deconecteze sute de panouri solare
dupa ce acestea au generat mai multa energie decat putea suporta reteaua. „Investitiile in retele au
ramas adesea in urma productiei de energie regenerabila. Acest lucru a creat o serie de proiecte
Pagina 7 din 22
15 Mai 2023

Address: 1 Maresal Averescu Blvd, Bl. 1, Entrance. 1, 1st Floor, Ap. 5

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care asteapta sa se conecteze la retea, ceea ce a dus la intarzieri si la pierderi de venituri pentru
operatorii de energie regenerabila”, spune Cheng. Amandoi acesti factori, plus lipsa de acceptare
din partea publicului, inseamna ca multe tari si-au indreptat atentia catre offshore, dar energia de
pe uscat va fi, de asemenea, necesara daca Europa doreste sa isi reduca dependenta de combustibilii
fosili. Europa a parcurs un drum lung din anii 1980, transformandu-si industria eoliana intr-un
contribuitor semnificativ la reteaua sa de energie electrica, dar mai are un drum lung de parcurs
pentru a-si atinge obiectivele pentru 2030. (Economedia.ro, 14 mai)
https://economedia.ro/care-sunt-tarile-europene-care-produc-cea-mai-multa-energie-din-vant-
danemarca-germania-si-marea-britanie-conduc-insa-tari-precum-romania-bulgaria-republica-
ceha-si-letonia-trebuie-sa-fie-puse.html#.ZGGlMXZBy3A
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ENERGIE HIDRO

Profitul Hidroelectrica si-a continuat ascensiunea si in 2023, dupa rezultatul record de anul
trecut
Profitul net al companiei de stat Hidroelectrica, cel mai mare producator de energie electrica din
Romania, s-a majorat cu aproape 34% in primul trimestru al anului, fata de perioada similara din
2022, la 1,7416 miliarde lei, dupa castigul istoric de anul trecut. Informatia a fost transmisa de
catre actionarul minoritar Fondul Proprietatea (FP), care pregateste listarea la Bursa a participatiei
sale in vara aceasta. Este vorba de profitul net individual al Hidroelectrica, ce ia in calcul doar
rezultatul vanzarilor de energie din hidrocentrale, nu si pe cele ale parcului eolian Crucea.
Vanzarile de energie din productia proprie a companiei au crescut semnificativ, dupa seceta de
anul trecut, cu peste 38%, la 4,41 TWh, veniturile avansand cu 37%, la 3,37 miliarde lei, in
conditiile unui pret mediu de vanzare aproape identic cu cel din T1 2022 – circa 656 lei/MWh.
″Conform conducerii, in T1 2023 Hidroelectrica SA a inregistrat un impozit pe venitul suplimentar
de 230,6 milioane lei, in scadere cu 32,2% fata de T1 2022 si un cost cu apa uzinata de 163,6
milioane lei, in crestere cu 47,5% fata de T1 2022″, a mai transmis FP. Dupa cum a relatat Profit.ro,
Hidroelectrica a fost ″calcata″, incepand de anul trecut, de 3 ori de inspectorii Directiei Generale
Antifrauda din cadrul ANAF, in cadrul unor controale privind aplicarea legislatiei de
supraimpozitare din sector, acestia stabilind in sarcina companiei o suma suplimentara de plata in
valoare de peste 62 milioane lei, pe care insa Hidroelectrica intentioneaza sa o conteste in instanta,
considerand ca Fiscul a aplicat retroactiv legea. ″La 31 martie 2023 lichiditatile companiei erau de
4,89 miliarde lei. La aceeasi data, valoarea datoriilor totale purtatoare de dobanzi era de 473,5
milioane lei, comparativ cu 555,0 milioane lei la sfarsitul lunii martie 2022. In T1 2023, fluxurile
de numerar din activitatea operationala au fost de 1.210,7 milioane lei, comparativ cu 1.214,8
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milioanelLei in T1 2022. Investitiile companiei in T1 2023 au fost de 40,6 milioane lei, comparativ
cu 15,7 milioane lei in T1 2022″, mai dezvaluie FP. Hidroelectrica a terminat anul trecut cu un
profit net contabil de 4,4 miliarde lei, cu peste 42% mai mare fata de cel din 2021 (3,08 miliarde
lei), si il va distribui aproape integral actionarilor, in doua transe. (Profit.ro, Economica.net, Ziarul
Financiar, Cotidianul, Economedia.ro, E-nergia.ro, Financial Intelligence 12 mai)
https://www.profit.ro/povesti-cu-profit/energie/profitul-hidroelectrica-si-a-continuat-
ascensiunea-si-in-2023-dupa-rezultatul-record-de-anul-trecut-21122078
https://www.economica.net/hidroelectrica-profit-in-crestere-cu-34-in-primul-trimestru-al-lui-
2023_667971.html
https://www.zf.ro/zf-24/hidroelectrica-incheie-t1-2023-cu-venituri-de-3-4-mld-lei-plus-37-si-
21866915
https://www.cotidianul.ro/cresc-afacerile-si-profitul-hidroelectrica/
https://economedia.ro/hidroelectrica-a-realizat-un-profit-de-174-miliarde-lei-in-primul-trimestru-
in-crestere-cu-34.html#.ZGDtunZBy3A
https://e-nergia.ro/hidroelectrica-profit-in-crestere-cu-34-in-primul-trimestru-al-lui-2023/
https://financialintelligence.ro/hidroelectrica-a-inregistrat-un-profit-net-de-17-miliarde-lei-in-
trimestrul-i-in-urcare-cu-339/
top

BIOMASA, BIOCOMBUSTIBILI

De la 1 iunie, biocombustibilul devine obligatoriu in Romania. Acesta majoreaza consumul

de carburant
De la 1 iunie 2023, benzina si motorina vandute in Romania vor contine, obligatoriu, si un procent
de 8% si 6,5% de biocombustibil. Studiile au aratat ca biocombustibilul mareste consumul
consumul la autoturisme si, implicit, si costurile. In plus, masinile mai vechi ar putea avea
probleme de functionare din cauza biocombustibilului, acestea nefiind adaptate in niciun fel pentru
astfel de schimbari. Soferii care isi vor alimenta cu combustibil masinile de la 1 iunie 2023 trebuie
sa-si recalculeze necesarul pentru a ajunge la destinatie, in cazul distantelor lungi. Benzina si
motorina din Romania vor contine, de la aceasta data, in mod obligatoriu, procente de 8% si 6,5%
de biocombustibil, care vor genera un consum mai mare al autovehiculului. Masura a fost impusa
de Comisia Europeana pentru reducerea emisiilor de gaze cu efect de sera. Pentru a se asigura ca
masura va fi aplicata de toti operatorii economici, Guvernul a modificat OUG nr. 80/2018,
incluzand la obligatia de a comercializa doar benzina si motorina amestecate cu biocombustibili,
atat importatorul, locul de distributie a carburantului, productorul, cat si operatorul locului de
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distributie. ”Prin exceptie, la propunerea autoritatii competente, se poate stabili comercializarea
unor cantitati de benzina cu un continut de etanol de maximum 5% v/v si cu un continut de oxigen
de maximum 2,7% m/m, care sa asigure protejarea motoarelor cu aprindere prin scanteie prezente
pe anumite categorii de vehicule, utilaje, echipamente si/sau nave care prezinta limitari tehnice de
utilizare a unor combustibili cu valori superioare de etanol si oxigen”, arata Guvernul. Totodata,
cu informarea prealabila a autoritatii competente, pentru asigurarea protejarii in conditii de iarna
a motoarelor cu aprindere prin compresie prezente pe anumite categorii de vehicule, utilaje,
echipamente si/sau nave care prezinta limitari tehnice de utilizare a combustibililor prevazuti la
alin. (1), se poate utiliza un continut minim de biocarburant astfel incat punctul maxim de distilare
de 65% la 250°C pentru motorina diesel si motorina sa fie inlocuit cu un punct maxim de distilare
de 10% (vol/vol) la 180°C.
Crestere cu 11,5%
Britanicii au realizat un studiu chiar pe Dacia Sandero, concluzionand ca biocombustibilul duce la
o majorare a consumului de carburant de 11,5%. Totodata, americanii au renuntat la masura de
introducere a biocombustibilul, dupa ce mai multe autoturisme mai vechi s-au defectat pur si
simplu. Studiile au demonstrat ca biodieselul, unul dintre cei mai raspanditi biocombustibili,
reduce cu 10% numarul de kilometri parcursi cu masina. Bioetanolul este un combustibil cu
proprietati foarte asemanatoare benzinei clasice si este obtinut din fermentarea unor plante utilizate
in mod normal in agricultura – inclusiv cereale, tuberculi, cartofi, sfecla si tescovina – datorita
continutului lor ridicat de zahar. Procesul de descompunere a acestor plante, combinat cu un
microclimat fortat, genereaza un ulei inflamabil cu o culoare transparenta.
Diferente majore
Benzina si bioetanolul sunt considerate doua substante interschimbabile, insa acest lucru se
datoreaza faptului ca ambii carburanti au fost proiectati pentru motoarele pe benzina si, ca urmare,
se considera ca performanta este aceeasi, potrivit publicatiei auto.everyeye.it. ”Cu alte cuvinte,
bioetanolul ar fi alternativa mai curata, dar la fel de eficienta, la hidrocarburile fosile. In realitate,
exista diferente fundamentale intre cele doua. In primul rand, bioetanolul pur poate fi folosit doar
in masinile cu motor FLEX, solutie disponibila pe piata inca de la mijlocul anilor 1990. Acest
motor poate functiona cu benzina, bioetanol sau un amestec al celor doua. In toate celelalte cazuri,
bioetanolul poate fi ales doar ca aditiv. Bioetanolul are o putere calorica mai mica decat benzina,
prin urmare se consuma cu 50% mai mult pentru aceleasi calatorii”, noteaza publicatia
auto.everyeye.it. (National, 14 mai)
https://www.national.ro/social/de-la-1-iunie-biocombustibilul-devine-obligatoriu-in-romania-
acesta-majoreaza-consumul-de-carburant-794631.html
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 INTERNATIONAL

Senator Anca Dragu: “Romania needs a national strategy for energy transition”
“We must have a national strategy for energy transition. We do not have a strategy for the energy
industry. The National Integrated Plan in the field of Energy and Climate Change (PNIESC) is
also behind schedule. We need a strategy to see the directions we have to follow. What do we do
with the gas from the Black Sea, for example? The latest European documents show that the
financing of gas projects from European funds is no longer allowed. We have to see how long we
can exploit these resources and if these investments still make sense,” Senator Anca Dragu said
during Energy CEO Forum organized by The Diplomat-Bucharest. “We must have a national
strategy that answers certain questions. What do we do with hydrogen? When do we switch to
hydrogen trains? Regarding the PNRR, the transparency of the implementation is very low. The
champion in transparency is Croatia, which has a very good website about what is happening with
their PNRR. The PNRR became the subject of political strife in Romania, instead of being used
for reforms that would develop the country’s economy. We need the support of banks to finance
ambitious projects in the energy field. We must have a much stronger collaboration between the
state and the private sector. There must be a better dialogue between the state and the private
sector, perhaps even a planned dialogue, with regular meetings between professional associations
and state representatives.” (The Diplomat Bucharest, May 12th)
top

Ondrej Safar, CEZ Romania: “Everyone wants to be a prosumer, but our networks weren’t
built for everyone to be a prosumer”
“We must think about what the future will look like. We are in a great process of energy transition,
and no one knows exactly what it will look like. Whatever we spend now, whatever we invest now,
will be seen in the future. In distribution we need to invest in new transformers, which have a
lifespan of 30-50 years. We need to know where we are going, to know what we will invest in
today, what will be the role of the distribution network in 2050, what will be the role of the
consumer in 2050, what will the transport system look like,” Ondrej Safar, Country Manager, CEZ
Romania said during Energy CEO Forum organized by The Diplomat-Bucharest. “As a network
operator, we invest in the network with a view of 10-20 years into the future. What we invest, we
invest for the clients, not for us, and in the end, through the tariff, the client is the one who pays.
And he has to pay for something that will be useful to him in the future. We, as a distribution
network, must discuss how much renewable energy will be built, where, what will be the role of
large renewable energy, what will be the role of small renewable energy, of the prosumers, because
this is a major interest. Everyone wants to be a prosumer, but our networks weren’t built for
everyone to be a prosumer. When we build the network, we have a group of houses and each house
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has a certain capacity to connect. This capacity is thought in the perspective that a consumer will
have a certain maximum consumption, but not for the situation where all consumers will consume
at the maximum at the same time. The network is built on the principle that not all consumers
consume at the maximum at the same time, so the transformers have a certain capacity. But if
everyone builds a PV capacity that is equal to the maximum power of their connection – they paid
for it, they have the right to use it – everyone will produce and produce to the maximum. But the
network wasn’t built for that. These are the challenges we will have. In the first three months of
2023, we connected a number of prosumers approximately equal to that of the whole of last year,
with no funds available for prosumers. There is a lot of money available for prosumers and we
expect their numbers to grow even more.” (The Diplomat Bucharest, May 12th)
top

Photon Energy Group’s EBITDA drops despite breaking Q1 revenue record

Solar project developer and asset owner Photon Energy Group has posted a decreased EBITDA,
although recording an all-time revenue for the first quarter of a year in Q1 2023. The company’s
consolidated EBITDA was only €0.33 million (US$0.36 million), down from €2.02 million in Q1
2022. The decrease was due to a higher contribution of lower margin revenues, one-off transaction
costs related to the acquisition of Poland-based renewable energy company Lerta and a growing
headcount to support business growth. The company recorded a net loss of €4.17 million,
increasing from a net loss of €1.49 million in Q1 2022. However, Photon Energy Group’s posted
an all-time Q1 record revenue of €19.28 million, up from €9.14 million year-on-year. The growth
was mainly due to a 261.4% year-on-year growth of revenue streams, including the company’s
component-trading business line, revenues from Lerta, and engineering revenues in Australia.
Together, these streams brought €15.13 million to the company. Other highlights of Photon Energy
Group in Q1 included the commission of the first Romanian utility-scale PV power plant and €21.9
million financing for eight Romanian projects. This non-recourse project refinancing agreement
was the company’s first project financing of European PV assets that operated on a merchant basis,
selling energy to a market without a power purchase agreement (PPA) or state support. Looking
ahead, the company expected its consolidated revenues for 2023 to increase to €150 million in
2023 from €95.1 million in 2022, representing a 57.7% year-on-year increase and an increase of
EBITDA to €29 million from €24.3 million in 2022. (PV Tech, May 12th)
top

CCIpR Energy Forum: The wave of European investments ensuring the energy transition –
unprecedented
On Thursday, May 11, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Romania (CCIpR) organized Energy
Forum – Renewables, an event dedicated to Italian investors, for a perspective on the roadmap of
Romania’s energy transition, as well as on the immediate plans arising from the national energy
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realities. The proceedings of the conference were opened by Roberto Musneci, President of
CCIpR, who announced the conference program for this year, which will include two more events
in the autumn focused on the new infrastructure, oil and gas and nuclear (October) and circular
economy (November). “There are more and more Italian investors coming to Romania, especially
interested in the renewables sector, but also by all the other sectors. The Italian Chamber of
Commerce in Romania tries to offer business opportunities and facilitate business relations with
local partners,” said Roberto Musneci. “The wave of European investments that ensure the energy
transition is unprecedented. The renewable energy sector in Romania is an extremely important
one, and we have been receiving at least one investment proposal per week for the last 18 months.
The EIB financed energy transition projects with 17 billion euros in 2022 (of which 700 million
euro in Romania – e.n.). Of these, one third were renewable projects, one third network and storage
investments and one third went to energy efficiency. The effort in developing storage capacities is
very important, because it allows us to reduce costs and balance the network. We also need to
invest more in smart technologies, because a smart grid allows us to reduce costs. My message to
investors – let’s not reduce investments in production, but also take a look at the network,
transmission and storage capacity,” said Lara Tassan Zanin, Head at EIB Group Office in
Romania. ”We now see Romania being one of the most attractive markets in the region. Romania’s
goal to implement 10 GW of low-carbon technologies by 2030 can be revised to much more, under
the National Energy Plan (PNIESC – e.n.) changes. It has many chances to be surpassed, given the
hype in the marlket and the appetite of the investors and the pipeline of the projects that are being
developed. But this is a long-run effort, is not so simple. The EU funds, alongside other support
schemes such as Contracts for Difference (CfDs) would definitely help investors, the important
thing is to be provided in a timely manner. As always, the market faces its fair share of challenges,
especially in the latest years, when we had an unexpected volatility of the prices, adding to the
increased costs of the suppy chains and delays in procurement of the ecquipment. The lack of
liquidity of the PPA market in Romania is another hurdle to be overcome in the coming years, as
the market becomes more sophisticated and open to this type of instruments,” said Varinia Radu,
partner, Energynomics – media partner of the event. At the same time, Dan Dragos Dragan,
Secretary of State at the Ministry of Energy, announced that Romania will replace coal-fired
capacities with 10,000 MW of renewable energy, but also through the use of small-sized reactors
(SMRs) and new capacities on gas, the fuel transition so necessary to balance the network. At the
same time, Mircea Man, the vice-president of ANRE, announced a series of measures that “modify
the existing orders, precisely for the flexibility of the transport and distribution networks in order
to connect easier to the grid.” Among the speakers were Pasquale Silvestro, Partner at Tonucci &
Partners, Vincenzo Moderno-founder of Modvin, Massimo Ceccariglia, Deputy Head of the
Project Development Department, Mytilineos, Mario Tocco, Country Manager Romania, Alerion
Clean Power, Federico Cianciosi, COO Prysmian Romania, Radu Dudau, Co-founder and

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president of EPG, Lorena Voicu, CFO, Alive Capital and Catalina Dragoi, head of operations for
Romania and Bulgaria, ERG Power Generation Spa. (Energynomics, May 12th)
top

BEF 2023: Western Balkans must get financial support to decarbonize

Countries in Southeast Europe have no doubt that decarbonization is inevitable, but those that are
members of the European Union (EU) have more money to implement it than those outside the
bloc. Obtaining financing is key for the Western Balkan countries to carry out a just energy
transition, so they must work together on securing the EU’s help, according to the panel Energy
system of Southeast Europe – strategies for overcoming the crisis. The two-day Belgrade Energy
Forum 2023 (BEF 2023) brought together representatives of governments and major companies
to discuss the energy transition in Southeastern Europe. Four hundred participants from 28
countries including representatives of international organizations attended the biggest energy
conference in the region.
Coal phaseout not going smoothly in EU, let alone Western Balkans

Mirza Kušljugić and Rossen Hristov

Romania has passed a law envisaging thermal power plants to be shut down by 2030, but keeping
certain backup facilities until 2032. George Agafitei, State Counsellor in the Government of
Romania, said that coal will be replaced with nuclear power plants, gas-fired power plants, as well
as solar parks and wind farms. Romania plans to build two more units at its Cernavoda nuclear
power plant, but also a small modular nuclear reactor, perhaps the first in Europe, according to
Agafitei. Bulgaria, according to Minister of Energy Rossen Hristov, is in talks with the European
Commission on revising the emissions reduction target set in its national recovery and resilience
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plan. The target was set by the previous government, but has been rendered unreachable by the
energy crisis, he said, adding that the plan envisages a 40% emissions cut in the energy sector by
2026.
Bulgaria is negotiating a revision of its emissions reduction target for the energy sector, while
North Macedonia is updating its energy strategy
The negotiations with the European Commission include linking the national plan with
REPowerEU and with just transition plans and creating a coherent whole to ensure that coal
phaseout is carried out in a socially fair and economically viable way, he stressed. The proposal
includes, among others, doubling the renewable energy targets, from 3.5 GW to 6.5 GW – 7 GW,
with a view to reaching the EU’s decarbonization goals, ensuring energy security, and utilizing
Bulgaria’s natural resources. The country’s plan is to build four nuclear reactors, new hydropower
plants, as well as renewable energy plants. North Macedonia initially set 2027 as a coal exit date,
but later revised it to 2030. Viktor Andonov, energy advisor to the Prime Minister of North
Macedonia, recalled that the original deadline was set in 2018-2019 in line with the European
Green Deal. The plan relied on wind farms and solar power plants, whose integration would have
been ensured by pumped-storage hydropower plant Čebren.
Đokić: The current approach will endanger BiH citizens and economy
The plan also involved gas-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 450 MW, since gas
was seen as a transition fuel, but that required the country to start diversifying its supplies of gas,
all of which still comes from Russia via Bulgaria. This year is expected to see the launch of
construction on a gas interconnector with Greece, Andonov said, recalling that North Macedonia
is also part of a project to develop a new liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) terminal in
Alexandroupolis, which is under construction. North Macedonia is currently updating its energy
strategy to take into account the energy crisis. The new targets are yet to be set, but the
government’s intention is to comply with the REPowerEU plan, according to Andonov. The
authorities in the Republic of Srpska, one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are fully
aware of the need to decarbonize and carry out an energy transition, but, according to Minister of
Energy and Mining Petar Đokić, it needs to be done at an optimal pace so as to avoid adverse
impacts on the state, and particularly the people. Đokić believes that enough solar, wind and
hydropower plants could be built in the next five years to reduce the share of fossil fuels from 60%
to 30%.

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Petar Đokić and Giles Dickson

The value of all energy projects planned in the coming years is BAM 3.15 billion (EUR 1.16
billion), and the state power utility will play an important role, providing security of domestic
supply, according to Đokić. He highlighted the problem of emissions, not only in the energy sector
but primarily in industry. Industry in BiH has only recently entered a development stage, following
the necessary consolidation due to the 1990s crisis, and that is why it still lags far behind EU
countries, but also those in the region. With the heavy burden imposed by the national energy and
climate plan (NECP), including carbon pricing, coupled with the EU’s upcoming cross-border
carbon tax, it is uncertain whether the country’s energy system will survive, Đokić noted. That
approach, he believes, is wrong because it will put BiH in a very unfavorable situation, affecting
citizens and creating energy poverty. This is why it is necessary to discuss these issues extensively
and ensure understanding for the measures that BiH will take, according to Đokić. Professor Mirza
Kušljugić, from RESET, who moderated the panel, summarized the participants’ comments by
asking whether the Western Balkans might need a plan similar to REPowerEU or a way to join the
EU’s plan.
Renewables development schemes: what you subsidize is what you get

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George Agafitei

The problem of financing the energy transition is already visible in the existing models for green
energy development. The number of prosumers in Romania tripled in 2022, to 40,000, and is
expected to reach 100,000 this year! Asked what contributed to this, George Agafitei, State
Counsellor in the Government of Romania, said the number is expected to increase by 87,000 this
year thanks to a program that provides subsidies of EUR 4,000 for consumers. The idea is to
allocate higher subsidies to regions with more sunshine hours. When it comes to grid development,
Romania intends to boost its capacity to integrate 5 GW of power plants and has allocated EUR
400 million for that purpose.
Andonov: A successful energy transition requires a balance between large and medium-size
investors and consumers
Bulgaria is applying similar models for subsidizing prosumers, but is also preparing a pilot project
to develop virtual power plants, where citizens would rent roofs to install solar panels and create
a single power plant that would sell electricity on the market. When it comes to subsidies, the plan
is to attract private capital in segments with developed technologies, such as wind and solar, and
to provide subsidies where this is not the case, such as geothermal energy and batteries,
said Minister Rossen Hristov. North Macedonia has so far signed contracts for premiums for 130
MW of capacity at several auctions, which, according to Viktor Andonov, has sent a signal to
investors that the government is on the path to decarbonization and that it will support investments.
He believes that if the country wants the energy transition to be successful, it must create a balance
between large and medium-sized investors and consumers. To this end, the country has adopted a
law on strategic partnership for large investors, and has already signed contracts with companies
such as Akuo, wpd, Mytilineos. The state has also launched auctions for medium-sized investors,
and streamlined procedures for prosumers, who are eligible for subsidies of EUR 1,300.
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Đokić: Wonderful ships without the sea
The Republic of Srpska still does not have a completed regulatory framework for citizen energy,
but state power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) has launched a subsidy scheme for
citizens to install solar panels. The results, as Minister Petar Đokić said, have not matched
expectations, partly because many thought the subsidies had something to do with the election
campaign that was under way when the program was launched. He believes the scheme will take
off once the first panels are installed and people see how it works in practice. The reason why the
regulatory framework has not yet been fully defined is the tax treatment of prosumers is, he
explained. Đokić believes that the transmission network will be a problem because the region has
the potential to produce much more electricity, but will not be able to transmit it to consumers,
primarily in Europe. Planned investments in power plants will not produce results, and we will
have wonderful ships, but without the sea, Đokić said.
“Financing is not a problem in the EU, but it is in the Western Balkans”

Viktor Andonov
Asked to give advice to the region regarding the energy transition financing, Giles Dickson, CEO
of European wind industry association WindEurope, admitted that the transition requires a lot of
money, but he added that from the economic point of view, financing the energy transition is
cheaper than doing nothing. There is a lot of money in the EU’s funds, primarily in national
recovery and resilience plans, some EUR 200 billion, and there are also structural and cohesion
funds, as well as funds for candidate countries and partners. Then there are loans from the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank
(EIB). There are enough sources of financing, and there is also private capital, which needs the
prospect of steady income, he said, noting that this can be ensured through contracts for difference
(CfDs) and power purchase agreements (PPAs).
Dickson: More and more companies want to decarbonize by using renewable energy
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Until just five years ago, they thought wind and solar were expensive, unstable, that they
complicated the stability of their supply, and now they are asking investors to build power plants,
Dickson said. Commenting on the advice from the EU, Viktor Andonov said briefly: There is no
shortage of money in Europe, but there is in the Western Balkans, and that is obvious. He admitted
that money from the EU is coming, but only about 20-30% of what is needed. As an example, he
cited the coal regions of Bitola and Kičevo, for which a preliminary plan was prepared under a
diagnostic project for a just transition, which was financed by the EBRD and the EU. “It’s a good
start, we have to understand that it will happen, whether in 10 or 15 years. That’s why we have to
make smart decisions, and in a timely fashion, or it will end up being both more difficult and more
expensive,” he said.
Andonov: We all share the same goals, but not everyone has the same funding
Andonov believes the Western Balkans should follow the REPowerEU plan, but that it needs
special funds for a just transition, which should be ensured through a joint regional initiative. It is
quite straightforward, given that North Macedonia has 20-30% more sunshine hours than Romania
and will certainly have more prosumers if it increases subsidies from EUR 1,300 to EUR 4,000.
“We all share the same decrabonization goals, but EU countries have more resources than the
region, and it would be good to launch this initiative through the Energy Community because that
way the results would be much better,” Andonov suggested.
Hristov: There is no free lunch
Minister Petar Đokić believes that financing the transition in BiH should be discussed with a
specific approach, added that it is not good that financiers have doubts about political stability in
the country. Private capital makes up a majority of the agreed investments in the Republic of
Srpska, as much as 70%, and this is the best possible ratio at the moment, he said, stressing the
importance of state power utility ERS for new investment projects. Speakers from Romania and
Bulgaria had a slightly different view of the situation. George Agafitei stressed that political
stability and predictable regulation are key to attracting private capital, while Minister Rossen
Hristov noted that it is not very accurate to say that EU members have billions of euros at their
disposal, because there is no free lunch. The EU budget is filled by member states, which then get
some of the money back, as is the case with national budgets, he noted. Hristov said that Bulgaria
has not yet submitted plans for a just transition because it is guided by the principle “measure
twice, cut once.”

EU implementing four measures to speed up investment in wind and solar

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The share of wind energy in the EU’s total consumption is currently 17%, and the goal is to reach
43%, which requires installing twice as much wind capacity annually – 30 GW instead of the
current 15 GW. Giles Dickson, CEO of European wind industry association WindEurope, said
that four measures are currently being implemented to achieve this goal. The first measure is to
treat the construction of new renewable energy power plants as the prevailing public interest when
issuing permits, which is set out in EU laws. The idea is not, as he said, to protect every bird or
fish, but rather their populations. Changes are already taking place in Germany, for example,
where permits for 2 GW of onshore wind farms were issued in the first quarter of the year, which
is three times as much as three years earlier. The second measure is a new approach in
transmission network development, which shifts the responsibility for ensuring grid connection
from investors to transmission and distribution network operators. Investors, of course, are
responsible for balancing, and the provide system services. Supply chains are the third area, and
the EU, he said, has made it clear that it does not want to replace its dependence on Russia with
reliance on China. The message is that new wind farms should be built using turbines from the
EU, not China, he added, recalling that a new industrial strategy was launched for this purpose.
Finally, the EU has also called for strengthening market signals to investors. In that sense, the EU
has commended Serbia’s intention to introduce contracts for difference (CfD), which the bloc
believes will ensure the right signals to investors because they provide steady revenues, while there
are also power purchase agreements (PPAs). In all this, and of course in auctions, it is important
that the price reflects actual costs of equipment and that there is indexing to inflation, according
to Dickson. (Balkan Green Energy News, May 12th)
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Winds of change: Which European countries are generating the most energy from wind?
These are European countries leading the wind power revolution and what we can learn from them.
Since the 1980s, wind energy has become increasingly important in Europe’s power production.
From the first wind farms being built in the late 20th century, wind power now provided 17 per
cent of Europe’s total electricity consumption in 2022. The idea is simple: wind turns the blades
of a turbine and this motion is converted into electricity. With governments and energy
corporations under pressure to transition from oil and gas to clean energy, what role can wind
play? “Wind power is perhaps the most important technology for Europe's decarbonisation, in
many countries the cheapest and potentially largest domestic source of electricity that can replace
volatile imported fossil fuels,” Paweł Czyżak, says senior energy and climate data analyst at the
think tank Ember.
Which European countries are leading the switch to wind power?
Denmark, Germany, and the UK have historically led the switch to wind power and are still
powerhouses in the industry. According to data from the industry group WindEurope, Denmark
took the top spot last year, with the highest contribution of wind power to energy consumption (55
per cent). Ireland came in second (34 per cent), the UK third (28 per cent) and Germany fourth (26
per cent). When it comes to upcoming installations, Germany is still leading, although others are
catching up. Sweden and Finland are outperforming Germany on onshore wind and the UK is by
far the strongest market for offshore wind. One reason these countries do well is that they have
stable laws and clear targets for wind energy. “The main lesson I would draw from countries like
Denmark, Germany and the UK, is that you have to have a clear and stable strategy and ambitious
targets. Then you align all of the other policies and spatial planning and permitting and grid
planning etc. towards that,” said Czyżak. He points to other countries, like Latvia, which have a
high potential for wind power but lack targets to make it a reality. Italy also struggles as its
permitting process gives authorities vetoing powers. This often leads to cancelled projects and an
uncertain environment for developers, according to Christoph Zipf, spokesperson for WindEurope.
Alongside policy, a strong industrial presence can help boost wind development, says Po Wen
Cheng, head of wind energy at the University of Stuttgart. “Countries like Germany, Denmark,
and Spain have a strong manufacturing industry, with many companies specialising in wind turbine
production and other related technologies. The Netherlands and Belgium, on the other hand, have
a strong offshore and marine operation industry, which has led to the development of new
technologies for offshore wind energy,” he explains.
More money, more wind power
Innovation in floating wind technology - turbines that are not fixed to the seabed - has also opened
up new, deeper waters, opening the door for more wind power in countries like Portugal, Spain
and Greece. Meanwhile, countries like Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic and Latvia need to
be put “on the development map” and get more recognition, according to Czyżak. “From what the
industry is saying in those countries, it's quite hard to get the attention, to get the investors coming
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in, to get the financing. With so many permitting bottlenecks in some of the bigger players, like
Germany, it would definitely be good to use the potential where it's not utilised yet and where
there’s not so much grid congestion,” he adds. It’s vital all EU countries muck in if the European
Union wants to meet its EU’s 2030 renewable energy target. “The bloc needs to be adding at least
50 per cent more capacity annually than predicted - 31 GW as opposed to 19-20 GW. This is only
possible if countries that have not utilised their full potential yet, such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
Romania and Bulgaria, step up their game and deploy large amounts of offshore wind,” says
Czyżak.
EU set to miss 2030 goals
According to WindEurope, the EU is set to miss its 2030 target. For the EU to hit it, countries need
to deploy over 30 GW every year up until 2030. In 2022, 16 GW came online and countries are
expected to continue to fall short. To truly unlock wind power’s potential, countries across the EU,
even those doing well, need to tackle long permitting procedures. This will only become more
important as turbines come to the end of their lives and need to be swapped for new ones - known
as repowering. European countries also need to invest in their power grids to prevent renewables
from being turned away due to a lack of capacity. Just this past Easter, the Czech energy company
had to unplug hundreds of solar panels after they generated more power than the grid could handle.
“Grid investment has often lagged behind the production of renewable energy. This has created a
backlog of projects waiting to connect to the grid, which has resulted in delays and lost revenue
for renewable energy operators,” says Cheng. Both of these factors, plus a lack of public
acceptance, means many countries have turned their focus offshore, but onshore power will also
be needed if Europe wants to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. Europe has come a long way since
the 1980s, growing its wind industry into a significant contributor to its power grid, but it has a
long way to go to meet its 2030 targets. (Euronews, May 14th)
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