Romanian government wants more electricity from wind

The Romanian government has approved a draft bill intended to make it easier to harness the abundant wind energy in the Black Sea. Romania’s push to increase the use of wind energy is in line with national and broader EU goals, including the EU target for 2030 of at least 60 GW of offshore wind capacity and the ambitious long-term target of 300 GW by 2050.

Romania is experiencing a solar energy boom as part of its energy transition. European funding and reform of the legal framework have spurred investment, from households and consumers to public facilities. The wind energy segment, by contrast, is lagging behind, particularly offshore, as investors wait for the law to be passed by parliament so they can at least begin planning, reports Balkan Green Energy News.

The difficulties caused by inadequate legislation are illustrated by Siemens, which tried to launch an offshore wind farm project on the Black Sea coast in 2010. The plan was abandoned after the Romanian government cut incentives for renewable energy. Blackstone, meanwhile, wanted to build a 500 MW facility before shelving the initiative.

Speeding up the process

By approving the bill, the government aims to improve the legal framework and align it with European Union legislation. To speed up implementation of the proposal, Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja has now requested an emergency parliamentary procedure—a process intended to secure parliamentary approval within 30 days of the new parliamentary session beginning on 1 February.

Euractiv reports that the energy minister’s initiative is in line with Romania’s commitments under its National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which is crucial to the planned decarbonisation of the country’s energy sector.

Romania’s potential

The wind energy potential, estimated at 76 GW in a World Bank report, could be key.

“We have enormous potential, and investments worth billions of euros are ready and waiting for this new legislative framework. We can now use this potential to produce green, affordable energy for the benefit of Romanians,” Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu explained.

To advance its offshore wind ambitions, the government wants to define and approve specific areas in the Black Sea for wind farms eligible for concessions by the end of June 2025. The decision will be based on an environmental study commissioned by the energy ministry.

However, electricity generation from wind farms in the Black Sea is not expected to begin until 2032, Burduja added.