Romania could harness onshore wind to meet 35% of its growing electricity needs by 2030, instead of investing in conventional power, WindEurope chief executive Giles Dickson.
In 2017 wind power provided 12% of Romania’s electricity, but with electricity demand predicted to rise, the country urgently needs to invest in new power capacity, Dickson told the annual meeting of the Romanian Wind Energy Association in Bucharest.
“Onshore wind is now the cheapest form of new power in Romania and many parts of Europe. And it’s reliable. And it’s getting easier and cheaper to integrate it in the energy system, ” he said.
“That’s why so many corporate and industrial power consumers are now buying wind energy. Making huge investments in old fossil fuel technology today makes no economic sense whatsoever,” he added.
In order for Romania to develop more wind power, the country needs flexible grids and interconnectors to the country’s neighbours.
Dickson said: “According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, there’s huge potential for wind in south-east Europe: 532GW. But this is largely untapped, despite the green shoots of growth appearing in Serbia, Croatia, Ukraine and Greece. And in Bulgaria, where the government recently passed a law allowing for corporates to sign power purchase agreements.”
Due to regulatory uncertainty, wind farms in Romania and the region are more expensive than in north-west Europe, as investors demand higher costs of capital, WindEurope said.
“To address this, we urge governments in the region to give clarity on their renewables plans and legislation in their 2030 National Energy and Climate Plans,” said Dickson.
“The National Plans should cover the integration of regional energy markets, the development of joint renewable energy projects and long-term decarbonisation and electrification strategies. Investments, economies of scale and cost reductions will only happen when the industry is assured of stable policy and regulation.”