For the first time since the start of the wind farm boom, which began in Dobrogea (SE Romania), a project located in Moldavia (east and north-east of Romania), the second region with high potential in the country, was included on the list.
The data centralized by Transelectrica shows that 15 wind farms had been installed and were operational in the national energy system in early June, four more than at the beginning of the year.
The 15 farms required investments of more than EUR1.7 billion in about 500 turbines, most of which installed in Constanta and Tulcea (the two counties that make up the Dobrogea region).
This year’s new entries were developed by Austrian-held Verbund and Energias the Portugal. Verbund has two wind farms in Tulcea, whose installed capacity stands at almost 100 MW. Their project, whose capacity should be 200 MW, will be completed next year. Energias de Portugal continued investment and completed two new wind farms with a capacity of 57 MW. The four projects cost about EUR234 million, if taking into account a cost of EUR1.5 million for every megawatt installed.
The wind farm list compiled by Transelectrica includes a project completed in Moldavia for the first time. The new farm in Vutcani, Vaslui County (eastern Romania), was built by Energias de Portugal.
Dobrogea and Moldavia are the best regions in Romania for wind farm investors. Since there are a lot of projects in Dobrogea, many investors have turned to Moldavia, where land is cheaper and the wind is almost as good, while permit securing process usually takes less time, experts on the market say.
The largest wind farms built in Romania so far are those of CEZ (Czech Republic), Energias de Portugal, Iberdola (Spain) and Enel Green Power (Italy).
CEZ currently owns 378.6 MW in two towns in Dobrogea, Fantanele and Cogealac. The total capacity of the wind farm developed by CEZ is 600 MW and the entire investment (EUR1.1 billion) should be completed this year, according to latest available information.
CEZ will install 240 wind turbines (2.5 MW each) supplied by General Electric.
The second largest farm was developed by Energias de Portugal in the town of Pestera, Constanta County, and has a capacity of 90 MW. This farm required 30 turbines (3 MW each). Third largest farm was developed by Iberdola in Mihai Viteazu, Constanta and required 40 wind turbines.
The companies to have invested most money into wind farms until early June are CEZ, Energias de Portugal, Enel, Verbund, Iberdola, OMV Petrom (SNP.RO) and ButanGas. According to ZF’s calculations, CEZ has invested EUR580 million thus far, EDP spent more than EUR427 million on its wind mills while Italy’s Enel allocated more than EUR366 million to the farms monitored by Transelectrica.
The total capacity of wind farms in Romania might overshoot the 2,000 MW mark in 2012, which means more than EUR3 billion in investments.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)
| No. | Wind farm | Gross installed capacity (MW) | Net capacity (MW) | Operator | Investment value (millions of euros) |
| 1 | Fantanele East and West, Cogealac – Constanta | 387.5 | 378.6 | Tomis Team and Ovidiu Development – CEZ | 581.25 |
| 2 | Pestera – Constanta | 90 | 88.25 | EDP Renewables | 135 |
| 3 | Mihai Viteazu – Constanta | 80 | 79 | Eolica Dobrogea One – Iberdrola | 120 |
| 4 | Salbatica 1 – Tulcea | 70 | 68.5 | Enel Green Power | 105 |
| 5 | Salbatica 2 – Tulcea | 70 | 68.5 | Enel Green Power | 105 |
| 6 | Corugea – Tulcea | 70 | 69 | Enel Green Power | 105 |
| 7 | Cernavoda 1 – Constanta | 69 | 68.31 | Cernavoda Power – EDP Renewables | 103.5 |
| 8 | Cernavoda 2 – Constanta | 69 | 67.66 | Cernavoda Power – EDP Renewables | 103.5 |
| 9 | Dorobantu* – Constanta | 45 | 42.72 | Wind Power Park – OMV Petrom | 90 |
| 10 | CAS Regenerabile, Casimcea – Tulcea | 50.6 | 49.64 | CAS Regenerabile – Verbund | 75.9 |
| 11 | Alpha Wind Nord, Casimcea – Tulcea | 48.3 | 47.53 | Alpha Wind – Verbund | 72.45 |
| 12 | Valea Nucarilor – Tulcea | 34 | 33.42 | Enel Green Power | 51 |
| 13 | Sarichioi – Tulcea | 33 | 32.36 | EDP Renewables | 49.5 |
| 14 | Silistea – Constanta | 25 | 24.75 | Romconstruct Top – ButanGas | 37.5 |
| 15 | Vutcani – Vaslui | 24 | 23.53 | EDP Renewables | 36 |
| Total | 1,165.40 | 1,141.77 | 1,770.6 |