Wind energy is a hot industry at present, with international giants attracted by Romania with some of the best winds in Europe, and especially by the support scheme the government is about to implement.
The five largest wind farms were developed by major companies, with few small companies managing to run the full race because of the very high costs entailed by such projects.
CEZ (Czech Republic) invested almost EUR600 million in 337.5 MW in Fantanele, near the Black Sea. Energias de Portugal, which already has 159-MW turbines up and running, will boost its capacity by 69 MW in September.
Italy’s Enel wind farm investment overshot the 100 MW mark last month, and a new 70 MW wind farm could be built by yearend. OMV Petrom (SNP.RO), Romania’s largest company, is already testing the 45 MW wind farm in Dorobantu, ButanGas has completed its 25 MW farm and Martifer (8.4 MW) has started making headway at Babadag.
The top ten operational wind farm projects also include the 26.8 MW installed in Dobrogea by businessman Emanuel Muntmark’s Monsson company and LC Business’s 9 MW facility in Oravita, Banat region. The latter is the only wind project outside the Dobrogea region in southeastern Romania.
“We are speaking of investments of above EUR1.2 billion in the ten largest wind farms and of 1,200 new jobs,” says Dana Ducia, executive manager of the Romanian Wind Energy Association, an organization of representatives of the largest European wind power producers, equipment manufacturers and law firms.
According to Transelectrica data, the largest wind farms developed since the start of this year are the projects completed by Energias de Portugal, 69 MW in Pestera, ButanGas, 25 MW, and Petrom, 45 MW. “At the end of this year, we expect over 1,118 MW to be installed in wind farms,” say Transelectrica representatives
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu; Editing by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)