A breakdown by type of renewable energy shows Constanta (SE Romania) is the wind power capital, Prahova (southern Romania) is where most solar PVs are and Alba (central Romania) generates most electricity using biomass, while Hunedoara (central Romania) has the most micro hydropower plants operational.
On the other hand, counties like Teleorman and Bucharest (south of the country) have not attracted any investment in green power generation facilities, as renewable energy projects largely depend on factors like wind and sunlight intensity or the availability of large plots of land.
According to ZF’s calculations based on the information in Transelectrica’s reports as of December 12, 2012, Constanta is the greenest county, with more than 1,000 megawatts of capacity installed after over EUR1.5 billion investments. This is the only type of green power installed in this county, but the investments were enough to make it the greenest in Romania.
Next is Tulcea, another area of many wind farms. Tulcea attracted almost EUR700 million in wind farm investments, with more than 464 megawatts installed. This is the only type of green power in the county.
Galati (SE Romania) ranks third because of wind farm investments.
While Constanta is the wind power capital, Prahova is the county with most solar PV investments (about EUR6.5 million in farms with a 5 megawatt capacity).
Alba is the county with most investments in generating power from biomass, over EUR17 million. This is also where most wood processing plants of the country are and they supply the necessary fuel for power generation.
As for the areas most likely to see future renewable energy investment, Oltenia is the most attractive region for solar PV farms, as well as for construction of small hydropower plants, according to Transelectrica data.
A number of projects for solar PV investments is Oltenia with a capacity of more than 172 megawatts already have grid contracts signed, and will cost over EUR200 million. Dobrogea remains the destination of choice for wind power farms, while Northern Transylvania seems the best area for biomass power plants.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)
Top 15 counties by green power generation capacity
|
Rank |
County |
Installed power (MW) |
|
1 |
Constanta |
1,030.69 |
|
2 |
Tulcea |
464.16 |
|
3 |
Galati |
98.75 |
|
4 |
Caras-Severin |
61.88 |
|
5 |
Braila |
48.30 |
|
6 |
Vaslui |
43.75 |
|
7 |
Buzau |
20.00 |
|
8 |
Hunedoara |
13.78 |
|
9 |
Prahova |
13.75 |
|
10 |
Gorj |
10.93 |
|
11 |
Alba |
10.41 |
|
12 |
Sibiu |
9.56 |
|
13 |
Suceava |
7.96 |
|
14 |
Neamt |
6.55 |
|
15 |
Mures |
3.63 |
Source: ZF calculations based on Transelectrica data as of December 12, 2012.
Top 10 counties by wind farm capacity
|
County |
Installed power (MW) |
Investment (mln. euros) |
|
|
1 |
Constanta |
1,030.69 |
1,546.04 |
|
2 |
Tulcea |
464.16 |
696.24 |
|
3 |
Galati |
98.75 |
148.13 |
|
4 |
Caras-Severin |
57.30 |
85.95 |
|
5 |
Braila |
48.30 |
72.45 |
|
6 |
Vaslui |
43.25 |
64.88 |
|
7 |
Buzau |
20.00 |
30.00 |
|
8 |
Mehedinti |
1.80 |
2.70 |
|
9 |
Vrancea |
1.20 |
1.80 |
|
10 |
Bistrita Nasaud |
0.82 |
1.23 |
Source: Transelectrica
Calculations took into account an average investment of EUR1.5 million per megawatt
Top 10 counties by solar PV capacity
|
County |
Installed power (MW) |
Investment (mln. euros) |
|
|
1 |
Prahova |
5.00 |
6.50 |
|
2 |
Mures |
3.63 |
4.72 |
|
3 |
Sibiu |
2.34 |
3.04 |
|
4 |
Dambovita |
2.06 |
2.68 |
|
5 |
Bistrita Nasaud |
1.70 |
2.21 |
|
6 |
Vrancea |
1.50 |
1.95 |
|
7 |
Ilfov |
1.03 |
1.33 |
|
8 |
Giurgiu |
0.99 |
1.29 |
|
9 |
Olt |
0.95 |
1.24 |
|
10 |
Timis |
0.86 |
1.12 |
Source: Transelectrica
Calculations took into account an average investment of EUR1.3 million per megawatt
Top three counties by biomass capacity
|
County |
Installed power (MW) |
Investment (mln. euros) |
|
|
1 |
Alba |
8.75 |
17.50 |
|
2 |
Neamt |
6.55 |
13.10 |
|
3 |
Suceava |
4.93 |
9.86 |
Source: Transelectrica
Calculations took into account an average investment of EUR2 million per megawatt