ETEM Systems, which delivers metal support structures for solar panels, participated in three projects totaling 8 MW in Bistrita, and currently develops two projects totaling 11 MW in Sibiu.
So far, ETEM Systems participated directly and indirectly to the installing of solar panels totaling 80 MW in Romania.
ETEM Systems, part of metals processing group Viohalco, reported EUR2.6 million sales in 2013 and estimates sales of EUR3.2 million for 2014, triggered by a positive trend on the construction market, Laspadakis said.
Producers of renewable energy benefit from government support via a green certificates scheme, which allows them to recover part of the production costs. Each renewable energy producer is granted a number of green certificates for power fed into the electricity grid.
Early 2013, the country’s energy market regulator ANRE said renewable energy producers receive too many green certificates in ratio with investment costs in power units and recommended the government should reduce the number of green certificates granted to renewable energy producers.
Besides reducing the number of green certificates, the government also decided to put off, starting July 1, 2013, the granting of a part of green certificates to investors in micro-hydro units, wind power plants and photovoltaic power stations. The measure would be valid until March 2017 for hydropower units and photovoltaic power stations, and until 2018 for wind plants.
In 2013, solar parks operating in Romania had a total capacity of almost 1,000 MW, compared with 49 MW at the end of 2012.