The law regulating the granting of green certificates for renewable energy producers is one of the major challenges for the development of Romania’s energy sector, reads the survey conducted by Anton Vladescu, representative of the Romanian National Committee of the World Energy Council, and Valeriu Binig, energy program manager at Deloitte.
Romanian renewable energy producers receive green certificates for the energy they produce. Energy suppliers must buy green certificates in annual quotas and ensure a certain amount of renewable energy for consumers.
Producers earn money both from the direct sale of electricity and from green certificate deals.
Southeastern Romania has the most numerous renewable energy production units, especially wind farms.
To be able to ensure the stability of the energy system, state-owned power grid operator Transelectrica (TEL.RO), will have to build new lines to transport wind-generated electricity. According to the document, Transelectrica is unable to make such investments and this financial obstacle is “almost insurmountable”.
Transelectrica officials estimated at the beginning of the year that investments needed to balance the national energy system, following the impact of wind farms, stands at EUR500 million.
Transelectrica cannot support investments in new energy production units to balance the system, reads the survey.
Delaying the construction of the thermal power plant in Braila and the hydropower plant in Tarnita hinders the process aimed to balance the country’s energy system.