Neagu said integrating the renewable energy into the national power grid has become an issue because the local green energy sector saw major growth in a short period of time. Therefore, she added, this is a challenge both for the national system and for Transelectrica.
According to statistical data, wind power production in Romania reached 4.69 billion KWh in 2013, higher by 2.05 billion KWh compared to 2012.
Early 2013, Romania’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.
Green energy producers receive a number of certificates depending on the generation technology they use and the amount of energy they produce. They sell green certificates to energy suppliers, who must ensure a certain amount of renewable energy for consumers. The number of green certificates they bought indicates whether they met their quota or not. The affair entails expenses for energy suppliers, which transfer them to beneficiaries.