Wind Power Accounts For 2% Of Energy Generated In 2011

Other than that, the stars of electricity production last year were the old thermoelectric power plants running on coal (40% market share), given the severe drought. Consumption rose by more than 3% mainly driven by the large consumers, yet the 2008 level remained an unattained target, according to the data in the latest report of the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE).

While household consumption rose by about 3% and the consumption of companies buying power at regulated prices fell by almost 15%, the competitive market, where prices are set by demand and supply and major consumers with a high negotiation power usually go, grew by more than 15%.

This consumer segment used about 47% of the total amount of power used in Romania. As electricity consumption is seen as quite an accurate barometer of how the economy of a country goes, the increase in demand especially on the competitive market is an indication of the industry and major companies doing better.

The sales of power on the competitive market stood at 22.5 TWh last year, worth about EUR1 billion.

The biggest supplier on this segment was aluminum smelter Alro, with a 13% market share. Alro, in its position as the country’s biggest electricity consumer sells electricity to itself on the free market and does not have any other customers in its portfolio. Leaving Alro out, the top supplier of electricity on the competitive market was Tinmar IND, a company controlled by businessman Augustin Oancea, with a market share of 6%. ANRE data show Tinmar IND sold 73% more power in 2011 than in 2010. The company entered this business in 2007 and the latest data show it to have 80 clients, most of which operating in the chemical and metallurgical industries and in public transportation.

In 2010, the company’s revenue amounted to EUR174.5 million, leaving behind rivals such as Energy Holding, maybe the best known private electricity trader, Alpiq RomEnergia or Alpiq RomIndustries, held by Swiss shareholders, which buy power directly from Hidroelectrica.

Tinmar IND does not have any direct contracts signed with Hidroelectrica.

ANRE data show Augustin Oancea’s company sold more power than Alpiq or Energy Holding, which accounted for 4% and 3% of the competitive power market.

According to reports by national grid company Transelectrica, Alpiq RomEnergie’s clients include carmaker Dacia, as well as Rominserv company, while Artic, Sortilemn and Kronospan buy electricity from Alpiq RomIndustries. Energy Holding’s customers include Ductil Steel and Vega Refinery. Tinmar IND has Santierul Naval Braila (Braila Shipyard) and Donau Chem among its clients.

State-owned Electrica accounted for 6% of the competitive market.

Wind farms generated 2% of the country’s electricity last year, while thermoelectric power plants generated 40%, up from 34% in 2010. This was because of the severe drought, which drove hydropower plants’ contribution down from 36% to 26%. Nuclear power share in the total remained constant at 19.4%

(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)