Last year Romania put into operation 10 times more electricity production capacity than in 2022, and the increase is estimated to be even higher at the end of 2024, Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja said.Thus, in 2023, new power plants commissioned included: 496 MW solar, 72 MW wind and 56 MW hydro. The total is 624 MW installed capacity, new production capacities now available to the national grid. Compared to 2022, the total figure is almost 10 times higher (44 MW hydro and 25 MW solar were commissioned then).Also, if at the end of 2022 there were only 40,171 prosumers, with a cumulative installed capacity of 417 MW, at the end of 2023 their number exceeded 100,000, with an installed capacity that most likely exceeded 1,500 MW, more than the installed capacity of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, the press release mentions."The fact that in 2023 the new capacities commissioned were almost 10 times higher than in the previous year shows that Romania is increasingly attractive for investors in the energy sector, especially in the green energy segment. We expect that by the end of 2024 the growth will be even higher, given that we have managed to complete the financing of the projects of investment 1 - PNRR, which total almost 1,700 MW. I expect a large part of these investments to be completed by the end of the year, based on the commitment of the beneficiaries. Add to this the investment in the new gas-fired power plant at Iernut, a project that has been blocked for years, with a real chance of coming on stream in December 2024, which will add 430 MW of installed capacity to the national energy grid. Plus a number of private investments, which did not require government support, so the balance sheet for this year will be even better," stressed the energy minister.He also pointed out that if in 2023 Romania was a net exporter of electricity, after many years of relying more on imports, with these new investments it is even better positioned to reach its potential as a regional leader and energy hub for the entire region.The source also points out that the Ministry of Energy is nearing completion of the procedures for the implementation of Contracts for Difference (CfD), which will support, through two successive auctions in 2024 and 2025, investments in solar and wind energy production with a total installed capacity of 5,000 MW.
On Thursday, January 23, the European Commission granted a protected geographical indication status to Romania’s Jidvei wine. The new status offers recognition for the distinctive qualities of the wine. The brand encompasses white, rosé, red, sparkling, semi-sparkling, and liqueur wines produced from grape varieties grown in the Alba region, in central-western Romania. The vineyards in […]
Romania's pavilion at the Osaka World Expo 2025, which will take place from April 13 to October 13, was built with a focus on sustainability, including contributions from Romanian workers. The pavilion also highlights Romania's national resources. The mascot for the expo is a pelican named Haru (meaning "spring" in Japanese), symbolizing the importance of […]
Examin, a Romanian startup specializing in AI-powered video analytics, has secured EUR 200,000 in pre-seed funding from a private investor. The funds will be directed toward a market-ready product, creating an AI-driven prototype for quality inspection in manufacturing processes (AI Quality Inspection), developing its first AI Video Analytics camera, expanding the team, and scaling marketing […]
The beginning of 2025 brought increased pollution in the Bucharest-Ilfov area, as traditional pollutants such as cars and heating systems met low wind speeds, high humidity, and thermal inversion. The latter three prevent pollutant particles from dispersing and instead keep them at ground level. As a result, the level of pollution has doubled in the […]
Update: DNA confirmed that Sinaia mayor Vlad Oprea had been detained for 24 hours beginning January 23 on charges of bribery in continuous form, conducting financial operations incompatible with his position, false in asset declarations, abuse of office, and influence peddling. The prosecutors also said that Oprea indirectly received a total bribe of EUR 238,000 […]
Prosecutors from Romania's National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) reportedly detained Vlad Oprea, the mayor of the popular mountain town of Sinaia, for 24 hours on Thursday, January 23. He faces corruption charges in a case investigated by the DNA, with further searches set to take place at the Sinaia City Hall later today, in the presence […]
