RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN ROMANIA

Renewable energy sources are becoming more and more popular worldwide. Romania has the chance to obtain energy in a non-emission manner, increase energy safety, and meet EU requirements with respect to the E-RES share. Generation of electricity from wind or other renewable sources is not an issue for environmentalists only. It is also an inevitable future of the national power system that has to improve production and restore existing capacities with the aim to meet the increased consumption needs.

Renewable energy is energy derived from natural resources, which are naturally replenished. Without limitation, these natural resources refer to: sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat. Considering the advantages brought by these E-RES in terms of lower polluting effects and use by millions of households, wide geographical spread compared to traditional energy, climate change concerns, increasing oil prices and the global financial crisis, many governments adopted regulations and policies aimed to help the industry.

The Romania’s climate and geographical position – with the Black Sea to the east, the Carpathians in the centre and the Danube crossing the territory in the south – provides many opportunities to exploit its renewable energy sources. For over 30 years, Romania’s most important source of clean energy has been large hydropower plants. Up to and including 2009, other renewable sources accounted for only a very small share of electricity production in Romania. In 2010 the situation began to change dramatically in favour of renewable energy sources (other than large hydropower plants) and especially wind.

At the end of 2012, the produced electricity in Romania was TWh, out of which were: conventional thermal power of TWh; hydropower of TWh; the nuclear power of TWh; wind power of 2.64 TWh and other renewable energy sources of 0.92 TWh. 8% of Romania’s gross energy consumption in 2012 was covered by alternative energy. This includes wind energy which brought the large majority of energy but also hidroenergy, photovoltaic and biomass energy. The first wind turbine was installed in Romania in In 2007 and 2008, hundreds of masts were installed around Romania to collect data on wind patterns.

Romania’s operational wind farms are mainly located in Dobrogea, on the Black Sea coast, where average wind speeds can reach 7 m/s at an altitude of 100 m. The region is flat and sparsely populated, which makes it possible to install a large number of wind turbines. There are also two other regions with a high wind power potential in Romania: Moldova and Caraş Severin. At the end of 2011, 88% of Romania’s installed capacity was in the Dobrogea area, while in 2012 there has been a shift towards the North East of the country.

In 2012, the largest onshore wind energy park in Romania was finalized. The park developed by CEZ in Fântânele-Cogealac-Grădina (Constanta county) has a total capacity of 600 MW, out of which 200 MW were installed in Enel Green Power has also continued the ascension in the wind energy sector of Romania with a total of almost 500 MW, out of which 325 MW were installed in 2012 (the largest park is in Târguşor - Dobrogea and has a capacity of 120 MW). Iberdrola finalized a 80 MW park at Mihai Viteazu – Constanta county. Verbund commissioned a 100 MW park at Casimcea-(Tulcea County). GDF Suez commissioned a 47.5 MW park in Brăila. An 123 MW park was built in Pantelimon, Constanţa county, by Monsson and Vestas.

In 2013, the following wind farms are expected to become functional: - Băbeni (Galaţi County) - Chirnogeni (Constanţa County ) - Făcăeni (Ialomiţa county) - Mircea Voda (Constanţa county) The above development would bring a total of 494 MW of new energy coming from wind energy sources. At the time of redacting this report are 2,200 MW installed in Romania. The progress is remarkable since 2010, the year that marked the important step towards maturity of the wind energy and which brought Romania on the 10th place in EU for the capacity installed.

Looking at the Romanian map of wind farms, it should be noted how, since 2009, many wind farms have been built that are now producing a significant amount of “green energy” on an international scale. This once again proves Romania’s huge potential in terms of renewable energy and future investment.

Romania is currently one of the top 15 most attractive countries in the world for renewable energy investments. In 2013 it again saw growth in terms of its installed wind power capacity, maintaining the upward trend of recent years. The number of investments in wind farms in Romania increased significantly during 2012, demonstrating the attractive conditions for development the sector offers. At the end of 2012, the total registered aggregate installed capacity amounted to 1,905 MW. This implies a rise in installed capacity of 94% compared with 2011.

Solar energy is the energy derived from the sun through the form of solar radiation. Solar powered electrical generation relies on photovoltaic and thermo-solar methods. The corresponding technologies are broadly characterized as either active or passive solar users, depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute solar energy. Active solar techniques include the use of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors to harness the energy. Passive solar techniques include orienting a building to the sun, selecting materials with favourable thermal potential or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air. The Romanian installed capacity at the end of 2012 was only 41 MW, out of which 25 MW were installed during 2012.

Romania’s solar market has continued to grow exponentially and has shown high levels of activity, which supports the numerous projections that foresee it will experience strong growth through 2013 and reinforces the attractiveness of the sector. Romania is on the 24th place worldwide in the solar energy sector. The national energy regulator estimates 1,000 MW will be installed by the end of the year.

The geothermal studies based on temperature measurements have led to the creation of geothermal maps for Romania showing the distribution of temperature at depths of 1, 2, 3 and 5 km. The studies also singles out regions with concentrations of geothermal resources at between 60 and 120 degrees Celsius (geothermal waters for the production of thermal energy) and areas in which the temperature at a depth of 3 km exceeds 140 degrees Celsius (potential areas for the exploitation of geothermal energy with a view to producing electricity).

The areas where the underground geothermal waters are used for heating purposes (with a temperature at emergence of 60 to 120 Celsius degrees) are mostly located in the north-western part of the country.

Hydropower represents the most significant E-RES in Romania. According to the study regarding the evaluation of the current power potential of renewable energy sources in Romania, the rivers with the greatest hydropower potential are the rivers Olt, Mureş and Tisa-Someş.

According to ANRE, at the end of 2012 there were 112 producers with micro-hydropower plants with a total installed capacity of 145 MW and 55 developers with granted / requested setting-up authorisations and a forecasted capacity of 123 MW.

Biomass is a renewable energy source derived from the sun and urban waste, plant material and animal waste. Biomass can regenerate over a relatively short period of time. The main approaches to using plants for energy production are growing plants specifically for energy use and using the residues from plants that are used for other purposes.

For Romania, biomass represents an important RES, both in terms of potential and utilization possibilities. As per the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Romania has a significant agricultural potential as raw materials used in the production of biofuels and bioliquids are widely cultivated (sunflower, rape, soya, corn, sugar cane, sorghum, energetic willow). As per the same source, Romania has a high biomass potential (around 318 PJ/year).

According to ANRE, at the end of 2012 there were 7 biomass producers (including cogeneration) with a total installed capacity of 28 MW and 9 developers with granted / requested setting-up authorisations and a forecasted capacity of 28 MW.

Alternative energy and increase of energy efficiency will continue to be high on the agenda of the Romania’s politics for the next decades. Romania seeks to decrease her dependence on energy imports, and the best ways to do so are to increase internal energy production with the help of alternative energy and to reduce energy consumption by increasing efficiency.

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